Golestan Palace hosting Turkmen needlework

Tehran-based UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace has been hosting examples of Turkmen needlework along with some lavishly-illustrated manuscripts from Khavaran-Nameh.

Organized to mark the 44th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the exhibition will be running through February 11 at an anthropology museum within the UNESCO-registered palace complex.

Recently inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Turkmen-style needlework is a decorative art that is used on the national dress of people of all genders and ages in Turkmenistan and Iran.

Ibn Hassam Khosfi's Khavaran-Nameh is a verse in the form of a religious epic with the theme of made-up stories and battles between Iman Ali (AS) and kings who worship idols like Tahmasshah and Salasul Shah. It embraces traditional ideas. Hero and travel patterns are among the most popular motifs because of their nature.

Golestan Palace complex is one of the oldest in the Iranian capital, originally built during the Safavid dynasty.

The complex consists of eight key palace structures mostly used as museums. It is a destination for domestic and international travelers.

“The complex exemplifies architectural and artistic achievements of the Qajar era including the introduction of European motifs and styles into Persian arts,” writes UNESCO official website.

Exploring the palace complex may take two or three hours. Next to the palace lies the bustling Grand Bazaar of Tehran, which is a top place to get a glimpse of local life.

MM/FM