دانشگاه کاشان هنرهای صناعی ایران 2645-7504 8 1 2025 08 23 An Explanation of Future-Building Factors Influencing the Preservation and Development of Lustre Pottery in Kashan (Based on James Allen Dator's Components) تبیین عوامل آینده‌ساز مؤثر بر حفظ و توسعۀ ظروف سفالین زرین‌فام کاشان (براساس مؤلفه‌های جیمز آلن دیتور) 229 250 115131 10.22052/hsi.2025.256344.1239 FA زهرا امانی دانشجوی دکتری، گروه هنر اسلامی، دانشگاه تربیت مدرس، تهران، ایران مهناز شایسته فر دانشیار، گروه هنر اسلامی، دانشگاه تربیت مدرس، تهران، ایران. نویسنده مسئول ایروان سیا محمدیوسف استادیار،گروه طراحی صنعتی، دانشگاه پوترا، سردانگ، سلانگور، مالزی سحر کوثری استادیار، گروه مطالعات آینده علم و فناوری، مرکز تحقیقات سیاست علمی کشور، تهران، ایران Journal Article 2025 03 29 Introduction Iran is regarded as one of the most important cradles of pottery in the Islamic world. With the advent of Islam and a cultural shift from ostentation toward simplicity, certain functions of costly metal vessels were transferred to ceramics, including lustreware. Among the pottery-producing centers, the city of Kashan attained a distinguished position in the development of lustreware. Accordingly, the present study seeks to explain the factors influencing the preservation and development of Kashan lustreware through a futures-studies approach. Today, this art faces challenges such as the decline in master artisans, limitations in knowledge transmission, shifts in audience preferences, and competition with industrial products. Under such circumstances, futures studies can serve as an effective tool for analyzing the current situation. Dator’s approach, with its focus on the trends, events, images of the future, and actions, provides a framework for understanding possible futures. As an example, the works of Abbas Akbari, selected as an active artist in this technique in the city of Kashan, were examined to analyze the connection between tradition and innovation in the contemporary context. Materials and Methods This qualitative research is applied in terms of its purpose and was conducted using a descriptive–analytic method, with its data collected through documents and observations. The data analysis carried out through a futures‑studies approach. This approach was based on James Allen Dator’s components, which identified trends, events, images, and actions for the purpose of outlining future scenarios. Dator emphasizes the importance of studying the future and believes that people should be prepared to confront various possible futures. Given that the focus of this research was on the city of Kashan, among contemporary artists, the works of an artist active in the production and promotion of lustreware in Kashan were selected for study. This paper seeks to enhance preparedness for shaping desirable futures and aims through examining trends, events, and related images and actions so as to provide appropriate solutions by presenting compatible scenarios. This requires creative thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration so that effective strategies for preserving culture and identity can be offered. Results and Findings The components of Dator in this research include various factors, the most important of which in the trends and events section are as follows: Cultural Factors Religious and ideological influences Symbolism and motifs Intercultural influences Social Factors The emergence of the middle class The reflection of social life Economic Factors Economic constraints Trade and commerce Recession and revival Technological Factors Lustreware technique Use of nanoparticles Innovation in materials In the actions and images section, which follows the previous two components, the scenarios derived from the analysis of factors influencing the preservation and development of Kashan lustreware were presented based on Dator’s components and the identified drivers. a) Continued growth scenario: the growth scenario refers to a future in which existing trends continue without fundamental structural changes, and the system that reliesg on increased production, consumption, and expansion of activities, follows a path of quantitative development. b) Collapse scenario: this scenario depicts a future in which Kashan lustreware will gradually disappear due to the lack of support, declining interest among younger generations, and the competition with industrial products, becoming limited to a museum‑based or obsolete art. c) Transformation or discipline scenario: this scenario encompasses sustainability and standardization, technological innovation, specialized and global markets, institutional support, and international cooperation. In this future, Kashan lustreware is recognized as an authentic, rare, and simultaneously modern and global cultural–artistic product. This art, while preserving its historical roots, attains a stable and valuable position among both specialized and general audiences through innovation and intelligent presence in global markets. This scenario is more desirable than the previous two. Based on Allen Dator’s components, the works of Abbas Akbari illustrated the imitation of past works, innovation in design, and new applications. As mentioned in the text, Alan Caiger‑Smith and Greg Daly both had emphasized the balance between tradition and innovation in Akbari’s works. This balance transgotmed Akbari into a pioneer in the production and promotion of lustreware. In particular, the use of ta’liq script in a visual manner without emphasis on conceptual content demonstrated a modern approach to traditional art that can attract global audiences. Therefore, It can be noted that Kashan lustreware is highly dependent on maintaining a balance between preserving traditional authenticity and embracing modern innovations. The transformation scenario, with its focus on technology, global marketing, and international collaboration, can turn this art into a global brand, while the discipline scenario, with its emphasis on sustainability and specialized markets, prevents its extinction. Conclusion Lustreware is not only an artistic achievement but also a reflection of cultural, social, economic, and technological conditions in Iran. Based on the analyses conducted in this research, it was determined that four major cultural, economic, social, and technological factors are evident in Kashan pottery. The explanation of these four factors based on Dator’s components is presented according to the items shown in Table (1). Table 1: Explanation of the factors of Dator on Kashan's Lustre Pottery Cultural Economic Technological Social Dimension Disinterest in silver and gold objects; increased interest in pottery with diverse and authentic Iranian forms and patterns The expensiveness of gold and silver utensils and tendency to cheaper utensils, the growth of online markets; increasing demand for luxury products Improved glazing methods; Using digital design The entry of Chinese products and responding to European tastes; Excessive import of cheap, high-quality products; Reduced craftsmen; Enhanced participation of women and youth Trend Global registration of the Iranian Lustre Pottery technique with UNESCO; holding international exhibitions Reducing export restrictions; holding local festivals; Providing bank’s loans Creating a dedicated online platform; Using advanced kilns Holding academic training courses; Reverse migration of youth Event Collaborating with museums; holding the Lustre Pottery festival Forming cooperatives; branding using exquisite packaging; increasing national income Establishing a glaze laboratory; Using 3D printing of molds Educating the new generation; holding media campaigns; attracting tourists Action Re-promoting theLustre Pottery art as a symbol of Iranian identity Private sector investment and branding of small workshops Producing new utensils using nanotechnology, smart kilns with precise temperature control, and digital design of traditional motifs, using 3D scanning to reconstruct historical Lustre Pottery works Creating Kashan’s pottery production technology park, continuing pottery production in small workshops Vision Based on this, some strategies for the development of Kashan lusterware pottery are presented in Table (2). Table 2: Proposed actions for the development and preservation of Kashan lusterware Descriptions Example Factors Actions Redesigning traditional motifs such as: Arabesque and Khatai (floral) with modern use Producing creative utensils in Kashan’s workshops (such as Abbas Akbari's works) Cultural: Maintaining identity Social: Increasing society's tendency to identity-based products Economic: Luxury goods market Technological: Design software Reviving original motifs and forms with a contemporary approach Improving the quality of glazing and firing with modern kilns Specialized research on Lustre Pottery glaze Cultural: Maintaining authenticity Social: Promoting public awareness of traditional arts Economic: Reducing costs Technological: Using advanced kilns Developing technology for glaze production and firing kilns Holding workshops and training courses for the new generation Holding Lustre Pottery technique workshops in Kashan Cultural: Cultural transmission Social: Enhancing community participation in learning and revitalizing indigenous arts Economic: Job creation Technology: Digital education Teaching and promoting pottery skills Offering products on online platforms and in international exhibitions Selling Lustre Pottery dishes as elegant corporate gifts Cultural: Introducing the Iranian art Social: Increasing public demand for authentic artistic products Economic: Increasing exports Technology: Online sales Marketing and Branding Designing applied utensils and dishes inspired by historical forms Using hunting ground-decorated table services in traditional restaurants Cultural: Adapting to modern needs Social: Promoting the daily use of traditional art in lifestyle Economic: Increasing sales Technology: Molding Manufacturing applied utensils with traditional forms Reproducing historical utensils and dishes with the support of cultural institutions Reconstructing and replicating Kashan’s Lustre Pottery utensils and dishes Cultural: Enhancing public awareness Social: Strengthening the sense of social belonging to cultural heritage Economic: Attracting capital Technology: 3D scanning Collaborating with museums and cultural centers The case study of this research, the lusterware works of Abbas Akbari, as one of the most prominent contemporary productions, demonstrates that this historical technique still possesses a high capacity for continuity, growth, and innovation. The creative re-creation of past motifs and forms, alongside the efforts of this artist and other practitioners active in this field to teach and introduce lusterware at the national and international levels, attests to the possibility of a dynamic and meaningful promotion of this art. The identified factors—strengthening educational infrastructures, utilizing modern technologies, developing digital marketing, and institutional support—can outline a sustainable path for the future of Kashan lusterware. Although the future is always accompanied by uncertainty, by reliance on historical experiences, the analysis of current trends enables the provision of effective strategies for safeguarding and developing the rich Iranian cultural heritage. با ورود اسلام، فرهنگ ایرانی از تجمل‌گرایی به ساده‌گرایی تغییر کرد؛ این تحول موجب توجه بیشتر به هنر سفالگری شد. این هنر با گذشت زمان از سادگی به اوج زیبایی به‌ویژه در تولید ظروف زرین‌فام رسید. در میان مراکز تولید زرین‌فام، شهر کاشان اهمیت ویژه‌ای داشته است. هدف پژوهش حاضر بررسی سفال زرین‌فام و ارائۀ راهکارهای مناسب برای حفظ و توسعۀ آن است. این پژوهش در پی این سؤال است که چه عواملی بر حفظ و توسعۀ ظروف سفالی زرین‌فام کاشان دخیل هستند؟ برای پاسخ به آن، از مؤلفه‌های جیمز آلن دیتور که مطالعاتش از آینده را درهم‌کنش چهار مؤلفۀ رویداد، روند، تصاویر و اقدام‌ها می‌داند، استفاده می‌شود. روش پژوهش توصیفی‌تحلیلی و شیوۀ جمع‌آوری اطلاعات به‌صورت کتابخانه‌ای است. یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد تکنیک زرین‌فام که نخستین نمونه‌های کاربرد آن به سدۀ سوم هجری بازمی‌گردد، در پرتو خلاقیت و نوآوری سفالگران ایرانی در سده‌های میانه به اوج شکوفایی رسیده و با فرازوفرودهایی تا دوره‌های متأخر استمرار یافته است. بررسی آثار معاصر، به‌ویژه نمونه‌های از آثار عباس اکبری در کاشان، بیانگر تداوم آگاهانۀ سنت همراه با بازنگری در فرم و نقش و تلاش برای سازگاری با نیازهای مخاطب امروز است. براساس تحلیل مؤلفه‌های آینده، سه سناریوی «ادامۀ رشد»، «فروپاشی» و «رشته‌ای/تحولی» برای آیندۀ سفال زرین‌فام کاشان ترسیم شد که در میان آن‌ها، سناریوی رشته‌ای به‌سبب تأکید بر تلفیق حفظ تکنیک، نوآوری، برندسازی و حمایت نهادی، مطلوب‌تر ارزیابی شد. نتیجۀ پژوهش نشان می‌دهد که حفظ و ارتقای زرین‌فام مستلزم توانمندسازی هنرمندان، تقویت زیرساخت‌های آموزشی و حمایتی، و نوآوری در طراحی فرم و نقش است؛ به‌گونه‌ای که این هنر–صنعت بتواند در عرصه‌های فرهنگی، اقتصادی، اجتماعی و فناورانه به حیات پویا و پایدار خود ادامه دهد.

https://hsi.kashanu.ac.ir/article_115131_3dfd67cfd63164e5a599a8a677da7868.pdf