The History and Religious Function of Aineh-Kari in Persianate Architecture

Sophia Rose Shafi
Visiting Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies
Iliff School of Theology

Shrines at which the Twelve Imams and their relatives are interred function as major sacred sites in Shi’a Islam. These sites, known as Imamzadeh and Ziyarat Gah Moghadas, are decorated with aineh-kari—literally, “mirror-work”—an artistic convention that is also found in homes, palaces, and other non-religious sites. Sophia Rose Shafie provides a brief history of the origins and use of aineh-kari in Persianate architecture. Aineh-kari serves an important function in the religious practices of pilgrims by interrupting the mundane and introducing the sacred.