Malik National Museum of Iran

Malek National Library and Museum
Country Iran
Type National library, Public library, National Museum
Location Tehran
Collection
Size

19000 manuscripts

70000 books
Criteria for collection manuscripts, Historical Artworks
Other information
Director Seyed Mohammad Mojtaba Hosseini
Website http://www.malekmuseum.org

Malek National Museum and Library[1] is a museum and national library in Tehran, Iran.Malek National Library and Museum Institution (MNLMI) is the first private museum of Iran and one of the six large libraries holding exquisite manuscripts. The MNLMI collection is a rich treasure of the best manuscripts and the Iranian historical artworks. The Institution is located in the historical precinct of “Bagh-e Melli” that is considered as the cultural-historical center of Tehran. The MNLM visitors include a large number of university students, researchers, as well as tourists who enjoy its library and museum facilities.Its one of the biggest library of precious manuscripts in Iran, Built by Hadji Hussein Agha Malek, at the time the richest man in Iran. He built it in a traditional persian architecture. One of the biggest contributors is Esat Malek Malek(Hadji Hussein Agha Malek's eldest daughter).She is a very bright women who also contributed a lot into the museum's modernity. There are now screens with touch screens where you can do puzzles of the paintings. Now, an old women from Shiraz also gave some of her belongings to the museum.

Haj Hossein Aqa Malek

Haj Hossein Aqa Malek (1871-1972), the founder and donor of MNLM was born and died in Tehran. Both his grandfather and father were among the greatest merchants during the past two centuries in Iran. Haj Hossein’s father, Haj Mohammad Kazem Malek-ol-Tojjar, left him a large inheritance after his death, including a lot of properties and gardens in Tehran and Khorasan Province. The young Hossein in a travel to Mashhad, the capital of Khorasan Province at that time, to manage the family’s assets got familiar with some Iranian-Islamic artworks, including a fine manuscript. This experience, paved the ground for the establishment of an exquisite library and museum in coming decades. In 1908, Haj Hossein Aqa Malek founded a big library consist of both old manuscripts and printed books in Mashhad. Later on, he moved the library to his historical house located in the area of Tehran Grand Bazaar and thus provided free of charge access for the interested scholars. While collecting the manuscripts, Haj Malek bought a valuable collection of historical artworks that led into the establishment of the first private museum in the history of Iran. In 1937, he donated his invaluable library and museum to Astan-e Qods-e Razavi, as the greatest religious and cultural institution in Iran, with the aim to be visited and used by the public during his lifetime and after his death. He also donated many of his properties in Tehran and Khorasan for charity and public affairs so that he was known as the greatest donor of the contemporary history of Iran. Granting more than 2.5 million square meters of land to build houses for the teachers and the employees of the Ministries of Health and Post in Khorasan Province; donating Vakil-Abad’s 480-hectares garden to the people of Mashhad for the purpose of converting it to a public park; contributing the garden of Malek Palace in Shahr-e Ray for building a school; and endowing more than 60,000 hectares of properties including farmlands, gardens, and animal husbandries to Astan-e Qods-e Razavi are among his charitable acts. According to MNLM deed of endowment, Haj Hossein Aqa Malek had stipulated that MNLM is a non-profit institution aimed at expanding the knowledge among the people. He has also mentioned that his collection would be available to both Iranian and foreign addressees.

Malek National Library and Museum: A Treasure of the Best Historical Artworks

Besides the printed books and historical periodical documents, Malek National Library possesses 19000 rare and exquisite manuscripts that provide a very good source for many scholars and students. Malek National Museum is also consisted of a collection of precious artworks of the Iranian history since the first millennium B.C. to present that is classified as follows:

1- The collection of artworks included paintings by famous Iranian artists such as Kamal-ol-Molk, miniature paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and some works by European painters.

2- The lacquer art collection contained pen boxes, book covers, and mirror-cases decorated with lacquer paintings.

3- The historical coins collection consisted of about 9000 pieces of coins and Iranian medals minted since the first millennium B.C. to present.

4- The collection of 100,000 postage stamps included the first stamps printed in Iran and the ones printed abroad.

5- The collection of artworks donated by lady Ezzat-Malek Malek, the daughter of Haj Hossein Aqa Malek composed of Qajar paintings, manuscripts, documents, pen boxes, hookah bowls, as well as lacquer works.

6- The calligraphy collection embraced the artworks of the greatest and well-known Iranian and Islamic artists.

7- The collection of decorating arts included carpets, rugs, vases, chandeliers, and furniture

8- The collection of Haj Hossein Aqa Malek’s personal belongings, including his artworks, writings, and portraits displayed in the exclusive Exhibition Room of Haj Hossein Aqa Malek

9- The gallery of periodic exhibitions held regularly on traditional Iranian Islamic arts.

The facilities and attractions of MNLM

In 1996, Malek National Library and Museum was moved from Malek’s historical house located in the area of Tehran Grand Bazaar to its present building in the historical precinct of Bagh-e Melli. The six-story new building has been structured based on the Islamic architecture and arts that really attracts its visitors’ attention. MNLM has a unique location for it is situated in the cultural-historical center of Iran’s capital city, next to the Meidan-e Mashq (a place for military activities left since Qajar period) historical portal.

MNLM outstanding neighboring buildings include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a collection of museums such as the National Museum of Iran (Iran-e Bastan), Sepah Bank Coin Museum, Ebrat Museum (formerly a prison), Iran Science and Technology Museum, Post Museum, Glassware and Ceramic Museum of Iran (Abgineh Museum), and Iran Customs’ Museum and Historical Documents Center. 30- Tir Street is one of the ways to access MNLM.

This historical street is well known as the Religions’ Street because of certain buildings located on it, including two churches, a fire temple, as well as a synagogue next to a mosque. In this way this Street, because of its special characteristics is considered as one of the important centers of tourism in Tehran for its daily domestic and international visitors. Regarding the urban geography, the existence of Imam Khomeini Central Metro Station, a taxi terminal, as well as two bus terminals located near MNLM, has facilitated the visitors and scholars’ access.

Besides the scholars and university students who enjoy the free of charge access to Malek Library facilities, there are also a daily individual or group visitors, either Iranians or non-Iranians, who benefit from MNLM treasures. Conducting periodic and seasonal exhibitions concerning the traditional medicine, calendar, constellations, and decorative arts as well as holding meetings and specialized training workshops on traditional Iranian-Islamic arts such as miniature, calligraphy, lacquer painting, and making marbled papers are among the most important activities and programs of MNLM.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.caroun.com/Museums/IranMuseum/TehranMuseum/Malek.htm

On Ezzat Malek {http://iranfrontpage.com/news/society/lifestyles/2014/07/iranian-benefactress-ezzat-malek-dies/}

Coordinates: 35°41′13″N 51°24′55″E / 35.68694°N 51.41528°E / 35.68694; 51.41528

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