# Mirza Abd ol-Razzaq Faghfuri

Mirza Abd ol-Razzaq Faghfuri (1887–1950) was an Iranian tile artist renowned for his mastery of narrative tilework during the late Qajar (1789-1925) and early Pahlavi (1925-1979) periods. Active for over twenty-six years, he played a crucial role in the development of Persian tile painting and left a lasting impact on the material culture of Shiraz. His work, often depicting Iranian historical, religious, and literary themes, adorned numerous buildings in the city and influenced later Shirazi tile craftsmen.

## Name

The title "Mirza" was traditionally given to educated men in the Qajar (1789-1925) period, particularly those with literacy and formal training in fields such as calligraphy, administration, or the arts. In Faghfuri’s case, it signifies that he was not merely an artisan but a skilled craftsman with extensive artistic knowledge. The epithet "Faghfuri" was conferred upon him by Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925–1941), who, upon witnessing the quality of his tilework, compared it to fine Chinese porcelain, known as chini-ye faghfur. The word "faghfur", historically used in Persian to refer to Chinese emperors, was meant to symbolize the supreme refinement and delicacy of his work.
Despite widespread recognition under this name, Faghfuri never signed his tiles using the title "Faghfuri." Instead, his signatures followed traditional Iranian artistic humility, often stating, "in the humble workshop of Mirza Abd ol-Razzaq".

## Biography and career

Born in Shiraz in 1887, during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (r. 1848-1896), Faghfuri grew up in a city renowned for its long-standing artistic traditions, particularly in tilework and architectural decoration. At the age of ten, he began an apprenticeship in the workshop of master Heydar, where he initially worked on pottery and simple glazed ceramics. His natural talent and dedication allowed him to establish his own workshop within a decade, marking the start of a career that would last over twenty-six years. His workshop became one of the most respected in Shiraz, producing haft-rang ("seven-color") tiles, a technique that flourished in Qajar-period architectural decoration.
Faghfuri gained fame for his ability to create complex narrative tile paintings, a skill that distinguished him from other tile artisans of his time. His compositions frequently depicted scenes from Persian literature, religious stories, and historical events, executed with a distinctive color palette, detailed figures, and intricate calligraphy.
His works adorned more than eighty historical buildings in Shiraz, including mosques, caravanserais, private homes, and public institutions. However, only fifteen sites contain signed inscriptions, definitively linking them to his workshop. Among these are the Atrvash House, Dokhanchi House, and Namazi Clinic, which serve as the most direct surviving examples of his work. His contributions were instrumental in popularizing haft-rang tile painting in Shiraz, an art form that had originated in the Timurid and Safavid periods but saw its peak during the Qajar era.
Faghfuri died in Shiraz in 1950 at the age of 63, reportedly due to prolonged exposure to the toxic kiln gases used in the tile-making process. His grave is located in the Shah Da'i-Allah cemetery in Shiraz, near the workshop of his son, Karim.

## Themes and influences

The subject matter of Faghfuri’s tile paintings was deeply rooted in Iranian literary, religious, and historical traditions. Many of his panels feature scenes from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Nizami Ganjavi’s Khamsa, particularly well-known narratives such as Khosrow and Shirin, Bahram Gur, and The Seven Beauties. His religious-themed works often illustrated Quranic stories, including Yusof and Zolaykha, the court of Solomon, and portraits of Shi’i saints and imams.
Additionally, his tile panels incorporated pre-Islamic Iranian imagery, such as the investiture of the founder of the Sasanian Empire, Ardashir I (r. 224–242), and battle scenes featuring the mythological Iranian hero Rostam. He also produced portraits of Qajar rulers, noblemen, and commoners, showcasing his ability to depict both royal grandeur and everyday life.
Faghfuri’s artistic style was shaped by multiple visual traditions, including Persian manuscript painting, Qajar portraiture, and European lithographs. He was heavily influenced by Forsat-od-Dowleh Shirazi, a Shirazi scholar and painter, and frequently referenced illustrated lithographs such as Name-ye Khosrowan, which served as a visual template for his historical and mythical depictions. His portraits of Iranian kings and warriors closely resemble those in Qajar-era lithographs, highlighting his ability to adapt pre-existing artistic conventions into the medium of tile painting.
Faghfuri’s artistic techniques and narrative tilework were widely imitated by later Shirazi tile painters, and his workshop played a key role in influencing the next generation of craftsmen. His selection of themes, painting methods, and approach to composition became a reference for later artists, many of whom replicated his style in subsequent projects.

## Recognition and legacy

Despite his immense contributions to Persian tilework, Faghfuri’s name faded from public memory for over seventy years following his death. His work was rediscovered in 1997, when Hadi Seyf, a specialist in Qajar popular art, published a study highlighting his significance and contributions. Faghfuri’s workshop was inherited by his son, Karim Faghfuri, who continued producing tiles in his father’s style and maintained his secret glazing formulas. However, much of Faghfuri’s specialized tile-making techniques were lost following Karim’s death.
Mirza Abd ol-Razzaq Faghfuri remains one of the most significant Iranian tile painters of the Qajar era. His narrative tilework, blending historical, literary, and religious themes, stands as a testament to the skill and creativity of Iranian craftsmen. His contributions to Shiraz’s architectural tile tradition helped preserve centuries of Iranian artistic heritage in ceramic form. His ability to merge traditional aesthetics with innovative storytelling techniques ensured that his legacy endures as an integral part of Shiraz’s artistic history.