Moghadam museum house
Moghadam Museum is a world known to be one of the most valuable houses in the world. The museum complex consists of the house itself and a beautiful garden, safely hidden from street noise behind thick walls. The entrance of the museum is not obvious from the street, but ready to open all its beauty for curious travelers who notice the modest door of the museum.
History of Moghadam Museum
The house is a luxurious example of Qajar era buildings. Originally, it belonged to one of the city authorities, Ehtesab-Ol-Molk. Later, his son, Mohsen Moghadam, inherited the house and owned it together with his companion Salma. Besides being an architectural and cultural monument itself, the house is an incredible collection of priceless objects.
The house has passed to Tehran University that continued its supervision after Mohsen’s death. In 2009, the house was restored and opened for publicity as a museum.
Architecture of Moghadam Museum
The building consists of two parts: interior and external wings. Decoration of the house is typical for that period style: colorful tiles, columns, and arches create a unique authentic atmosphere. The peaceful garden is full of blooming trees, flowers, and bushes, decorated with turquoise fountains and sculptures. The garden is especially breathtaking during springtime when nature wakes up in gentle sunshine.
One of the rooms of the house is decorated with precious and semi-precious stones and corals. Also guests can admire unique golden tiles, decorating one of the walls.
Exposition of Moghadam Museum
Mohsen Moghadam was a painter, archeologist, and art professor. Both he and Salma were passionate about culture and history, and that is the reason why they have dedicated their lives to collecting and gathering valuable objects from all over the world, keeping them inside the house and taking care of them as their children to pass to the next generations. Some of the pieces Moghadam bought from merchants, some took out from houses which their owners intended to destroy, some returned back from abroad after detractors and foreign collectors smuggled them out. Several items were a gift to Moghadam from foreign ambassadors and guests of his house.
Visitors now can observe one exhibit of Mohsen’s rare textiles collection. The other samples are in a frozen condition in order to prevent them from destruction. There are some red potteries from Cheshmeh Ali archeological complex that dates back to the 5th millennium B.C. In addition, the exhibition contains paintings, mosaics, sculptures, and other items along with photos of Mohsen and Salma.
