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Glassware & Ceramic
Museum in Iran
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General
The beautiful mansion housing glass wares
and ceramics was first ordered to be built
as the personal residence of a politician
named Ahmad Qavam in early 1920s. The
building was occupied by him as residence
and office up to 1953 when it was sold to
the Egyptian embassy. At last, in 1976, it
was converted into a museum following some
repairs and changes.
The objects exhibited in this museum, which
is also called Abgineh Museum, belong to a
span of time beginning from pre-Islam period
up to the contemporary Iran.
Different sections of the museum
There is plenty of exquisite plasterwork
performed by Iranian masters on the interior
walls of the building. On the first floor,
at the beginning of the visit to the museum,
there is a hall with a showcase in the
ground at the entrance to draw visitors’
attention to a symbolic location of
archaeological site under excavation. On the
walls, there can be seen maps and ancient
regions on the Iranian plateau as well as a
very useful timetable of ancient
civilizations. The museum objects, in
general, can be divided into five categories
each in a different hall
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Enamel gallery:
The potteries in this collection consist
of some samples of plain clay vessels
belonging to B.C period having angular
and animal patterns. On some artifacts,
the early examples of glass glazes
dating back to the 3rd
millennium B.C can be found. The
collection of Chogha Zanbil temple glass
tubes as well as opaque perfume holders,
ornaments and seals exhibited belong to
the 1st and 2nd
millennia B.C.
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Crystal gallery:
In this gallery, Achaemenian and
Parthian period cut crystal vessels and
bottles are displayed for visitors.
Various vessels of Sassanian and
post-Islam period are also added to this
collection bearing molded, applied,
pressed and cut decorations.
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Nacre gallery:
The evolution of Sassanian period’s arts
and techniques are observed here. Some
samples of 9th to 13th
centuries A.D are also exhibited in this
gallery. In fact, the flourishing period
of glassware and pottery is presented in
the showcases here.
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Gold gallery:
The artifacts presented in this gallery
consist of the enameled and luster
inscribed vessels of the 10th
to 13th centuries. The
inscriptions are generally of subjects
like expressions, good prayers and poems
of Nezamy and Ferdosy. Patterns are
mainly human figures in various
ceremonies and animals specially birds.
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Lapis-lazuli galleries 1&2:
Following destructions imposed on the
centers of glass and pottery making in
Iran, Safavid king, Shah Abbas I,
initiated the revival of these two
industries and enhanced it with Chinese
and Italian artists helps. The objects
of these two galleries are the evidences
for changes in the form and decorations
of glassware and pottery artifacts using
lapis-lazuli stones. Vases, sprinklers
and ewers in lapis lazuli and light
orange colors are Shiraz and Esfehan
products.
There is also some crystal made vessels of
the 18th and 19th
centuries from Europe exhibited in a
separate showcase. There is also a library
in the north west of the gardens surrounding
the museum having approximately 3000 volumes
of books in Farsi and English on
archaeology, history, arts, etc for students
and researchers.
Type of museum: Artistic
Type of objects: Glass and Clay works
Affiliated to: Iranian Cultural
Heritage Organization
Address: No. 75, 30 Tir St., Jomhouri
Ave. Tehran, Iran.
Tel: +98-21-670 8163-4
Fax: +98-21-670 5614
Opening times:
Every day of the year except Mondays and
Religious Holidays.
Visiting Hours in Spring & Summer -21
March to 21 September:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday & Sunday 9:00 to 18:00
Visiting Hours in Autumn & Winter -22
September to 20 March:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday & Sunday 9:00 to 17:00
From 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00
website:
http://www.glasswaremuseum.ir
Refrences:
http://www.destinationiran.com/Glassware_and_Ceramic_Museum.htm
http://www.iranchamber.com/museum/glassware_ceramic/glassware_ceramic_museum.php
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