TEHRAN – Due to “great success”, the exhibition “Ancient Iranian Storytellers: Objects from the National Museum Collection” has been extended by one month and will be open to the public until December 21.
As stated by the organizers, this “comprehensive” exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of Iran’s history and features more than 330 items excavated from around 80 different sites. The exhibition presents a unique collection that combines rarely seen items from the National Museum’s collections with items from the Museum of Ancient Iran and the Museum of Islamic Archeology and Art, as well as artifacts previously featured at the Glory of Ancient Persia exhibition in China.
The exhibition consists of three main galleries that trace the history of Iran. The first one is dedicated to Iran’s prehistory, especially the Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Chalcolithic periods. Important locations with exhibits include Wesme Cave, Abdul Hossein, and San-e Chahmak. The Director-General added: “Visitors will be able to see the San-e Chahmak bone flute, which is currently the oldest known musical instrument in Iran.”
The second gallery is dedicated to the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Elamite, Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian periods. ” Notable works in this gallery include Bronze Age artefacts from Shah-e-Sukhteh, Shahada, and Jiroft in southeastern Iran. Since the Iron Age, prominent works from sites such as Mallik, Hasanlu, Karaichi, and Lorestan are on display, including the golden bowls of Hasanlul and Mallik, which are among the prominent works of art from this period in the National Museum of Iran. Artifacts from the Elamite and Median civilizations also feature in this gallery.
The third gallery of the exhibition displays artifacts from Iran’s Islamic period. The gallery consists of two sections and displays a selection of Iran’s rich heritage from the Islamic period in the fields of calligraphy, metalwork, and textiles. The first section of the gallery displays outstanding works from the early centuries to the Qajar period, including the Ilkhanid Muhaqqaq Quran from 704 AD (1305 AD), the Masaryk-va-Mamalik manuscript, Ilkhanid mihrab tiles, astrolabes, and Seljuk celestial globes.
According to the organizers, the second section of the third gallery also features exquisite textiles from the Safavid era, displaying brilliant examples of Iranian textile art. It features pieces such as silk brocade (zarbakht) with a delicate Gol-o-Morg (flower and bird) pattern, satin fabric with a golden background, and brocade border (zari), all woven in workshops in Isfahan, the capital of the art-loving Safavid dynasty. Crafted with astonishing detail from silk and gold thread, these precious textiles testify to the splendor and artistic flair of the Safavid court and textile industry.
For those planning a visit, this prestigious exhibition is open Saturday to Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours will be extended on Thursday and Friday, with exhibits open until 6 p.m.
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