Nikdel House

Tabriz is a historical city that had been, due to its proximity to the Silk Road, the center of attention. Certain natural incidents, especially the earthquake that shook this city towards the end of the 19th century, have destroyed many beautiful historical monuments of this city. However, some of the buildings of the Qajar era (19th century AD), such as the ones located in the Maqsoudiyeh neighborhood, have survived. Nikdel House is one of the most beautiful and spectacular houses of the Qajar area, the unique architecture of which and the objects preserved in it have made it a must-see site!

History of Nikdel House

Built by Seyyed Ebrahim Nikdel, a famous merchant of Tabriz, in the 19th century, this house underwent restoration in 2012 and was made into a tourist attraction.

Some experts believe that the architecture of the interior of the house is similar to the architecture of the houses built during the Zend era (late 18th century AD). According to these experts, the inner part was built during the Zand period and the outer part was built during the Qajar era.

Sattar Khan in Nikdel House

Some historians believe that Sattar Khan, the leader of the Tabriz people's struggles during the Constitutional Revolution, was responsible for keeping horses in this house during his youth. According to them, sometime later, he married the daughter of the then owner of the house, i.e. Salar Qoli Khan, and gained great prestige as the son-in-law of the house.

Architecture and Features of Nikdel House

The Nikdel House stands out among the historical mansions of Tabriz, because of its mirror decorations. A treasure of old items and beautiful paintings have made the inner area of this house outstanding. Nikdel was a businessman and imported such items as photography cameras, sewing machines, and home appliances from Japan. Some of these devices, especially old photography devices and sewing machines can be seen in different parts of this house, which have made this historical mansion look outstandingly interesting.

The house has two entrances. The first one, which is the main entrance, opens to the main yard, and the other entrance connects the other yard of the house to the Maqsoudiyeh sidewalk. Like most old Iranian houses, this house was also built with two parts, referred to as exterior and interior. The inner part was the residence of the owner’s family and the outer part was the place for receiving guests and accommodating them during their stay. The main entrance of the house, which is accessible from an alley, opens to the main courtyard of the outer part, decorated with small gardens of flowers and a beautiful pond in the center. The statue of Seyyed Ebrahim Nikdel can be seen in the courtyard of this part of the house.

The façade of this house is similar to that of Behnam House, which is located nearby. The house is built on two floors and has windows with colored panes and arches that make it stand out. Each arch is based on tall columns and decorated with eye-catching plaster works.

The house also has a cellar, which is accessible through a staircase located in the corner of the yard. This cellar has arches and brick walls that can amaze every tourist. There is also a pool in the middle of the basement that balances the temperature in the summer and created a suitable environment for the residents of the house to live in the hot summer.

There is a large rectangular hall inside the building, which is called “Shahneshin” (alcove). Two corridors in the east of the hall lead to two rooms that have been beautifully constructed by using marble and exquisite painting.

The eastern corridor of the house connects it to the inner courtyard located in the west of the building. A relatively smaller hall and several rooms around the courtyard are the main components of this section.

Visiting this house during the day, especially when the sunlight shines through the stained window panes can be very pleasing. Plaster works have been used everywhere in the house, and their arabesque designs are indescribably beautiful. The beautiful mirror work of this house distinguishes it from other historical mansions of Tabriz.

Nikdel House was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage in the year 2003.

Nikdel House is one of the most beautiful and spectacular houses of the Qajar area, the unique architecture of which and the objects preserved in it have made it a must-see site!