PATTERNS AND INTERPRETATION: BEYLAGAN'S LUSTERWARE SAMPLES

Abstract

The medieval city of Beylagan is one of the best-studied urban areas of Azerbaijan. As a result of this long-term research work, done by A. Alakbarov, A. Gasharli, I. Meschaninov, and others during the 1930s-1960s, rich samples of material culture were discovered from this city. This paper is devoted to a comparative analysis of the lusterware findings from Beylagan. Back in the last century, B.A. Shelkovnikov conducted research and published an article about samples of Beylagan lusterwares, but this article mostly focused on the problem of their origin. The aim of this research is to explain the main pattern motifs of Beylagan's lusterware in detail. In addition, these pattern motifs were compared with the pattern motifs of Iranian cities, and the common aspects were brought to the fore. The material basis of the research includes artefacts from the Hermitage Museum of Russia and National History Museum of Azerbaijan.