Epic Iran
Exploring 5,000 years of art, design and culture, Epic Iran shined a light on one of the greatest historic civilisations, its journey into the 21st century and its monumental artistic achievements, which remain unknown to many.
This exhibition is now closed at V&A South Kensington
Exhibition trailer
★★★★★ Explores five jaw-dropping millennia of cultural history.
The Guardian
Epic Iran is organised by the V&A with the Iran Heritage Foundation in association with The Sarikhani Collection
Exhibition highlights
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Group of two figures, about 1500 – 1100 BC -
Armlet, from the Oxus Treasure, 500 – 330 BC, Tajikistan -
Royal bust, about 439 – 457 AD -
Qaran Unhorses Barman, a folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, Tabriz, about 1523 – 35. The Sarikhani Collection, I.MS.4025 -
Horoscope of Iskandar Sultan, 1411 -
Bottle and bowl with poetry in Persian, 1180 – 1220, Iran. Museum nos. C.37-1978 & C.46-1978 -
Aba, male robe, before 1877, Kashan, Iran -
Woman’s jacket, blouse and skirt, 1800 – 50, Iran -
The Poet and the Beloved of the King, by Parviz Tanavoli, 1964 – 66 -
Veiled Woman, by Sirak Melkonian, 1957 -
Eshgh (Love), by Farhad Moshiri, 2007 -
Miss Hybrid #3, by Shirin Aliabadi, 2008 -
Cyrus Cylinder, 539 – 538 BC
Past events
Features
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About the Epic Iran exhibition
About the Epic Iran exhibition
Find out more about our Epic Iran exhibition
![](https://assets-cdn.vam.ac.uk/2021/05/17/08/56/43/db799583-467c-4192-b62f-b5641cdb23b0/320.jpg)
5,000 years of Persian history in 15 objects
5,000 years of Persian history in 15 objects
Take a journey through 5,000 years of Iranian art, design and culture
![](https://assets-cdn.vam.ac.uk/2021/02/10/15/57/09/2aa8f7a8-a783-4831-98a0-d58682a07d24/320.jpg)
Design and make your own Islamic tile and printed pattern
Design and make your own Islamic tile and printed pattern
Have a go at creating patterns inspired by Islamic art
Epic Iran
With thanks to: The Godwin Family, Darioush Winery, Cockayne – Grants for the Arts, a donor-advised fund of The London Community Foundation, The Ruddock Foundation for the Arts, The Soudavar Memorial Foundation, The Arah Foundation, Dr Amir Ali Farman-Farma and The Altajir Trust.
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Detached folio from an illuminated manuscript of the Shahnameh for Shah Tahmasp, 1525 – 35, Tabriz. The Sarikhani Collection, I.MS.4025.