TEHRAN – The Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, plans to display historical artifacts from the National Museum of Iran in various cities of China.

“A selection of Iranian relics will be displayed in various cities of China under the exhibition titled ‘ancient Iran’ for an estimated six month-period,” Mehr reported on Wednesday. However, the exact number of artifacts and the cities where they will be showcased have not been finalized yet, but Beijing will be one of the cities hosting the exhibition.

Iran and China are engaging in various cultural and touristic programs. Among the initiatives, Iran intends to hold exhibitions showcasing various historical artifacts in China, continuing the trend established in previous years, the news agency said.

Organizers of this exhibition aim to set it up in a different Chinese city every two months. According to them, the Iranian exhibition may span six months. Additionally, the transportation costs of the artifacts, travel and accommodation expenses for custodians of Iranian properties, and insurance for historical artifacts will be borne by the host country.

Another exhibition planned for China pertains to the artifacts from the Abgineh Museum and some other museums in Tehran province. Details of this exhibition are currently under review and confirmation.

Referring to previous loan exhibits, Mehr said: In 1391 (2012-3), ten selected pieces from the National Museum of Iran went on show at a Shanghai exhibit, which also showcased 90 historical objects from other countries including the U.S., Turkey, England, and Italy.

In 1398 (2019-20), an exhibition titled “The Splendor of Asia: An Exhibition of Asian Civilizations” took place jointly with 21 countries in Beijing, where Iran contributed 15 historical pieces. In the same year, a collection of centuries-old celadons, on loan from the National Museum of Iran, went on show at Beijing’s Palace Museum in an event titled “Longquan of the World: Longquan Celadon and Globalization”.

Later, there were plans for another exhibition of Iranian artifacts in China, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled. Now, it has been decided to ship some artifacts from the National Museum to China under the banner of “ancient Iran”.

Chock-full of priceless objects showcasing the juicy history of the nation, the National Museum showcases ceramics, pottery, stone figures, and carvings, mostly taken from excavations at Persepolis, Ismail Abad (near Qazvin), Shush, Rey, and Turang Tappeh to name a few.

The main building of the National Museum, designed by French architect André Godard and completed in 1928, is one of the more attractive modern buildings in Tehran, blending Sassanian principles such as the grand iwan-style entrance with art deco–style brickwork.

Inside, among the finds from Shush, is a stone capital of a winged lion, some delightful pitchers and vessels in animal shapes, and colorful glazed bricks decorated with double-winged mythical creatures. A copy of the diorite stele detailing the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, found at Shush in 1901, is also displayed – the original being in Paris.

AFM