Following the death of the Prophet of Islam, preaching through sermons and pulpits became one of the most influential means of transmitting Islamic teachings. Within this context, wooden pulpits acquired a central religious, educational, and social role. During the Qajar period in Iran, pulpits were not merely functional architectural elements but key instruments for religious guidance and public instruction, prompting the use of high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship. Among available materials, wood was particularly favored due to its versatility and suitability for complex structural and decorative techniques. Despite their importance, historical wooden pulpits—especially those of the Qajar era—have not been sufficiently documented or systematically studied, resulting in ambiguities regarding their typology, decoration, and terminology.

The present research addresses this gap by seeking to identify the common formal and decorative patterns of wooden pulpits from the Qajar period in Iran. The main research question asks: What structural and decorative characteristics define Iranian wooden pulpits of the Qajar era? The study also examines the inconsistency between traditional contemporary naming conventions used by pulpit makers—often based on wood color or surface pattern—and the lack of historical or scientific foundations for such terms.