Given to the antiquity of carpet weaving in Iran which dates back to the Acheamenid dynasty the necessity of establishing a museum has been highly apparent. The Carpet Museum of Tehran was constructed in 1356 SH, Bahman 22, representing a collection of the most noble and invaluable hand woven carpets. The architecture of the museum is highly spectacular and glorious. The decorations on the external facade of the museum is exactly similar to a carpet loom. The exhibition ground of the museum includes two halls the first one has been designed for permanent exhibitions and the second floor’s hall has been dedicated to the temporary exhibitions of carpet and Kilim.

The most valuable samples of Persian carpets and Kilims related to a period between the 9th century and the contemporary time are kept here categorized based upon their quality, antiquity, and given to the other features of Persian carpets in terms of dying, design, pattern, weaving and the verity of carpet weaving centers. There are about 135 masterpieces of Persian carpets woven in the main centers such as Kashan, Kerman, Isfahan, Tabriz, Khorasan, Kurdistan and other regions exhibited in the hall of the first floor. A library including different books in Farsi, Arabic, French, English and German languages and a book store are the other 

Undoubtedly, carpet has been and is one of the most beautiful and perfect manifestations of Iranian art, which has been woven since ancient times and perfected in different periods. Carpets are woven throughout Iran, in different cities, and have found an independent identity in accordance with the geography and culture of each region. The Carpet Museum of Iran is an important showcase for getting to know the depth of this aspect of Iranian art and craft.

In the Carpet Museum of Iran, which was founded in 1979 AD, all kinds of Iranian carpets are exhibited over a space of 3400 thousand square meters. The building of this museum started in 1961 AD and was initially supposed to be a carpet gallery, but it remained abandoned for 15 years and, thereafter, it was renovated and turned into the Carpet Museum of Iran.

This museum was designed by a person by the name of Abdulaziz Farmanfarmaian. The special design of this museum, which looks like a carpet from the outside, manifests the smart use of architectural elements to make this building as much as possible compatible with the works displayed in it.

Different Sections of the Carpet Museum of Iran

The Carpet Museum of Iran exhibits hand-woven carpets and rugs on two floors. While the hall on the first floor is a permanent exhibition, the hall on the second floor is dedicated to the temporary exhibition of carpets and related objects. The first floor has the capacity for displaying 150 pieces of carpets, and there are, generally, 135 pieces of Iranian carpet masterpieces on display for the visitors.

In most cases, the oldest exhibited samples belong to the Safavid period. Sometimes, too, some contemporary products that have a distinct aspect in terms of quality and design can be seen.

When visiting this museum, one can see some rare traditional patterns and designs; designs that use portraits, paisley, citron triangles, and animal motifs.

One of the remarkable aspects of this museum is that some carpets that were woven by order of the Polish royal court during the Safavid era are on display in it. Exquisite Tabrizi pictorial carpets and carpets with images from Baysunghur Shahnameh are among the most spectacular works exhibited in this museum.

The Carpet Museum of Iran also houses a rich library, with about 3500 books in different languages, including Persian, English, Arabic, French, and German in the field of Iranian carpets and art. There is also a cinema in this museum, where one can watch various movies related to the art of designing and weaving carpets and rugs.

Objects on Display at the Carpet Museum of Iran

Generally speaking, all the carpets in the Carpet Museum of Iran can be divided into two categories:

• Carpets, which are woven in different cities that are considered the main centers of carpet weaving of Iran (such as Kashan, Kerman, Isfahan, Tabriz, Khorasan, Kurdistan, etc.), and

• Nomadic carpets woven by Iranian nomads of different regions of the country including the northwest (Shahsavan carpets), west (Bakhtiari, Kurdish, and Lori carpets), northeast (Turkmen carpets), and southeast (Baloch carpets).

Carpet weaving related items such as dyeing equipment, loom-making instruments, some natural materials used in this craft, dyed yarns, various carpet weaving tools, and vertical and horizontal carpet looms are other objects that are on display in the Carpet Museum of Iran.

There is a map at the entrance of the main hall on the first floor, which provides information about the most famous carpet weaving centers in Iran. In the course of visiting the Carpet Museum of Iran, it is also possible to get familiar with the technique of carpet weaving.

Where Is the Carpet Museum of Iran Located?

The Carpet Museum of Iran is located on the northern side of Laleh Park of Tehran, which is one of the largest parks of this city being located there - in the heart of Tehran - has made it easily accessible.

In the Carpet Museum of Iran, which was founded in 1979 AD, all kinds of Iranian carpets are exhibited over a space of 3400 thousand square meters.