GLASS AND CERAMICS MUSEUM (ABGINEH)

Despite its modest size, it is one of the most beautiful museums in the capital. It houses thirteen departments in a small palace marvel dating from the Qadjar dynasty (1794-1925). The building, in the heart of a charming small garden, was built to serve as a private residence for a large Persian family. He hosted the Egyptian Embassy for a period of time. An oriental and western style marriage, this pavilion has an elegant spiral wood staircase leading to the rooms on the first floor. The woodwork, delicately carved, and the mouldings of classical stucco on walls and ceilings are lovely. Among the large exposed and well-staged collections, we will focus especially on the beautiful rock crystal pieces, some of which date back to the achaemenid era, and the beautiful ceramics of Kashan from archaeological excavations.

There are also very beautiful perfume vials, some dated the Third millennium B.C. and come from Choqa Zambil, where one of the largest glassware in the ancient world was found. On the floor you will find more late glass and ceramic productions dating from the Islamic period. If it's still the glass objects that tend to look, don't miss to look at three small bowls of clay entirely covered with a fine handwriting identified as Aramaic.

After the destruction of the workshops during the Mongolian invasion, it was necessary to wait for decades before a renewal of techniques and the emergence of new craft began. These are the new techniques of this period, which are set out in the third room on the floor, especially with very beautiful parts from the production centres of Shiraz and Isfahan. The small shop offers a guide to the museum in English, a few replicas of exposed pieces and silver jewelry and turquoise.