Handicrafts of Great Khorasan

Handicrafts of Great Khorasan

Juxtaposition of Contrasting Motifs in the Decorative Frames of the Dome of Allahverdi Khan: An Analysis Based on Derrida’s Deconstruction of Binary Oppositions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mehran golestan 1
davud ranjbaran 2
elahe alizade 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative and Analytical History of Islamic Art, University of Art, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Comparative and Analytical History of Islamic Art, University of Art, Tehran, Iran
3 PhD Candidate in Comparative and Analytical History of Islamic Art, University of Art, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/hgj.2026.529219.1044
Abstract
The Allah Verdi Khan Dome, a Safavid‑era structure within the shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.), is renowned for its intricate mosaic tilework, in which contrasts of color and form are prominently employed. Jacques Derrida (1930–2004), within his deconstructive framework, critiques binary oppositions in structuralist thought and emphasizes the inherent ambiguity of textual meaning, rejecting the notion of a single fixed interpretation. This study examines the potential meanings and chains of signification conveyed by the contrasting motifs of the dome through a Derridean lens, with the aim of broadening the interpretive scope of traditional ornamentation. The research adopts a descriptive–analytical approach and relies on library and archival sources, using books, digital resources, and photographic documentation as primary tools. Findings indicate multiple types of contrast in both form and color across the dome’s decorative tile panels; from a Derridean perspective, these motifs do not signify a single, stable concept but rather a chain of interrelated concepts and symbols. Such a reading expands the range of meanings and interpretations associated with traditional decorative motifs and elements.
Keywords
contrast
Allah Verdi Khan Dome
Derrida
binary oppositions
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 26 May 2025
  • Revise Date 01 July 2025
  • Accept Date 11 August 2025