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The Museums of the Astan Quds Razavi
Imam Khomeini (R.A.), founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran: Art breathes the spirit of commitment in mankind.
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatullah al-Uzma Sayyid Ali Khamnaee: Culture is not comparable to anything else in terms of its effect on the future of a nation and a country.
Ayatollah Waiz Tabasi, the Reverend Representative of Wali Faqih (the Supreme Leader) in Khurasan and the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi: Museums are lessons; they convey messages to humans and give them the lesson of attempt, endeavor, and hope. Museums avoid humans from depression, inaction, and isolation. They spur the elites and thinkers to contemplate more in order to be far-sighted and to care for national interests, cultural affairs, and values.
Introduction
Museum is a place for displaying the culture and art of a nation or country in which the history of different peoples and relations among humans as well as the way they lived are illustrated.
Hence, museums and directing museums hold a special position in our country and in recent years, some of these cultural centers have shown a considerable growth.
Undergone an extensive change both in nature and structure by the wise leadership of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) after victory of the Islamic revolution, Astan Quds Razavi witnessed a shining era under the direction of Ayatollah Waiz Tabasi. This golden age formed under the successful Islamic management and now reaching its maturity has offered numerous advantages to the Islamic society, culture, and art of this country so that today, Astan Quds Razavi is regarded as one of pioneers in the domain of elevated religious culture and art in the country, rather, across the Islamic world.
Astan Quds Razavi has always paid special attention toward culture and art so that today the effect of such special view of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi is comprehendible more than before in benefiting the artistic society from the advantages that have made it admirable.
In this regard, possessing different specialized museums with exquisite objects therein, Astan Quds Razavi can be considered as a pioneer in the domain of museum holding in the country and even in the world, and it can be said undoubtedly that it is one of big poles of museum holding across the country and the region. Importantly, some of the museums established after the victory of the Islamic revolution such as the specialized Carpet Museum that is the result of the special view of Astan Quds Razavi and its endeavor for promoting further the Islamic art and national rich culture are regarded as peerless specialized museums in this domain that enjoy modern and favorable facilities.
With purpose of introducing the cultural and artistic complexes in the shape of various museums of Astan Quds Razavi, this booklet tries to describe about extensive cultural and artistic activities of Astan Quds Razavi while also presenting useful information about those museums.
We hope that this sincere attempt is accepted and approved by Allah, and Imam Reza (A.S.).
Hussein Yusefi
Director General of Public Relations Office of Astan Quds Razavi
History of Formation of Astan Quds Razavi’s Museums
A glance at the way the Astan Quds Razavi’s museum has formed reveals that the objects donated or dedicated to Astan Quds Razavi by sincere pilgrims of Imam Reza (A.S.) were replaced after a while with other donated or dedicated objects when needed, so that this complex was preserved in a certain place called treasury (Khazaneh) uselessly, and this formed the initial basis of Astan Quds Razavi’s museum.
The first museum of Astan Quds Razavi was put into construction in 1316 H.Sh. and was inaugurated in 1324 H.Sh. at the mausoleum of the late Sheikh Bahaei. In this time a number of objects existing in the treasury were selected to be put on show in the halls of this museum with cooperation of archeologists of Iran Bastan Museum. In 1356 H.Sh. the objects of the museum were transferred to a new building in the eastern part of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) courtyard-the current Imam Khomeini (R.A.) portico-for preservation and display, and the general museum of Astan Quds Razavi was inaugurated in the ground floor of the new building. After the victory of Islamic revolution, thanks to the special view of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi toward cultural and artistic affairs, Astan Quds Razavi’s museum was extended and developed and in 1378 H.Sh. it was divided into 12 museums and a specialized Carpet Museum.
Glorious Qur’an and Exquisites Treasury, Supreme Leader’s Gifts Treasury, Carpet Museum, Mashhad History Treasury, Painting Treasury, Visual Arts Treasury, Treasury of Stamps, Banknotes, and Coins, Astronomy and Clock Treasury, Dishes Treasury, Weapons Treasury, Aquatics Treasury, Medals Treasury, and Anthropology Museum are precious museums that are largely visited each day by people interested in historical works.
Glorious Qur’an and Exquisites Treasury
This treasury has been constructed within 1360 H.Sh/1983 A.D. to 1362 H.Sh/1985 A.D. The most singular exquisite manuscripts of this museum are precious manuscripts of the Glorious Qur\'an ascribed to the handwritings of the Infallible Imams (A.S.) including Imam Ali (A.S.), Imam Hasan (A.S.), Imam Hussein (A.S.), Imam Sajjad (A.S.) and Imam Reza (A.S.) inscribed in “Kufi” script on the (deer) skin; most of them are dedicated to Astan Quds Razavi by Shah Abbas Safavi.
The oldest manuscript of the Glorious Qur’an dates back to 393 A.H, dedicated to the holy shrine by Abu-al- Qasim Mansur ibn-i-Muhammad ibn-i- Kathir, the minister and secretary of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi.
Qur’anic manuscripts have been arranged chronologically and hence they may indicate the developmental trend of the \"Kufi\" script in the Islamic history. With prevalence of \"Naskh\" script in the seventh century of Hijrah, precious copies of the Glorious Qur\'an including those written by \"Yaqut-i-Musta’simi\", the distinguished calligrapher of Mu’tasim Bellah, were mainly inscribed in this script. At present, a collection of two copies of the Glorious Qur’an inscribed by \"Yaqut-i-Mustasimi\" are preserved in this museum.
One copy of the Baberi\'s Glorious Qur\'an, and eight pages of the Glorious Qur\'an ascribed to the handwriting of Baysunqur Mirza, son of lady Gowharshad, are also among the precious works of this museum.
A collection of the manuscripts of the Glorious Qur\'an ascribed to the handwriting of Othman ibn-i- Hussein Warraq is also one of the priceless works preserved in this treasury. This historical collection, inscribed in \"Kufi\" script, dates back to the fifth century of Hijrah, and is considered as one of the most significant masterpieces of the Islamic art. All margins, the beginnings of the holy chapters, and the spaces between the holy verses have been embellished with pure gold.
The building of the Treasury of the Glorious Qur\'an and Exquisites is located at the southeast of the holy shrine and was inaugurated in Bahman, 1364 H.sh. in an area of 687,000 sq.m. and a build-up area of 4,507 sq.m. It consists of two stories each containing 400 sq.m. exhibition space.
Qur\'an Manuscript Ascribed to the Handwriting of Imam Ali (A.S.)
Scriber: ascribed to Imam Ali (A.S.)
Calligraphy: Kufi
Endower: Shah Abbas Safavi
Date of Endowment: 1008 A.H.
Descriptions: Endowment Letter scribed and signed by Sheikh Bahaei
Qur\'an Manuscript with Evolutional Kufi Script
Scriber: Unknown
Calligraphy: Evolutional Kufi
Kind of Sheets: Thick russet paper
Date of Endowment: 393 A.H.
Endower: Abu-al- Qasim Mansur ibn-i-Muhammad ibn-i- Kathir
Thulth-Inscribed Qur’an
Scriber: Mir Abd al-Qader Husseini Shirazi
Calligraphy: Thulth-e-Khush
Kind of Sheets: Khanbaliq paper
Date of Endowment: 970 A.H.
Endower: Sultan Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, the Qutb Shahi King of Golkunda, Hyderabad, India
Qur’an Glassy Crimson Cover
Created by: Ustad Hashem Zarif Tabrizian
Date of Creation: 1325 H.Sh.
Supreme Leader’s Gifts Treasury
The ground floor of the Glorious Qur’an and Exquisites Treasury is assigned to displaying the gifts donated by the Supreme Leader; from among 1400 gifts preserved in this treasury, 222 samples have been put on show. This treasury contains a collection of precious objects including the artistic works of calligraphy and gilding (Tazhib), painting, carpet, glass work, wood muarraq, shell muarraq, needle work, chinaware, crystal, silver, Marquette, medals, etc, granted to the Supreme Leader by the national and foreign figures over years.
Tableau of One Page of Glorious Qur’an Written by Muhaqqeq
Dimensions: 46×56 cm.
Donator: Nabih Barri, Lebanon Current Parliament speaker
Date of Donation: 3/22/1384 H.Sh.
Prayer (Mihrabi) Vase Rug “the Pure Tree” (the Infallible Imams (A.S.)
Weaver and Donator: Sayyedeh Ms. Farideh Musavi
Place of Weaving: Qum
Knot Count: 65 Knots in 6.5 cm.
Kind of Warp: Silk
Kind of Woof: Cotton
Kind of Fuzz: Silk
Enamelwork Dish
Donator: Professor Haj Na’man Mashian, a Chinese Muslim
“Family” Statue
Donator: Robert Mogabeh, Current Zimbabwe President
Date of Donation: 2/18/1378
Carpet Museum
Carpet Specialized Museum
Carpet Specialized Museum was started to found in Tir, 1377 H.Sh. This treasury has precious carpets from past centuries woven specially for the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.). With respect to the importance of the carpet treasury and the exquisite object therein, as well as for specializing this treasury, a new building was planned to be constructed in 1383 H.Sh. thanks to the special attention of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi and the respected Deputy Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi.
Inaugurated in 1390 H.Sh, this building leads to the Central Museum from the north, to the Kawsar courtyard from the east, to the Imam Khomeini (R.A.) portico from the west, and to chambers of the Razavi grand courtyard from the south; it has been constructed with a build-up area of 6,600 sq.m. in four stories-including the warehouse-and a large portion of this building has been assigned to the displaying space and a portion to the administrative sections; it can be accessed through the Central Museum and the Kawsar courtyard.
This treasury is the largest specialized carpet treasury in the world in terms of size and has been equipped with all modern specialized facilities including fire extinguishing system, air conditioning set, specialized quarantine rooms, standard museum lights, pesticide system, maintenance, and so on, and in each floor depending on its space, certain kinds of carpets have been put on show.
Some of the most important works of this treasury are Shah Abbas’ carpets related to Safavid era, the curtain and Amu Ughli carpets, “Haft Shahr-e-Esq” (Seven Love Cities) carpet, Me’raj carpets, etc, recently donated to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.).
Shah Abbasi Spiral (Afshan) Braid-holder Carpet
Design: Spiral (Afshan)
Place of Weaving: Mashhad
Date of Weaving: Safavid Period, Late 10 Century of H.Sh.
Knot Count: 48 Persian (asymmetrical) Knots per 6.5 cm.
Dimensions: 555×355 cm.
Donator: Probably Shah Abbas Safavi
Intertwined Fish Packsaddle
Design: Allover
Place of Weaving: Sanandaj
Date of Weaving: Qajar Period, Middle 13 Century of H.Sh.
Knot Count: 4o Turkish (symmetrical) Knots per 7 cm.
Dimensions: 187×158 cm.
Donator: Committee in Charge of Executing Imam Khomeini’s (R.A.) Commands
Inscriptional Rug, Bearing Imam Reza’s (A.S.) Eulogy
Design: Pictorial
Place of Weaving: Isfahan
Date of Weaving: 1377H.Sh.
Creator: Muhammad Seirafian
Knot Count: 75 Persian (asymmetrical) Knots per 6.5 cm.
Dimensions: 118×193 cm.
Donator: Muhammad Seirafian
Landscape Prayer (Mihrabi) Carpet
Design: Combinational (Prayer-Pictorial)
Place of Weaving: Ardebil
Date of Weaving: Early 14 Century H.Sh.
Knot Count: 30 Turkish (symmetrical) Knots per 7 cm.
Dimensions: 240×390 cm.
Donator: Baqqali Ardebili
“Haft Shahr-e-Eshq” (Seven Love Cities) Carpet
Design: Combinational (Prayer-Pictorial)
Place of Weaving: Isfahan
Date of Weaving: 1353H.Sh.
Creator: Yadullah Safdarzadeh Haqiqi
Knot Count: 75 Persian (asymmetrical) Knots per 6.5 cm.
Dimensions: 370×460 cm.
Donator: Mahdi Safdarzadeh Haqiqi
Ustad Farshchian Hall
Ustad Mahmud Farshchian was born in Isfahan in 1308 H.Sh. His father was a carpet trader and this caused flourishing of his talent and interest in the art such that he practiced designing on the carpet designs since he was very young. He completed his elementary studies under training of Haj Mirza Aqa Emami and learned principles and basics of traditional designing from Ustad Eisa Bahaduri, a distinguished and competent master in carpet designing and miniature.
After completing his studies in Isfahan Fine Arts Art School, he left for Europe to study European leading artistic works. After coming back to Iran, he started working in General Fine Arts Office to be appointed later as the manager of the national arts as well as the teacher of the Fine Arts College of Tehran University. Holding Ph.D. in Iranian painting and Islamic arts from the Culture and Art Council, he also embarks on reading Gnostic literature and poetry as far as he composes poem himself and such a delicate temper is evidently visible in his works.
In expressing the emotions and poetical visualization of sensations in a completely novel method, Ustad Farshchian succeeded to create a beautiful coordination and harmony between the content and the form in his paintings. His works mark a mixture of genuineness, innovation, and highly strong imagination in creativity and beauty.
One special feature of his art is dynamic designs with astonishing power and beauty of wavy and shining colors that involve a pleasant combination of genuineness and creativity. Ustad Farshchian pictures in his works the celestial and immaterial world risen from a delicate and pure soul.
In sketching and using the colors, Ustad Farshchian is strongly competent and the very competence and solidity of drawing lines has made a renowned artist from him. His miniature style in Iranian painting is a novelty that is the result of 50 years of art and competence in creating pleasant works.
Ustad Farshchian’s works are mainly acrylic over acid-free cardboard. With enduring attempt and creating amazing works and inventing a modern style in Iranian painting, Ustad Farshchian has put on show his works in 57 individual and 86 group exhibitions in Iran, Europe, Asian and American countries in the museums and reputable collections across the world.
During 20 recent years, Ustad Farshchian has donated 13 tableaus of his works to the Astan Quds Razavi’s Museum. These works are as follows: The Fifth Day of Creation, Afternoon of Ashura, Shelter (Orphan Caressing of Imam Ali (A.S.), Ya Rab (O, God), Niyayesh (Benediction), The First Message, Tavassul (seeking Recourse) [his Own Portrait], Gift (Ali Asqhar (A.S.), Zamen-e-Ahu (Deer’ Security (2), Kawsar, Ramy-e-Jamareh (Satan Stoning) or “Hard Trial”, Khamse-ye-Al-e-Tayyebeh (the Five Holy Progeny of the prophet (S.A.W.) [Related to their Ancestors], and Flag holder of Truth, Hazrat Abbas (A.S.). A hall called after him exists in the Astan Quds Razavi’s Museum.
Afternoon of Ashura
Style: Persian Miniature
Technique: Acrylic
Dimensions: 73×98 cm
Date of Creation: 1335 H.Sh.
Date of Donation: 1369 H.Sh.
The Fifth Day of Creation
Style: Persian Miniature
Technique: Acrylic
Dimensions: 70×100 cm
Date of Creation: 1352 H.Sh.
Date of Donation: 1369 H.Sh.
The First Message (the prophet (S.A.W.) in the Cave Hera)
Style: Persian Miniature
Technique: Acrylic
Dimensions: 61.3×88.5 cm
Date of Creation: 1379 H.Sh, Esfand
Date of Donation: 12/16/1379 H.Sh.
Khamse-ye-Al-e-Tayyebeh (the Five Holy Progeny of the prophet (S.A.W.)
Style: Persian Miniature
Technique: Watercolor
Dimensions: 25×35 cm
Date of Creation: Qajar Period
Artist: Unknown (Related to their Ancestors)
Date of Donation: 1369 H.Sh.
Mashhad History Treasury
In late 1372, Mashhad History Treasury was established by order of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi aimed at making people more familiar with the developmental trend of Mashhad city as well as the events occurred throughout centuries to the past Razavi sacred premises, and it was attempted that the treasury would contain and put on show those devices and objects installed previously in different parts of the holy shrine or used for some special purposes. The objects displayed in the Mashhad History Treasury are divided into two categories:
1. Objects with practical application that were used for a special purpose such as illumination devices, steel ziyarat books, washing devices for holy shrine, golden tablets, old keys and locks of holy shrine, etc.,
2. Objects related to the architecture of the Razavi sacred premises that were installable on different parts of the holy shrine such as the holy “Maqam” stone of Imam Reza (A.S.), Khwarazmshahi stone-trough, alters, inlaid wooden and knurly door of Ilkhanid period, plain steel Zarih, etc,.
Carved Inscriptional, Depicted, and Golden Cresset
Date of Making: 1267 A.H.
Endower: Mahdi Quli Mirza Qajar
Golden Ayat al-Kursi Inscriptions by Alireza Abbasi’s Handwriting (Including 6 pieces)
Date of Making: 1011 & 1012 A.H.
Endower: Shah Abbas Safavi
Gilded Alter Tile (His holiness’ Front side)
Date of Making: 612 A.H.
Ordered by: Abd al-Aziz ibn-e-Adam Qumi
Maker: Muhammad ibn-e-Tahir Kashani
Carved Steel Pitcher
Date of Making: 1127 A.H.
Maker: Feizullah Shushtari
Endower: Kalb (Karbalayi) Ali Sultan Hussein Musavi (Shah Sultan Hussein Safavi)
Visual Arts Treasury
The grandeur of painting and artistic works donated and endowed by the sincere artists and endowers to the Astan Quds Razavi’s Museum and the particular attention of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi to the propagation of the Islamic art and culture prompted the establishment of the Visual Arts Treasury on 1378 Tir 8th, coinciding with the auspicious birthday anniversary of the prophet (S.A.W.) at the first floor of building of the Central Museum with a build-up area of 450 sq.m. containing 30 painting works in different styles from prominent Iranian and European artists. Among the works existing in this treasury four valuable works from Ustad Kamal al-Mulk, the distinguished painter of Qajar period, titled the Safiabad Plain, the Tajan River Bridge, the Landscape of Pulkajur Village, and the River of Farahabad Fisheries are notable.
River of Farahabad Fisheries
Artist: Ustad Kamal al-Mulk
Date of Creation: 1292 Shawwal 2
Style: Naturalism
Technique: Oil Painting
Dimensions: 148×188 cm
Sayyed
Artist: Ustad Abbas Katuzian
Date of Creation: 1354 H.Sh.
Style: Realism
Technique: Oil Painting on Fabric Canvas
Dimensions: 93×132 cm
Zamen-e-Ahu (Deer’ Security)
Artist: Reza Badrussama
Date of Creation: 1384 H.Sh.
Date of Donation: 1387 H.Sh.
Style: Persian Miniature
Technique: Acrylic on Acid-free Cardboard
Venice City Landscape
Artist: William James
Date of Creation: 1761-1771 A.D.
Style: realism
Technique: Oil Painting
Dimensions: 76×127
Treasury of Stamps, Banknotes, and Coins
Treasury of Stamps and Banknotes was inaugurated as the second specialized treasury in Astan Quds Razavi’s museum complexes on 1369 Bahman 21. It enjoys an area of over 600 sq.m. With coins added to this treasury in early 1388, it was renamed to the Treasury of Stamps, Banknotes, and Coins. A considerable number of stamps and other postal items, banknotes, and historical and contemporary coins from Iran and other countries of the world are among the precious works preserved with modern and standard methods in the Treasury of Stamps, Banknotes, and Coins. In this treasury, there are over 600,000 kinds of stamps and other postal items, 16,000 banknotes, and 33,000 coins that only a small portion of them are put on show in the exhibition hall for spatial restriction, while its major portion is preserved in the reservoir of the treasury. In terms of kinds of items, the treasury is partitioned into three sections of the stamps and postal items, the banknotes, and the coins.
Mardavij ibn-e Al-e-Ziyar Gold Coin
Mardavij ibn-e Al-e-Ziyar (315-323 A.H.) was the founder of Al-e-Ziyar dynasty (315-471 A.H.) who ruled over northern Iran, Gurgan, Qazvin, and Hycania (Amul, Sari, and Estarabad). Dinar coin of Mardavij, dated 322 A.H. is minted in “Mah al-Basra” (Neyhavand).
The text engraved on the coin reads:
 \"ááå (Çá) ÇãÑ ãä ÞÈá æ ãä ÈÚÏ íæãÆÐ íÝÑÍ Çáãæãäæä ÈäÑÇááå ÈÓã Çááå ÖÑÈ åÐÇ ÇáÏíäÇÑ ÈãÇå ÇáÈÑå Óäå ÇËäíä æ ÚÔÑíä æ ËáËãÇÆå\" 
“God Ordered from the past and afterwards when the believers win with help of God in the name of God this Dinar was minted in the moon of Basra, the year 322”
And
\"áÇ Çáå ÇáÇ Çááå æÍÏå áÇ ÔÑí˜ áå ÇÈæÇáÞÇÓã Èä ÇãíÑÇáãæãäíä ãÑÏÇæíÌ Èä ÒíÇÑ\"
“There is no God but Allah. He is the one. There is no partner with Him. Aba-al-Qasem ibn-e-Amir al-Mu’menin Mardavij ibn-e-Ziyar”
And the other side of the coin reads:
\"ãÍãÏ ÑÓæá Çááå ÇÑÓáå ÈÇáåÏí æ Ïíä ÇáÍÞ ÇíÙåÑå Úáí ÇáÏíä ˜áå æ áæ ˜Ñå ÇáãÔјæä\"
“Muhammad is the prophet of God. God sent him for guiding and the true religion so that He may reveal to him everything upon the religion even if the polytheists may reluctate.”
Donated by Muhammad Taqi Saffar
Silver Drachma related to Imam Reza’s (A.S.) Succession
After Imam Reza (A.S.) was appointed as Ma’mun Abbasi’s (198-218 A.H.) successor on 201 Ramadan 7, gold coins (Dinar) and silver coins (Drachma) were minted in the name of his holiness.
The text over this coin in seven lines reads as follows:
\"ááå/ãÍãÏ ÑÓæá Çááå/ÇáãÇãæä ÎáíÝå Çááå/ããÇ ÇãÑ Èå ÇáÇãíÑ ÇáÑÖÇ/æáí ÚåÏ ãÓáãíä Úáí Èä ãæÓí/Èä Úáí ÇÈíØÇáÈ/ÐæÇáÑíÇÓÊíä\"
“Allah/Muhammad the prophet of God/Ma’mun the caliphate of God/from what the lord Imam Reza (A.S.) commanded him/the caliphate of Muslims Ali ibn-i-Musa/ibn-i-Abi Talib/the double chief man”
The text at the margin of the coin also reads:
\"ãÍãÏ ÑÓæá Çááå ÇÑÓáå ÈÇáåÏí æ Ïíä ÇáÍÞ áíÙåÑå Úáí ÇáÏíä ˜áå æ áæ ˜Ñå ÇáãÔјæä\"
“Muhammad is the prophet of God. God sent him for guiding and the true religion so that He may reveal to him everything upon the religion even if the polytheists may reluctate.”
The reverse side of the coin also bears this four-line text:
\"áÇ Çáå ÇáÇ/ Çááå æÍÏå/ áÇ ÔÑí˜ áå/ ÇáãÔÑÞ
“There is no God but Allah. He is the one. There is no partner with Him. The east”
The text at the internal margin of the circle at the reverse side of the coin reads as follows:
\"ÈÓã Çááå ÖÑÈ åÐÇ ÇáÏÑåã ÈÓãÑÞäÏ Óäå ÇáËäíä æ ãÇÊíä\"
“In the name of God this drachma was minted in Samarqand in the year 201”
And the text at the external margin at the reverse side of the coin reads as follows:
\"ááå ÇáÇãÑ ãä ÞÈá æ ãä ÈÚÏ æ íæãÆÐ íÝÑÍ Çáãæãäæä ÈäÑ Çááå\"
“God Ordered from the past and afterwards when the believers win with help of God in the name of God.”
Coins related to Imam Reza’s (A.S.) succession have been minted in the cities of Marv, Samarqand, Fars, Isfahan, Muhammadiyah (Rey), and Neyshabur during 202-204 A.H.
Two samples of these coins one minted in Samarqand, dated 202 A.H. and the other minted in Isfahan, dated 203 A.H. exist in the Coins Treasury of Astan Quds Razavi.
Donated by Muhammad Taqi Saffar
Croesus Lion and Buffalo Silver Coin
This coin has been minted by Croesus (547.7-560 B.C.)-the last wealthy king of Lydia in western Asia Minor (Current Turkey)-in sixth century B.C. and probably in Sardis city (capital of Lydia); it is among the first silver coins of the world. Over this coin called “Silver Croesid”, bust pattern of a lion while hunting a buffalo is depicted and at the reverse side of the coin there are two square hollows.
It is notable that Lydia was conquered completely by Achaemenian Cyrus the Great but even after conquest of Cyrus (529-549 B.C.) and his son, Cambujya (522-529 B.C.) over Asia Minor, the Croesid coins continued to be minted in Sardis mints.
Donated by Muhammad Taqi Saffar
Qubad Sassani Π Silver Drachma
Qubad Π (Shiruye) came to the throne after his father, Khosro Π (Khosro Parviz), was dethroned in 628 A.D. Over the coin is depicted the profile of Qubad Π and an inscription of his name while the reverse side displays a firebox and two Zoroastrian priests and an inscription of the year and place of minting in Pahlavi script. This scarce coin has been minted at the second year of Qubad’s Π reign in Ney (Neyhavand) mint house.
Donated by Sayyed Muhammad Saeid Sadat Akhavi
Dimensions of Temporary Mashhad Stamps Known as “Victor Castaign” Stamps
Victor Castaign was a Belgian councilor who came to Iran at the time of Muzaffar al-Din Shah Qajar’s dynasty and very soon was appointed as the officer of Customs and Post Office as well as the General Manager of Mashhad Post Office. Under the pretext of stamp shortage, during 1280 Esfand and 1281 Ordibehesht, he set to designing, printing, and issuing a series of stamps without getting permission from the state authorities in Tehran. These stamps were sold and used for postal applications in post offices in Mashhad, Quchan, and Bejnurd until 1281 Ordibehesht. As soon as the central government authorities became aware of this unlawful action, they ordered for withdrawing the stamps from circulation while also dismissing and expelling him from Iran.
These stamps are regarded among the scarcest stamps of Iran for their low circulation and short postal usage.
Donated by Dr. Ali Sharqi
46×56 cm
Donator: Nabih Barri, Lebanon Current Parliament speaker
Date of Donation: 3/22/1384
Censored Postal Envelope related to the Second World War in Iran
Bearing a stamp with postal series of George the six from India (1940 A.D.) with nominal value of 3.5 Anna, this envelope was delivered to director of Bank Melli Iran in Tehran from Bombay post office on 1942 June 13 (3/23/1321 H.Sh.) and its reception date reads as 4/27/1321 H.Sh. This envelope has been revised and censored by English martial officers in India and occupying English and old Soviet Union forces in Iran twice, once at the time of delivery and once at the time of reception.
Donated by yusef Behbud Chaychi
German 1000 Mark Banknote with Surcharge of 250 Tomans
This scarce banknote was provided by the German government for Iranian revolutionists residing in Hamedan and Kermanshah as a gratis aid with the purpose of opposing against the formation of the allied forces of Russian and English militants in the Middle East at the ending years of Ahmad Shah Qajar’s dynasty (1288-1304 H.Sh.) during the first world war (1914-1918 A.D/1294-1298 H.Sh.).
Since Iranians did not know German money and language and were not aware of the exchange value of these banknotes, the German government calculated the value of Mark against the gold and silver and obtained its equivalent value in the currencies of that age that is Qeran, Shahi, and Toman and surcharged over the banknotes with a red seal.
Donated by Naseripur Tusi from Germany
10,000 Rial Banknote of Iran Central Bank with “ äãæäå” (Nemuneh) Seal
After victory of Islamic revolution, all the banknotes related to the past regime bearing the picture of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi and the watermark of lion and sun were surcharged and issued; the first, second, and third series of banknotes were issued in this way but in the fourth series, the picture of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) replaced Muhammad Reza Pahlavi’s picture.
The 10,000 Rial banknote with picture of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) as well as the exterior and portal of the former building of the National Council on the reverse side of the banknote marks the fourth series of banknotes after the victory of the Islamic revolution; it bears the signature of Ali Ardalan-the Economics and Finance Minister- and Muhammad Ali Mowlavi-the General Director of Iran Central Bank- with “ äãæäå” (Nemuneh) seal and serial number of 34/1 000000 in 1359 with the purpose of inspecting the design and color and its final approval. The inscribed surcharge of “ ÌãåæÑí ÇÓáÇãí ÇíÑÇä” (Islamic Republic of Iran) and the emblem of “ ÇäÞáÇÈ ÇÓáÇãí” (Islamic Revolution) can be seen on the watermark of this banknote.
Donated by the Central Bank of Islamic Republic of Iran
Astronomy and Clock Treasury
The Astronomy and Clock Treasury was inaugurated coincident with the birthday anniversary of the prophet (S.A.W.) on 1378 Tir 8 at the second floor of the museum central building with an area of about 450 sq.m. This treasury contains 10 stalls among which 7 are designated to the astronomy section and 3 to the clock section. Most of the objects in this treasury are the endowments of the late Dr. Sayyed Jalal al-Din Tehrani including a peerless collection of different kinds of telescopes, globes, theodolite cameras (compass), sextants, octants, cadrans (measurement device of vertical angles), different models of the earth movement, marine astrology devices, etc,. Some other notable objects in the treasury are precious astrolabes of 12th and 13th centuries A.H.
Astronomical Globe
Kind: Wood and Paper
Maker: Newton and Son
Place of Making: England (London)
Date of Making: 1857 A.D.
Endower: Sayyed Jalal al-Din Tehrani
This globe displays constellations and its base is made of wood. Included the base, it is 36 cm high, its base alone is 13.5 cm, and its diameter is 23 cm.
Stone Sundial with Brassy Triangle Indicator
Date: 1733 A.D.
Endower: Sayyed Jalal al-Din Tehrani
This sundial with 15.8 cm height and a diameter of 27.2 cm has a stone plate and a brassy indicator in a triangle shape. It is placed horizontally. Scaling over the stone plate in the right direction starts from 1 to 9 and in the left direction starts from 5 to 12 scribed in Roman numbers. At the circular center of the plate a sun with human face and light rays has been depicted. Function of this sundial is like other reflective sundials representing the time through the shade of the indicator thrown over the main plate.
Reflective Telescope (Gregorian Reflexive Model)
Kind: Brass
Maker: Passemant, Jngenieur Du Rol Aulouvre
Its length is 79 cm, the length of its pipe is 68.7 cm, the height of the base is 42 cm, the diameter of eyepiece is 3.5 cm, the diameter of its mouth is 10.2 cm, and the length of its lens is 9 cm.
Oldness: Late 18 Century A.D.
Place of Making: Paris
Endower: Sayyed Jalal al-Din Tehrani
Geographical Globe
Kind: Cardboard and Wood
Maker: Malby & CO
Place of Making: England
Date of Making: 1858 A.D.
Endower: Sayyed Jalal al-Din Tehrani
Considering its base, this globe is 65 cm high and its diameter is 47.5 cm. Besides representing continents and geographical features like mountains, plains, rivers, etc, the surface of this globe displays also the population of different countries in 1845, population of different religions, animal species like birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, shells, etc, as well as time zones. Over column of this globe a rather exact analemma also has been drawn.
Marine Compass
Kind: Brass
Maker: Atluremauv
Place of Making: France (Paris)
Date of Making: 1880 A.D.
Endower: Sayyed Jalal al-Din Tehrani
This device consists of three concentric arches intersected by four radiuses connected to each other at one side. The biggest and the last arch is a scaled thin foil with 1.5 cm width. A trunnion connected from one side to the end of radical lines moves a vernier over the arch. A little camera with a length of 9.2 cm is fixed on one of the two side radiuses. To the other radius has been attached 4 colored circular filters with diameters of 2.5 cm (three dark, one green) and in a lower part, there is a rectangle, half mirror, half glass, and behind that there rest three filters, one green and tree dark with the same size. At the center of the arches and over the system there is a rectangular mirror. At the middle of the vernier trunnion, a thin trunnion has been mounted that turns around its axis and a lens has been installed at one end of it. Handle of this device is wooden and would be used for detecting the height.
Dishes Treasury
Containing 11 different stalls, the Dishes Treasury has been a place for displaying ceramic, china, celadon, crystal, brass, and other kinds of dishes. A large portion of these objects are donations granted by the pilgrims and Mashhadi citizens interested in art and heritage of this country, the Iranian statesmen specially those of Khurasan, and the public organizations, and the rest of objects are earthenware detected in the holy shrine.
Donators of these objects having various intentions see Astan Quds Razavi as a safe and good place for preserving these dishes and hence merely as beautiful artistic works, or as blessed inscribed objects, and or as sheer ancient objects, kinds of pottery have been granted to Astan Quds Razavi. The dishes donated have been brought from far and near lands and hence they somehow represent the life style of people of those lands. Most of donated dishes are historical objects dated back mainly to from nearly 5000 years ago to the recent centuries.
Grey Handmade Ceramic Dish (Probably Clepsydra)
Oldness: First millennium B.C.
Donator: Committee in Charge of Executing Imam Khomeini’s (R.A.) Commands
Red Handmade Ceramic Dish with Handle and Spout
Oldness: First millennium B.C.
Donator: Committee in Charge of Executing Imam Khomeini’s (R.A.) Commands
Buff Enameled Depicted Ceramic Pitcher
Oldness: 6 Century A.D. Detected from the Excavations of the Holy Shrine
Enameled Depicted Ceramic Pitcher
Oldness: Timurid Arena, Detected from the Excavations of the Holy Shrine
Weapons Treasury
Weapons Treasury rests at the second floor of the Central Museum displaying weapons and war implements related to the post-Islamic era in Iran. The oldest weapon in this treasury is a crimson glassy arch belonging to the Safavid period. Other notable precious objects in this treasury are steel sward with gilded inscription reading the name of Fath Ali Shah Qajar and the talismanic or Ayat al-Kursi garment used by war commanders at the time of battle.
Lustrous Steel Sward
Maker: Asadullah Isfahani
Date: Safavid Period
Length from Blade to Hilt: 93.1 cm
Length of Hilt: 10 cm
Length of Blade: 83.1 cm
Length of Scabbard: 83.8 cm
Width of Hand guard: 11.5 cm
Descriptions: The sward has a lustrous steel blade (wavy design) attributed to Shah Abbas Safavi with a seal of Asadullah Isfahani and over the blade there is a bergamot reading “ÈäÏå ÔÇå æáÇíÊ ÚÈÇÓ” (I the king of Wilayat Abbas). There are also three inscriptions over the blade reading “ÇÝæÖ ÇãÑí”, “Çáí Çááå æ ãä”, “íÊæ˜á Úáí Çááå” (I left my task to God and whoever rely on God). The handle is made of walrus tusks. The hand guard is gilded and only a little part thereof has remained. The scabbard is made of two wooden pieces attached together by the glue joint covered by shagreen leather. The scabbard has two gilded fastenings. Back of the scabbard is silver coated. This kind of sward with intense curve has been prevalent in the Safavid period and several samples of it have been seen in the Timurid period as well.
Axe and Poleax
Overall Length: 58.1 cm
Length of Handle: 50.9 cm
Length of Blade: 15.7 cm
Maker: Lutf Ali
Date of Making: 1152 (Afsharid Arena)
Descriptions: One side of the blade is decorated with a picture of flower and bird and on the other side there is a design of hunting and flower and animals drawn in four directions. At the middle of the blade there is a gilded design of bergamot. Both ends of the handle are made of metal and middle of the handle is made of wood with a cover of green shagreen leather; below the middle square shape “Úãá áØÝÚáí ÓÇá 1152” (work of Lutf Ali Year 1152) has been inscribed.
Percussion or Hammer Gun
Overall Length: 154 cm
Length of Barrel: 114.5 cm
Maker: On the trigger “Úãá ÇÓÊÇÏ ãÑÊÖí” (work of Ustad Murteza) and beside it probably “Gj.MANGUME” are inscribed; over the barrel there are two inscriptions reading “ÓјÇÑ ãíÑ ÝÊÍÚáí ÎÇä ÊÇáÑ” (his holiness Mir Fath Ali Khan Talpur) and “Úãá ÍÇÌí ÔÊÑÎÇä” (work of Haji Shuturkhun). Also it bears a gilded bergamot, inside of which it has been written “íÇåæ ãÏÏ ãíÑ Çãíä ÇÍãÏ” (O God help Mir Amin Ahmad)
Barrel Diameter: 1.9 cm
Front Side: Circular
Shield
Kind: Rhinoceros Skin
Oldness: Safavid Period
Diameter: 59.5 cm
Descriptions: There are four enameled bosses over the shields. Over one crescent-shaped boss there is a scripts reading “íÇ Úáí Èä ãæÓí ÇáÑÖÇ” (O, Ali ibn-i-Musa-al-Reza). In the back of the shield there is placed a small pillow among the straps so as to avoid too pressure to the hand caused by strikes of sward, mallet, etc.
Powder Flask (a container for transferring gun-powder to gun barrel)
Kind: Walrus Tusk with a Steel and Gilded Lid
Descriptions: this powder flask is made of walrus tusk and has a plain design; it is probably belonging to Othman Turkey, 17th century A.D. as it has been prevalent there from 16th to 18th centuries.
Aquatics Treasury
With inauguration of the Painting, Weapons, Astronomy and Clocks, and Dishes Treasuries on 1378 Tir 8th, coinciding with the birthday anniversary of the prophet (S.A.W.), a part of the first floor of the central building was assigned to the Shell Treasury covering an area of about 457 sq.m. Including taxidermy sea animals and other collections of shells and snails donated to the Astan Quds Razavi Museum, this treasury was renamed to the Aquatics Treasury later due to aquatics donated or endowed to this treasury. The treasury consists of two sections of the mollusca and the taxidermy sea animals. In the mollusca section, a total of 1,282 donated samples of different species of shells and snails as well as other species have been put on show, and in the taxidermy sea animal section, some samples such as the mummified fish “Devil of Sea”, sole, eel, lobster, big shrimp (mother of shrimps), hippopotamus, finger fish, polyp, sponge, etc, that are very significant scientifically and biologically are on public display.
Sea Urchin
Donator: Muhammad Saeid Wahabeh
Date of Donation: 1363
Kinorhyncha are a group of relatively scarce sea animals without the respiratory, blood circulation, and excretory systems but possessing water circulation system instead. Urchin, sea coin, finger fish are some kinds of Kinorhyncha.
Thorny Oyster ‘Spondylus Princeps”
Donator: Muhammad Saeid Wahabeh
Date of Donation: 1363
This kind of animals has special joint, long thorns and apophyses on their skin. Spomdylus Regius, Spondylus Princeps, and Spondylus Americanus are some samples of this species.
The Mummified fish “Devil of Sea”
Donator: Dr. Muhammad Farhad Rahimi
Date of Donation: 1378
The mummified fish “Devil of Sea” is a member of Ceratidae (meaning horny in Greek) family from Pediculati species living in deep waters. The female animal has a long and dense body and a rather vertical mouth with average-sized teeth. For hunting the prey the fish sends out of its eyes and above its muzzle a long bony piece. The whole head, body, and fin is dark brown or black. These animals have a shiny member and have 20 or 21 vertebras. The female animal may be as long as 145 cm while the male one is small-sized reaching nearly to 16 cm in length. It sticks to the gill cavity, body, or head of the female. This species does not have food or commercial application or benefit and is found mainly in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans and the southern seas.
Pectinidae Bivalve “Chlamys Swifti”
Donator: Muhammad Saeid Wahabeh
Date of Donation: 1363
Chlamys Swifti, Argopectin Iradianse, and Chlamys Sentis are species of Pectinidae Bivalves.
Conic Snail “Conidae”
Donator: Muhammad Saeid Wahabeh
Date of Donation: 1363
Conic snails have wide twists. Most of them are herbivorous or feed on some worms and little fishes. The most dangerous snails are conic snails that kill the prey easily with their poisonous spear. By such poison, the snail paralyzes the little fishes and then draws the prey into its mouth. This kind of snail has four sub-branches called Trochidae, Calliostoma, Conidae, and Volutidae.
Medals Treasury
The Medals Treasury was inaugurated in 1378 Tir, in the ground floor of the Central Museum commencing with the exhibition of a selected collection of medals, cups, and memorials donated to the Astan Quds Razavi Museum by distinguished champions and scientific elites of the country.
Presently, this treasury contains a total of 154 medals, cups, and other memorials including: A collection of medals of the great champion Takhti, gold medals of holy defense devotees from Fars province awarded from the Atlanta Paralympic championships, medals of Jabbar Fe’li the box champion, Amir Tavakkulian the Wrestling champion, Alireza Nasr Azadani the international taekwondo champion, Majid Khudayi the international wrestling champion, Abd al-Reza Kargar the international wrestling champion, Reza Ramezanzadeh the international wrestling champion, and medals and appreciation letters from the late Reza Sadeqi awarded in the Math and Computer Olympiads of Toronto, Canada, as well as appreciation letters of Dr. Amrullah Ahmadi
Championship Armlet, 1335, 1336, and 1337 H.Sh., Iran, World Champion Takhti
Occasion: Iran Wrestling Championships-1335, 1336, 1337 H.Sh.
Oldness: 1335 H.Sh.
Donator: Family of the World Champion Takhti
Gold Medal of Alireza Nasr Azadani, 2010 Guangzhou Asian Championships, China
Occasion: 2010 Guangzhou Asian Championships, China
Oldness: 2010 A.D.
Donator: Alireza Nasr Azadani
Date of Donation: 8/14/1388
Gold Medal of the 36th International Mathematics Olympiad, July 1995, Toronto, Canada-Reza Sadeqi
Occasion: the 36th International Mathematics Olympiad, July 1995, Toronto, Canada
Oldness: 1995 A.D.
Donator: Family of Late Reza Sadeqi
Date of Donation: 1379 H.Sh.
Gold Medal of Ladies Archery, Par-Asian Games, Guangzhou, China, 2010 A.D., Razieh Shir Muhammadi
Occasion: Par-Asian Games, Guangzhou, China, 2010 A.D.
Oldness: 2010 A.D.
Donator: Razieh Shir Muhammadi
Date of Donation: 1/22/1390
Anthropology Museum
The Anthropology Museum of Astan Quds Razavi is a precious building and in fact a historical bathroom with oldness of over four centuries located next to the historical building of “Haftad-u-Du Tan (72-Persons) Mosque” and at the external side of western portal of the grand Razavi courtyard.
The initial construction of this historical bathroom was launched by order of Mahdi Quli Beik, the equerry of Shah Abbas I Safavid in 1027 A.H. to be endowed to the presence of Imam Reza (A.S.). Resting beside the mausoleum of Amir Malekshah, the Haftad-u-Du Tan (72-Persons) Mosque, and the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.), this bathroom has been known also as “Hammam (bathroom)-e-Shah”, and “Hammam-e-Razavi”. The bathroom has been active until 1367 H.Sh. but since 1369 onward it has turned abandoned; it was recorded in the list of Iranian historical monuments by Astan Quds Razavi’s authorities on 1376 Murdad second.
It began to be revived and reconstructed in 1378 H.Sh. by order of the Grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi and in 1385 Azar month, coinciding with the birthday anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.) it was inaugurated as the Anthropology Museum. Enjoying an area of960 sq.m.- including annexed spaces over1,875 sq.m.- this building is considered as one of the largestand the prettiest bathrooms of the country that consists of four basic sections of cloak room, sudatorium, swimming pool (cold water pool), and furnace.
Brassy Chandelier
Date of Endowment: Rajab 27, 1269 A.H.
Date of Making: Probably Safavid Arena
Coffeehouse-style Painting Tableau
Creator: Ustad Hussein Hamedani
Date of Creation: 1339 H.Sh.
Theme: Martyrdom of Hazrat Ali Akbar (A.S.) in Ashura Day
Tempered Brassy Coaly Samovar
Place of Making: Tula, Russia
Date of Making: 1830 A.D.
Date of Donation: 8/30/1386
This samovar with 150 cm height is a production of the most reputable Russian samovar-making factory and in terms of manufacturing techniques and composed materials as well as the artistic and technical features; it is really singular and valuable.
Lacquered Glassy Inlaid Wooden Box (for ladies cosmetics)
Oldness: Safavid Period
This precious artistic work is the oldest object exiting in the Anthropology Museum of Astan Quds Razavi.
Back of cover:
General Public Relations Office of Astan Quds Razavi
Chahar Bagh Avenue, Shirazi Street, Mashhad, Iran
Tel: (+98)-511 2211940
Fax: (+98) 2213548-511
Center of Exhibitions and Conferences of Astan Quds Razavi
Tel: (+98)224428-5110-9
SMS center: (+98)300008
Automatic Answering System: (+98) 2232222-511
Website: http://www.aqr.ir
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