The Qajar Museum of Tabriz is housed in one of the city’s historic residences. This mansion once belonged to Amir Nezam Garousi, a prominent statesman and writer, and was regarded as one of the most beautiful houses in Tabriz. After being appointed Minister, Garousi served for a time as Iran’s ambassador to England, France, and the Ottoman Empire. Upon his return and appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he imported advanced machinery to Iran — some of the most modern equipment of its time — which was used for minting coins and printing. He also played a key role in the establishment of Mozafariyeh and Roshdieh schools, two of Tabriz’s oldest educational institutions, significantly contributing to the city’s scientific and academic development. The Mozafariyeh School, also known as the Dar al-Fonoon of Tabriz, was considered one of the most important schools of its era in Azerbaijan.
History of the Qajar Museum of Tabriz
The Qajar Museum of Tabriz is located in the Amir Nezam Garousi House, near the Maqbarat-o-Shoara (Tomb of Poets) — one of the city’s oldest and most famous cemeteries. Around 400 poets who lived in different historical periods are buried there, among whom Shahriar, the renowned contemporary Iranian poet, is one of the most famous. The construction of this building dates back to the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (1848–1896 CE / 1227–1275 SH). Amir Nezam Garousi built the house for his residence during the time he held an administrative position in Azerbaijan. After his death, the governors of Azerbaijan resided in the mansion. However, following the fall of the Qajar dynasty in 1925 (1304 SH) and the rise of the Pahlavi government, the house was taken over by the state. In the years that followed, due to neglect and lack of maintenance, large parts of the building were damaged and deteriorated. In 1991 (1370 SH), the ownership of the house changed. After a comprehensive restoration project in 2006 (1385 SH), it was repurposed as the Qajar Museum of Tabriz thanks to its traditional features and unique architectural characteristics. The Amir Nezam Garousi House (Qajar Museum) was officially registered on Iran’s National Heritage List in 1996 (1375 SH).
Architecture of the Qajar Museum of Tabriz
The total area of the land on which the Amir Nezam Garousi House was built is about 3,000 square meters, and the mansion itself has two floors with an infrastructure of nearly 1,500 square meters. The basement of the building features a large pool hall (Howz-khaneh), renowned as one of the most beautiful parts of the entire structure. The pool hall which is connected to the courtyard and rooms through several corridors, and the brickwork decorations on the ceiling add an indescribable charm to this section of the building. Opposite the museum’s main entrance, there is an inscribed genealogy of the Qajar dynasty, along with a section of the tribal history of the Qajars displayed on a stone plaque. The house has two courtyards — the inner (Andaruni) and the outer (Biruni) — each featuring gardens and multiple pools. A veranda supported by 16 beautifully decorated columns and capitals stands out as one of the architectural highlights of the mansion. The ornate sash windows (Orosi) with colored glass, alongside the stucco decorations on the northern and southern façades, and the mirrorwork and stucco ornaments inside the halls, make visiting this historical complex a delightful experience for every tourist.
Sections of the Qajar Museum of Tabriz
The museum consists of numerous halls. On the upper floor are the Hall of Coins, Hall of Textiles, Hall of Porcelain, Hall of Glassware, Hall of Metals, Hall of Music, and Hall of Inlay Work. The basement includes the Hall of Stone Artefacts, Hall of Weapons, Hall of Statesmen and Decrees, Hall of Architecture and Urban Planning, Hall of Locks, and Hall of Lanterns, each displaying a variety of historical objects. Among the most notable items in the museum are inlaid works, metal tools, musical instruments, glassware, and porcelain vessels. A section of the museum is also dedicated to displaying some of the earliest photographs taken in Iran after the arrival of the first cameras during the reign of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar. Additionally, statues of prominent figures from the Qajar era—such as Mirza Isa Qa’em-Maqam Farahani, Mirza Abu’l-Qasem Qa’em-Maqam Farahani, Amir Nezam Zangeneh, Amir Nezam Garousi, and Amir Kabir—are displayed throughout the museum.
