Morphogy of Earthenware Pots for victuals

 
Morphology phenomenon can be regarded as one of dominant topics in identifying and studying of Iranian pottery. Accordingly, some Iranian earthenware products including pots for victuals are considered as outstanding artworks. The works studied in the present research include from first millennium B.C to 11th century AH. Some samples of antiquities in this research reveal that these pots can be taken into account as ancient pottery products. The pots for victuals can also be considered as ones used in the court because they were commonly used in the palaces of Seljukian rulers (Sultan). The geographical scope of the above-mentioned pots production included Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt. However, Iran in Islamic period had the most existing works. The research method used in this study has been descriptive-analytical. Moreover, the data collection method is in the form of library and field research. The results show that techniques of making earthenware pots for victuals seem distinctly different from techniques utilized for other pottery. These pots were made with molded style in both single and double glazed types.The outward appearance of these earthenware is in the form of a pot with a number of identical hollows which set side by side in a concentrated and symmetrical composition. These hollows are often seven and circular. Apparently, food was placed inside the hollows. This type of works, in Persian texts, are often introduced as "Zorouf maakulat" (pots for victuals) or "Zorouf Haft Sin", while, in western texts, they were represented as "Zorouf Shirinikhori" (Sweet-dish). The variety of attitudes and opinions about aforementioned pots sounds evident. Sometimes, the opinions are seemingly accurate. In the present study, topic of pots for victuals were used for this artwork. Indeed, this topic contains a comprehensive concept of mentioned names in various sources and also in line with the main use of these pots