History and introduction of the different sections of the museum

Museum of the Institute of Iranian History and Culture

The Museum of the Institute of Iranian History and Culture at the University of Tabriz was established in July 1949. This initiative arose from a proposal by the relevant authorities of the Faculty of Literature, occurring merely two years after the establishment of the University of Tabriz itself. Consequently, this museum is recognized as the second cultural-historical museum founded in Iran, following the Museum of Ancient Iran (the National Museum, established in 1937). Furthermore, it holds the distinction of being the inaugural university and research museum within the country. The museum is situated within the premises of the University’s Central Library and is organized into several specialized sections: Coins and Seals, Carpets and Textiles, Calligraphy, Anthropology, the Islamic Revolution and Sacred Defense, Ceramics, and Archaeology.

Archaeology Section

This section showcases a diverse collection of historical and cultural artifacts, spanning from the 2nd millennium BCE (Iron Age) to the Safavid era. On display are glazed and unglazed pottery vessels, metal objects and tools (silver, bronze, brass), stone inscriptions, stone and earthenware beads (such as those used as spindle whorls), ceramic figurines, bone objects, and stone arrowheads.

Notable items among the unglazed pottery include black and gray ceramics discovered from the ancient Hasanlu Tepe, which were crafted using a potter’s wheel. The age of these vessels dates back to the late 2nd millennium and the 1st millennium BCE. These ceramics achieved their distinct color due to a different cooking technique, as this type of pottery was exclusively cooked in enclosed kilns. Other interesting examples from Hasanlu in the museum’s collection are a duck-shaped pottery oil lamp, a small fig-shaped pottery jug, and a pottery sarcophagus.

Among the glazed pottery artifacts in the Archaeology section, notable items from the Seljuk, Ilkhanid, and Timurid periods include tall-necked glass jars, inscribed plates from Nishabur during the Seljuk era, and gilt ware from the Ilkhanid period. Additionally, Qing-style porcelain from the Safavid period, known as “white and blue”, attracts every viewer’s attention. These porcelain pieces were crafted during Shah Abbas I, by Chinese artisans commissioned by him, and were dedicated to the tomb of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili. All these inscribed vessels bear Shah Abbas’s stamp with the phrase “Dedicated to the Shrine of Sheikh Safi, made by the servant of Shah, Abbas.”

 The Luristan Bronzes are among the other noteworthy objects displayed in this section. The approximate dating of the Bronze Age in Iran is 3000-1500 BCE. Bronze is an alloy composed of copper and tin, or copper and arsenic. The museum’s bronze artifacts include tools and military implements, cosmetic and ornamental-ritual objects, and various vessels. These artifacts date back to the 1st millennium BCE. Bronze idols, daggers, sword blades, decorated bronze mace heads, decorative axes shaped like animal and bird heads, and plates with regularly spaced almond-shaped indentations are among the notable bronze objects in the museum.

Section of Coins and Seals

This hall displays a collection of historical coins minted during various periods, including coins from before and after the Islamic era. According to archaeological findings, the first coin minting in Iran dates back to Darius I of the Achaemenid Empire. The collection includes silver Lydian coins (considered the first coins in the world), coins from the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian periods, as well as coins from dependent states (Satrapies). Notable Islamic-era coins include the Arghun and Oljeitu coins, which bear the inscription “Ali Wali Allah,” and a Timurid Babur coin featuring Shia symbols — all key examples in this section.

In addition to the coins, there are also bronze ring seals from the Sasanian period. A cylindrical seal made of marine shell stone from the ancient site of Jiroft is another prominent artifact in this section.

Section of Calligraphy

This section features examples of various handwriting styles, including Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, Nasta’liq, and others, penned by renowned Iranian calligraphers such as Mir Emad and Yaqut Musta’sami. Additionally, exquisite handwritten and stone-printed manuscripts are displayed, captivating the attention of visitors. The oldest artifact in this hall dates back to the early Islamic centuries. Key pieces in this section include a reconciliation document related to the village of Alaki of Marand from 791 AH, illuminated handwritten books such as the Sahifa Sajjadiyya by Mirzadeh Shafi Tabrizi, Zad al-Ma’ad by Mirza Baba, Khamsa of Nizami by Mohammad Momen, and a portion of the Holy Quran in the Naskh script by Salah al-Din al-Safadi from the Timurid era. Furthermore, calligraphy pieces by famous masters such as Baba Shah, Abd al-Baqi Tabrizi, Javaher Ghalam, and Abd al-Majid Darvish, along with a watercolor floral painting by Mirza Aqa Shizari (known as Fursat Shirazi), are among the other interesting works in this collection.

Anthropology Section

In this section of the museum, historical objects such as armor, maces, and an exquisite helmet belonging to Georgian Safi Quli Khan, one of the commanders of Shah Abbas I, also decorative pendants, lanterns, water jugs, pen cases, and agricultural tools and everyday items from the Safavid period to the contemporary era, along with an educational map are on display. A steel safe with oil paintings on its body from the Qajar period, a muzzle-loading rifle with an inlaid stock and engraved barrel, a lacquered pen case, and an inlaid wooden mirror from the Qajar period are among the other fascinating objects in this section.

Textiles and Weavings Section

This section, dedicated to displaying hand-woven artifacts, is located adjacent to the Anthropology Section. The items in this section also span the Safavid to Qajar periods. Three woolen rugs (prayer rugs) – two dating back to the Safavid era and one to the Qajar period – a piece of brocade fabric with an inscription of Surah An-Nasr from the Qajar era, and a gold-woven banner (ceremonial) with a silk border from the Safavid period are considered the prominent objects in this section.

Islamic Revolution and Holy Defense Section

The Islamic Revolution and the Holy Defense (Iran-Iraq War) are two significant events in the history of Iran, and it is expected that all segments of society, especially the new generation, become familiar with all their realities and various aspects. The Museum of the Institute of Iranian History and Culture, in accordance with its educational and research mission, and in order to preserve the values of the Islamic Revolution and the Holy Defense, has established this section. In this section, a collection of works including photographs, memoirs of fighters from the shah era (pre-revolutionary period), memoirs of combatants, wills of martyrs, and some valuable artifacts and equipment related to the martyrs and combatants are on display.