SAEDNEWS: The Tehran Carpet Museum showcases decades of craftsmanship, featuring the most remarkable and valuable carpets from across Iran. A visit promises a truly artful and memorable experience.
The Iranian carpet has long been celebrated as one of the most authentic and exquisite arts of Iranian craftsmanship. Admired worldwide, these carpets showcase a wide array of designs and patterns, reflecting unique creativity and exceptional skill. To honor and display this extraordinary heritage, the Iran Carpet Museum was established in Tehran, featuring a modern architectural design reminiscent of a traditional weaving loom. The museum offers visitors an immersive experience into the magnificent artistry of Persian carpets.
If you plan to visit Tehran, head to the northern part of Laleh Park to explore this unique museum. Commissioned by Farah Pahlavi, the museum houses an extensive collection of historical and valuable carpets, offering enthusiasts a chance to view a diverse range of Persian rugs, kilims, and traditional patterns.
On the ground floor, visitors can see carpets dating from the 9th century AH to the present, including 135 masterpieces from major weaving centers like Kashan, Tabriz, Isfahan, Khorasan, Kurdistan, and Kerman. Each piece reflects Iran’s rich literature, mythology, religion, culture, and art.
Over the years, the museum has hosted various exhibitions, such as:
Boteh Pattern Exhibition
Prayer Rugs and Mihrab Designs
Raised-Flower Carpets
Handwoven Works by Iranian Armenians
These exhibitions have drawn visitors from all over the world.
The museum also features a library with 3,500 books in Persian, Arabic, French, English, and German, as well as thousands of articles on carpet-making and Persian art. Films and slideshows on traditional weaving and handicrafts are regularly shown to educate and engage the public.
1. Baysonqor Carpets: Some pieces date back to the Baysonqor era and depict scenes from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, crafted in the workshop of Master Mousavi Seerat.
2. Toranj-Dar Carpets: These 14th-century pieces, woven with cotton warp and wool pile, are among the museum’s prized possessions.
3. Mirza Kuchak Khan Jungle Rug: This 110-year-old handwoven rug was unveiled in 2018 and remains one of the museum’s most valued artifacts.
4. Carpets from the ‘Omo Oghli’ Workshop: Three masterfully woven pieces from one of Iran’s most famous historical workshops.
5. The Isa (Jesus) Kilim with Apostles: A mesmerizing Kurdish handwoven kilim representing religious and cultural artistry.
6. The World’s Oldest Carpet – Pazyryk: Discovered in 1949 in southern Siberia by Russian archaeologist Sergey Rudenko, this woolen carpet measures 1.98 x 1.89 meters and dates back to the Achaemenid era, showcasing Iran’s long carpet-weaving tradition.
The museum’s modern façade mimics a weaving loom and the black tents of nomadic tribes, connecting form and function. Designed by Abdolaziz Farmanfarmayan, a Paris-trained architect, the building spans 12,000 square meters, with a 3,400-square-meter exhibition area for carpets.
The interior features:
Two main halls: Ground floor (1,500 sqm) for permanent exhibits and Second floor (800 sqm) for seasonal exhibitions
Library, management offices, classrooms, and a tea house
Climate control system maintaining 19–24°C temperature and 52–54% humidity, essential for preserving organic carpet fibers
Strategic lighting for each carpet to highlight intricate details
The main entrance is set within a recessed garden area, leading visitors past green spaces to a roofless prayer hall designed by Kamran Diba, with nested concrete cubes aligned to the Qibla.
Location: Northern Laleh Park, Tehran – at the intersection of Dr. Fatemi Street and North Kargar Street. Accessible via:
Metro: Enqelab Square Station (Line 4), followed by a taxi to Dr. Fatemi & Kargar intersection
Bus: Routes from Azadi Square to Haft-e-Tir and Azadi Square to Vali Asr
Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed on official holidays and Mondays.
Ticket Price: 2,500 IRR for both locals and international visitors.
Construction began in 1961 (1340 AH) but faced delays, resuming in 1976 (1355 AH) and officially opening on February 11, 1978 (22 Bahman 1356 AH). The museum combines heritage, modernity, and Persian artistry, making it a must-visit cultural attraction in Tehran.
