The element was registered as “Ayeneh-Kari, the art of mirrorwork in Persian architecture after a decision taken during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in India’s capital New Delhi at the weekend.
The UNESCO’s documentation of this medieval art further strengthens Iran's ranking among the world’s top 10 powers of cultural heritage, with 29 tangible and natural heritages and 27 intangible heritages.
Iran had submitted the nomination file in April 2024, which was approved by the UNESCO’s evaluation body before being approved by Intergovernmental Committee.
The art of mirrorwork, a kind of interior decoration where artists assemble finely cut mirrors together in geometric, calligraphic or foliage forms, is rooted in the architectural traditions of Iran and reflects the country’s aesthetic taste.
The art was extensively used to decorate royal palaces, mansions, and mosques, the most beautiful and famous of these is “Ayeneh Khaneh” in Isfahan, where all the columns, walls and ceilings of the veranda and main reception hall were covered with small pieces of mirror.
The Mirror Hall of Golestan Palace in Tehran and parts of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan are among other important historical manifestations of this art on a global scale.
IRNA