Reza Abbasi Museum

Reza Abbasi Museum

The Reza Abbasi Museum is one of the richest and most important museums in Iran. It was inaugurated on September 16, 1977, and named in memory of the famous painter of the Safavid era, Reza Abbasi.

The museum building originally belonged to a furniture and home décor exhibition, but due to its architectural features and location, it attracted the attention of the authorities at the time and was purchased from the original owner. The museum was officially inaugurated in October 1977 by Farah Pahlavi to preserve valuable artifacts as well as royal gifts, but it was closed exactly one year later, in November 1978. During this period, from 1976 to 1979, the museum was managed by Aydin Aghdashloo.

The emblem of the Reza Abbasi Museum was designed by Morteza Momayez (known as the father of Iranian graphic design) in 1976. He said about designing this emblem: “I had a valuable opportunity to design the museum’s symbol because this painter is a distinguished ancestor of my family; that’s why I eagerly began the work. I sat beside Mohammad Ehsai and benefited from his patience, constantly passing the twists and turns to his pen and hand until the text composition was achieved. Then, in my studio, I worked extensively on the overall layout. Aydin Aghdashloo also made some adjustments to the floral motifs.”

At the end of 1979, the museum was reopened once again after modifications to its interior layout and the expansion of its exhibition space. In 1984, due to internal operational issues, the museum was closed again, only to reopen a year later. However, this reopening was short-lived, and the museum closed once more that same year. Finally, on February 4, 2001, the museum reopened for the fifth time following extensive renovations. Currently, the museum is managed under the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization, with Shahram Heydarabadian serving as its director.

Halls

This museum houses artworks from the prehistoric period up to the 13th century AH, displayed across three halls:

• Pre-Islamic Hall

• Islamic Arts Hall

• Painting and Calligraphy Hall

Collections

Bust of a Nobleman – Lapis Lazuli – Sassanian Period

The collections on display in this museum are highly diverse, encompassing works from the 2nd millennium BCE up to the early 20th century, marking the end of the Qajar period. The artifacts are arranged chronologically, allowing visitors to trace the development of art, civilization, and culture in the Iranian lands. This type of arrangement is unique among museums in Iran.

The Luristan Goat Statue – Reza Abbasi Museum

The restoration and conservation department of the museum, equipped with two laboratories and a workshop, is dedicated to the restoration and repair of paintings, metal objects, and manuscripts, making it one of the most advanced restoration workshops in the country. Consequently, this workshop not only restores artifacts within the Reza Abbasi Museum but also undertakes the repair of works sent from other museums across Iran.

The museum’s library holds over 10,000 books in Persian, English, French, and German. It also subscribes to more than 50 domestic journals and 60 foreign journals. This library is available for use by museum staff, employees of the Cultural Heritage Organization, professors, students, and cultural researchers.

Publications Department

The museum’s publications department has so far published a variety of reference books on Iranian art and history.

Museum Floors

First Floor

This floor is dedicated to displaying painting and calligraphy works. The highlight of this section is the oldest surviving leaf from the Shahnameh-ye Demut, dating to the mid-8th century AH.

Second Floor

This floor showcases Islamic-era artifacts across two halls.

Third Floor

The third floor houses the library and the Pre-Islamic Hall. In the Pre-Islamic Hall, golden rhytons from the Achaemenid period and silver vessels from the Sassanian era are prominently displayed.