Mortar Joints in Brickwork

Mortar Joints in Brickwork

Mortar joints play a significant role in brickwork, both functionally and aesthetically. They serve as the connecting element between bricks, ensuring structural stability while also contributing to the overall visual appeal of the brickwork. Properly executed mortar joints highlight the craftsmanship of the builder and enhance the elegance of the design.

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A Brief Overview of Mortar Joints in Brickwork

In brickwork, particularly in building façades, mortar joints are typically very narrow, both horizontally and vertically, with bricks laid in a precise and tightly aligned manner. This meticulous arrangement enhances the aesthetic appeal and structural integrity of the design, allowing the bricks to seamlessly interlock.Click here to learn more about bricklaying techniques.

A Detailed Overview of Mortar Joints in Brickwork

In most structures, there is a gap between bricks, both horizontally and vertically. Sometimes, this gap is left empty, while other times it is filled with a soft mortar, either matching the color of the bricks or contrasting with them in shades such as cream, black, or white. This gap, which is slightly recessed from the surface of the bricks, is filled using a thin blade, resulting in what is known as simple mortar jointing.Decorative mortar joints, on the other hand, are typically applied in a rectangular shape, vertically between the ends of bricks. These decorative joints are often made using gypsum mortar and are categorized into small and large-scale designs based on their size and surface area. After applying and smoothing the mortar, a template or mold is used to imprint patterns onto the surface, adding an artistic touch.

The Evolution of Decorative Mortar Joints

From the 4th century AH (Islamic calendar) onward, decorative mortar joints became a prominent feature, adding a unique aesthetic to building façades. These designs often included ornamental motifs or inscriptions such as Allah or Muhammad, executed in Banna’i script (a decorative brickwork style). The width of these joints was typically around 3 to 4 centimeters.Notable examples of this technique can be seen in structures such as Sang Bast from the Ghaznavid era, as well as Rab’-e Sharaf and Gonbad-e Khaki in Isfahan. For larger-scale decorative joints, stamped bricks, molded bricks, or glazed tiles were often used, a hallmark of Ilkhanid architecture.

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Decline of Decorative Mortar Joints

From the Safavid era onward, decorative mortar joints gradually fell out of use. However, during the Qajar period, simpler forms of mortar jointing persisted, often incorporating symmetrical elements such as open arcs (sineh baz), heptagonal shapes (hafti jam), narrow bases (pa barik), and sunburst motifs (shamseh khorshidi). These designs were frequently used in arched doorways and vaulted ceilings, supported by slender stone columns.

Decorative mortar joints, particularly those from earlier periods, remain a testament to the artistic ingenuity and architectural sophistication of Iranian builders. Their intricate designs and thoughtful execution continue to inspire admiration for the rich heritage of Persian brickwork.