Abgineh and Pottery Museum

The Abgineh and Pottery Museum of Iran (Glass and Ceramics Museum) is one of the most valuable specialized museums in the country and one of the most prominent cultural attractions of Tehran. It is located on historic Si-e Tir Street, in the magnificent house of Ahmad Qavam (Qavam al-Saltaneh). The mansion was built in the 1290s SH (1910s–1920s), in the late Qajar period, and over the years it has served many different purposes, including Qavam's residence, the Egyptian embassy, the office representing Egyptian interests, the Bazargani Bank and, finally, a museum. On 7 Ordibehesht 1377 the museum building was entered in Iran's National Heritage list under registration number 2014, and today it is known as the country's first and only specialized glass and ceramics museum. Set in a garden of about 7,000 square metres, the complex displays a captivating blend of Iranian and European architecture and welcomes large numbers of domestic and international visitors every year.

The museum building has two floors and five main halls: the Enamel (Mina), Crystal (Bolur), Shell (Sadaf), Gold (Zarrin) and Lapis Lazuli (Lajvard) halls. It houses a valuable collection of Iranian glass and pottery from the 6th millennium BC to the Qajar period. Among its most notable pieces are the glass tubes discovered at Chogha Zanbil, prehistoric pottery, lustre-painted vessels of the Seljuk period, glazed works of the Ilkhanid and Timurid periods, and exquisite glassware of the Islamic era. The interior design is also one of its main features: display cases inspired by the columns of Persepolis, the Tachara Palace, the Kaaba-ye Zartosht and Iranian architecture, together with a wooden staircase inspired by Russian architecture, wood carving, stucco work, mirror work and more than 50 types of decorative brickwork on the façade, give this historic mansion a rare splendour. The museum's specialized library, with thousands of volumes on archaeology, history, art and architecture, is another valuable part of the complex.

The Abgineh Museum is on Si-e Tir Street, just before Jomhuri Street, in the historic centre of Tehran, and is very easy to reach via the Imam Khomeini, Hasan Abad and Saadi metro stations. You can combine your visit with a stroll along Si-e Tir Street and a visit to other nearby historic attractions such as the National Museum of Iran, the Adrian Fire Temple and St. Peter's Church. The best time to visit is spring or autumn, or early in the day, when the weather is pleasant and there are fewer crowds. During your visit, keeping quiet, not touching the historical objects, taking photographs in accordance with museum rules and respecting the cultural atmosphere of the place will play an important part in preserving this valuable treasure for future generations.