Iran Applies for UNESCO Listing of Mirrorwork, Falak-ol-Aflak

Date: 20 April 2025 - 22:01

News ID: ۱۳۸۷۱۱

TEHRAN – Iran is seeking to gain the official recognition of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Iranian mirrorwork art and the Falak-ol-Aflak fortress.
In a news conference, the deputy minister of cultural heritage announced that Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage formally submitted its dossiers on the two to UNESCO for their including on the World Heritage List.
Ali Darabi said that the necessary paperwork for including the traditional decorative art of mirrorwork, known as Ayeneh-kari, as well as the historic Falak-ol-Aflak Fortress along with its surrounding cultural landscape, had been submitted to the UN’s cultural organization for their assessment.
He expressed hope that both of the dossiers will be internationally recognized in the upcoming UNESCO evaluation round.
Darabi said if both of the dossiers are hopefully approved, these two data-x-items would further highlight Iran’s diverse contributions to global heritage and reinforce efforts to preserve its centuries-old traditions and landmarks.
“We are optimistic about their successful inscription on the UNESCO lists,” he added.
In order to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a site must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of several selection criteria.
These include representing a feat of human creative genius, showing an significant interchange of human values, having a sign of a traditional style used by a civilization which is living or which has disappeared, or being an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological structure representing a specific stage in human development.
Otherwise to be included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the site must be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use, or be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
Areas featuring exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance, or sites representing major stages of earth’s history and on-going ecological and biological processes or natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity could also included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The Mirror Hall of Golestan Palace in Tehran alongside others in the Iranian capital as well as in Shiraz, Isfahan, and other cities highlight the enduring legacy and unmatched artistry of Iranian mirrorwork.
In the meantime, mirrorwork has a long history in Iran dating back to Iran’s Achaemenid period (550-330 BCE).
During this era artisans first transformed polished stones and metals into reflective surfaces.
Iranian mirrorwork reached artistic mastery during the Safavid and Qajar dynasties, with mirrors intricately cut into a dazzling display of light floral and geometric patterns to decorate palaces, mosques, and mausoleums.
During the late Qajar era mirror pieces were often cut into small triangles, diamonds, or hexagons. Convex glasses, turned into mirrors, also became popular, adding depth and dimension to the designs.
At this time mirrorwork reached its zenith with the creation of ornate patterns such as muqarnas, arabesques, and calligraphic inscriptions on mirrors.
The Mirror Hall of Golestan Palace and Shams-ol-Emarat in the Iranian capital city, Tehran, stand as iconic examples of this artistic pinnacle.
An outstanding examples of this dazzling craft can still be seen at Chehel Sotun Palace in Isfahan where light and reflection interplay with one another to create hypnotic effect.
Also, in Lorestan province located in southwestern Iran, the Falak-ol-Aflak Fortress, towering over the city of Khorramabad with its eight imposing bastions is more than just a military fortress; it is a historic site representing a rich tapestry of Iran’s cultural, natural, and historical legacy. Its surrounding landscape includes prehistoric caves, the Khorramabad Valley, historic bridges, and a river that meanders through the city’s center. At night, when the fortress is illuminated, it offers striking views that draw both local and international tourists.
Cultural experts believe the site’s combination of historical architecture and natural beauty makes it a sure nominee for UNESCO’s recognition.