TEHRAN – A restoration project on a quarter of the creamy dome of the 17th-century Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, a masterpiece of Iranian architecture in Isfahan, has come to an end, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said.

The restoration project was in progress since 2020, as the previous low-quality rehabilitation work produced many criticisms from experts and authorities.

During this phase, the initial restoration defects and problems were fixed, and then the project continued, ISNA quoted Seyyed Mehdi Mousavi Movahed as saying on Wednesday.

The restoration model has so far been approved by the experts and restorers, he added.

In October 2020 the province’s cultural heritage department announced that as the dome is not in a good condition and there are some new cracks on it, it is decided to be restored once again using the expertise of top traditional restorers and academic achievements in order to salvage the monument without any damage to its glory.

While pictures taken on a snowy day in Isfahan in 2019 showed all parts of the dome but one covered in snow, the media and experts blamed the flawed restoration work, which used modern waterproof materials that had damaged the dome’s integrity.

Restoration and preservation experts criticized local authorities for not caring enough for the architectural masterpiece which was built 400 years ago during the Safavid Empire.

Authorities at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts admitted that there should have been a fault with the restoration. Experts said the repair workers could have used hydrated construction materials that contained polymer substances. Others said cracks on the dome that have been caused by previous restoration work could be to blame.

The story, however, turned to larger fear, casting doubt over the fate of the majestic mosque and warnings over the danger of the whole collapse.

In comparison to many mosques scattered across the country, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque appears to be relatively unusual, having neither a minaret nor a courtyard probably because the mosque was never intended for public use, but rather served as a worship place for women.

Built between 1603 and 1619 during the reign of Shah Abbas I, the mosque was dedicated to the ruler’s father-in-law, Sheikh Lotfollah, a revered Lebanese scholar of Islam who was invited to Isfahan to oversee the king’s mosque (now the Imam Mosque).

The exterior panels boast collections of arabesques and floral designs that have become a signature motif of the masterpiece. The portal itself contains some stalactite-type stone carving used to decorate doorways and window recesses with rich concentrations of blue and yellow motifs.

Inside the sanctuary, there are thousands of mosaics that adorn the walls, and its extraordinarily gorgeous ceiling that features a series of shrinking yellow motifs, itself a masterpiece of design. Photography is allowed, but using a flash is not.

ABU/AM