Carpet Museum

It has been Ages since that Persian Carpet became universally iconic. Aren’t you interested in knowing the reason why it has been so? It is not irrelevant if one ascribes its worldwide fame to the long history that authenticates the quality and origin of the Persian Carpet. The most reliable source that every interested researcher could rely on and find valuable information about Persian carpets is the Iran Carpet Museum in Tehran. The museum hosts a variety of fascinating carpets in different styles and various backgrounds, not only the colors, but also the treads and knotting styles, and the patterns are reflective of distinct stories standing behind each single Persian carpet there.

When we refer to the origin of the Persian carpet, its unrivaled value becomes clearer. The art of Carpet weaving in Iran is amazingly older than any art or literature. It dates back five thousand years BC. This is incredible compared to the emergence of drama or epic as the early manifestation of human artistic experience. What is left from the advent of carpet weaving in Iran are, unfortunately, some worn-out chunks belonging to the antique times. In Persian culture, carpets are highly important, as they are the core point of interior design in every Iranians’ house. Depending on personal taste, they appear in various colors, types, and even shapes and sizes.

However, the traditional form of the Persian carpets is rectangular, which reflects connotative symbols that suggest their own hidden, legendary stories. Iranians call this Traditional shape of the carpet “ Farsh” or “ Ghalee”, which normally reflects a garden of beautiful flowers, or mystic curves and motifs. They might even reveal mythological figures, celestial bodies, natural sceneries, and epic scenes from the ancient history of Iran. These images are deeply ingrained in the minds of the Iranian people from childhood. They remember well how the Persian epic figures on their house carpets were their friends they played with, or maybe the enemies they imaginatively challenged.

Although there are many Persian carpets stylistically different from each other, such as Kilim, Ghalicheh, Khersak, or Gabbeh, all of them are traditionally called Ghali or carpet. The way they are used completely depends on personal tastes, but they are normally used to cover the floor, hang on the walls, or put on beds or sofas. The artistic and spiritual value of Persian Carpets is so great for Iranians that they do not walk on them with shoes on.  Persian carpets also reflect the diverse cultures of different ethnic groups. The most precious carpets in Iran are those that are woven by hand, not by machines. Surprisingly, the most valuable pieces are those that have any written weaving designs. Often, the women or the men who weave them only use their imaginations.

Although the scope of information about these cultural arts is so vast and unlimited, the reference source on Persian carpets is the Iran Carpet Museum. This museum acts as a treasury that provides the observers with thousands of artistic pieces that include the most luxurious silk carpets of Tabriz, the eye-catching artistic carpets of Isfahan and Kashan, and the carpets imaginatively hand-woven by the nomads of the Qashqai tribes in Fars. As fascinating as the Persian carpet itself, the building of the Carpet Museum of Iran is so marvelous. Looking at the building closely, it appears to be a carpet-weaving tool. The architect who constructed this building was Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian.

Still more surprising, the pillars used in the building were consciously planned so that their shadows on the main walls of the building could reduce the temperature during summer seasons. This beautiful building has two grand halls, both for showing the gallery of beautiful carpets and temporary exhibitions that can showcase items in different seasons. Historically, this museum was opened in 1978. When it was opened for the first time, only a couple of carpets were shown. Gradually, other pieces were added to the museum. The main target of this museum was to improve the culture and art of Iran’s carpet weaving. Because of hosting diverse types of carpets, the museum actually functions as a research center for anthropologists, artists, and those who are interested in the art and culture of Iran.

The good news is that the museum is very well located and is very easily accessible. It is very close to Laleh Park, situated on the North-West side of it. It is on the Kargar and Fatemi junction. It is easily accessible both by car and by the city station. Enqelab Square train station, which is reachable by the yellow line, is the nearest transportation zone to the museum. On the north side of Kargar Street, specific buses take visitors to the museum. The close distance of Laleh Park to the museum makes it possible for the visitors to experience both inside and outside. There is also another interesting museum called The Museum of Contemporary Art, located at Laleh Park itself. The Yellow Line that belongs to Tehran Subway would take the visitors to the Moghadam Museum, the Jewelry Museum, Negarestan Museum, the Palace of Golestan, the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, Iran’s National Museum, Bagh-e-Melli, Library, and Malek Museum. The Glassware and Mosaic Museum, the City Park, and the Palace of Masoudieh are the greatest tourist sites that are very close to the Carpet Museum of Iran. Even the famous Valiasr Street, which is one of the most famous streets in the Middle East, is worth seeing and window-shopping in.  

Valiasr Street does have plenty of nice restaurants, both modern and traditional, where tourists can sit and enjoy. Shandiz, Avani, and Grill are only famous examples. There are many cozy tea-houses and coffee shops that welcome guests as well, both in Valiasr and Kargar streets. Additionally, as the Carpet Museum is located at the core of Tehran, tourists can easily find many pleasant hotels and guesthouses there. They range from grand, luxurious hotels like the 5-star Laleh International Hotel, which is very close to the museum, to other great hotels like Omid, Idea AP Hotel, and Persian Gulf. Try to take the unique opportunity of looking at the gallery of colors, art, and culture in the Iran Carpet Museum.