Abgineh Museum of Tehran

If you want to visit one of the top ten museums in Iran, we suggest seeing the Glassware and Ceramic Museum which known as Abgineh Museum.

Abgineh Museum is one of the famous museums in Tehran which about two million tourists visit it every year. This museum contains valuable glassware and ceramics. This spectacular mansion includes the best sample of brickwork in historic houses. The Chogha Zanbil temple relics have been exhibited in Abgineh Museum which belonged to the 2nd millennium BC.

• History of Abgineh Museum

The building of this museum belonged to Ahmad Qavam (Qavam os-Saltaneh). He was the Prime Minister of Iran at the end of Qajar era and the beginning time of Reza Shah Pahlavi monarchy. This mansion was the Qavam os-Saltaneh’s official residence, but his house and properties were confiscated by the government in1952. The office of Farah Pahlavi got house ownership in 1975. The teamwork for design the Abgineh Museum included a group of designers and architects from France, Iran, and Austria. Finally, the museum opened in 1979.

• Architecture

This house is constructed on an area of 1040 square meters, which contains two stories. You will see a combination of Iranian and European (19th-century) architectural styles in this mansion. The first floor is joined to the second floor through wooden stairs in the Russian style. To set the entrance temperature and light into the building, they used double-glazed windows instead of wooden doors. The interior of this house belongs to the Farabi Cinema Foundation, and the exterior belongs to the Abgineh Museum.

The showcases in this museum are one of the prominent features of the Interior design of this mansion. These showcases are designed inspired by the pillars in Persepolis, Tachara, and Ka'ba-ye Zartosht. The designer of these marvelous showcases is the famous Austrian designer Hans Hollein.

• The first floor

  • Corridor
    The clay ceramics relics dating back to the 1st millennium BC and glassware relics dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe have been exhibited in the corridor on the first floor.
    
     
  • Crystal Hall
    The glassware relics dating back to the 1st millennium BC, the Achaemenid Empire, the Sasanian Empire, and the beginning period of the Islamic Golden Age have been exhibited in this hall.
    
     
  • Mina Hall
    The matte and shiny glassware relics, perfume bottle dating back to the 1st and 2nd millennium BC, and glass tubes which were excavated from Chogha Zanbil temple have been exhibited in this hall. Also, some ceramic relics, such as pots with geometric designs, have been exhibited in the Mina Hall.

• The second floor

  • Corridor
    The glassware and ceramic relics dating back to the Islamic Golden Age, and some contemporary artists' effects, have been exhibited at this corridor.
    
     
  • Seashell Hall
    This hall is similar to a seashell. The ceramic relics, including Epigraphy and the glassware relics, which were used for decorative purposes, have been exhibited in this hall.
    
     
  • Golden Hall
    The ceramic relics of this part are made of gold, Lapis lazuli, and Turquoise. These relics remained from the Seljuq dynasty.
    
     
  • Lapis lazuli Hall (I)
    Some ceramic relics, which were decorated with Lapis lazuli, have been exhibited in this hall. These relics date back to the 6th century AH. Most of the relics are decorated in black in this hall.
    
     
  • Lapis lazuli Hall (II)
    Some glassware relics dating back to the 11th to 13th century AH have been exhibited in this hall. Also, there is a ceramic inscription which glazed with seven colors, dating back to the Qajar era.

• Visiting information

  It is better to know some information about the visiting time and the payment for it.
  • Visiting the Abgineh Museum for foreign visitors costs 1,500,000 IRR.
  • During spring and summer, you can visit the Abgineh Museum from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM.
  • During Autumn and Winter, you can visit the Abgineh Museum from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

• What is the best time to go?

You can visit the Abgineh Museum during all seasons. Moreover, this museumis  located on 30th Tir Street.

• Getting there

You can reach the Abgineh Museum via private car and public transportation, such asthe  metro and bus. It is better to use public transportation because you can’t find a parking space near the museum.

Metro: Get off at Imam Khomeini station, reach the Imam Khomeini, then 30th Tir Street.

Bus: You can take a bus from Jomhouri to Baharestan. Get off at Hafez station, then walk to 30th Tir Street by walking.