Iran’s mirror‑work art added to UNESCO Intangible Heritage List

Iran has secured a new place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with the inscription of Ayeneh‑Kari, the traditional art of mirror‑work in Persian architecture.

The inscription was approved during the twentieth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Committee convened from 8 to 13 December 2025 in New Delhi, India, where it examined 68 nominations submitted by various countries.

Iran participated in the 2025 cycle with a single nomination, titled “Ayeneh‑Kari', which was successfully approved.

With this inscription, Iran’s number of elements on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List has risen to 27.

Ayeneh‑Kari is a highly refined decorative art that involves the meticulous cutting, shaping and arranging of mirror fragments to adorn architectural surfaces such as ceilings, walls, domes, columns and decorative panels.

The technique creates intricate geometric and organic patterns that multiply light through reflection, transforming interior spaces into luminous environments.

Beyond its visual impact, Ayeneh‑Kari is a multi‑disciplinary craft, combining design planning, precision mirror cutting, plastering, painting and mosaic techniques. The knowledge is traditionally transmitted through master‑apprentice relationships, often within families or long‑standing artisan communities.

Intangible cultural heritage refers to the oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge, and skills that communities, groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural identity.