The Remaining Woodworks of the Jami Mosque of Barzok, The Study of the Newly Found Inscriptions and the Introduction of an Artist from the Abu Zayd Descent

Abū Zayd ibn Muhammad ibn Abū Zayd is among the tile makers and potters of Kashan, that more than anyone else his signature is visible in remnants of the middle ages between the years 582 to 616 AH. Despite the domination and extensiveness of artwork in some of the artistic and artisan families of Kashan in the medieval period, such as the family of Abū Ṭaher who have been known for generations, no detailed information has yet been obtained from another artist of Abū Zayd's descent. The major review of the people introduced by Arthur Upham Pope and the few others is not correct and is in some way inappropriate. Therefore, the question arises whether a person or other people of the Abū Zayd descent who have been employed in artistic work or is Abū Zayd the only artist of the family? This article seeks to identify and introduce another artist from the mentioned family by studying the remaining woodworks of the Jami mosque of Barzok. Although the mosque has been demolished and renovated several decades ago, some works including 150 wooden boards or blocks have been preserved, which is now being kept at the museum of anthropology in Barzok. In this article, 23 pieces of the woodworks that include the inscription are at the center of attention and their texts will be read and studied. In addition, the inscriptions will be classified according to the shape and the script and their historical period. This article benefits a descriptive and analytical research method with historical approach and the data collection is mainly based on field studies, observation, analysis and comparison of works. In the following, the data obtained from field studies have been analyzed and compared with historical documentary research. Checking of the studied woodworks shows that the mosque, which was built at the beginning of the 8th century AH, was one of two mosques formed at that time in both upper and lower parts of Barzok. Moreover, according to the inscriptions of the later period, the remaining mosque that is famous as Jami Mosque, should have been repaired or expanded at the end of the 12th century, while older inscriptions indicate its construction in the year 705 AH. The result of the studies shows that in 705 AH, an artist who participated in the construction of the Jami mosque of Barzok, and at least he was a master in calligraphy and engraving on the wood, introduced himself as Mohammad ibn Abū Zayd. In another inscription, he named his ancestry from his father to grandfather of his grandfather, which is not so common, mentioning his relation to his famous ancestor, Abu Zayd ibn Muhammad. This suggests that, apart from Abū Zayd ibn Muhammad, at least another artist from the Abū Zayd dynasty, known as Mohammad ibn Abū Zayd, can be identified. Therefore, we should try to do more studies about him and his artistic work in the late seventh and early eighth centuries, and also we hope to be able to identify other artists from the Abū Zayd descent.