MarketNational Museum of History of Azerbaijan
Company Profile

National Museum of History of Azerbaijan

The National Museum of History of Azerbaijan is the largest museum in Azerbaijan. It is located in Baku, in the former residential house of Azerbaijani oil magnate and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. The museum was founded in 1920, following the Russian takeover of Baku, and opened to visitors in 1921.

History
The museum's building was constructed between 1895 and 1901, originally as a residence for the Taghiyev family. It was designed by Polish architect Józef Gosławski, in imitation of the Italian Renaissance style. It is large, stretching over an entire block and reaching four floors in some parts. Since 1914, Baku Commercial Bank, which was headed by Taghiyev, had been situated in the mansion. A Marxist interpretation of history was delivered via the establishment of historical research and other institutions. In addition, new kinds of historical and regional museums were created to inspire the teaching and promotion of history. Under this new system, the network of museums with historical profiles was enlarged. Furthermore, mechanisms of Soviet advocacy became much stronger during this period. Knowledge of Azerbaijan's history was developed through the museum's research. Between 1925 and the 1960s, foundations were laid for the scientific investigation of ancient material and cultural monuments of Azerbaijan, under the direction of archaeologists such as Davud Sharifov, Yevgeniy Pakhomov, Ishak Jafar-Zadeh, Movsum Salamov, Saleh Gaziyev, and Mammadali Huseynov. Excavations were carried out in places such as Khojaly, Qabala, Ganja, Kharaba Gilan, Orangala, and Mingechevir. The museum's collections consist of materials discovered during these excavations and from other ethnographic expeditions. During 1941–1954, the Museum of History was moved to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, and the Council of People's Commissars of Azerbaijan SSR was in the mansion. In 1954, the museum began operating again on the second floor of the mansion. In 2000, the whole mansion was given to the authority of the Museum of History of Azerbaijan. == The building ==
The building
The museum's building was originally the residence of the well-known entrepreneur and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev and his family. It was designed by Iosif Goslavsky (1865–1904), the chief architect of the city of Baku during the time (1893–1904). Fundamental renovation, restoration, and reconstruction works commenced in the Taghiyev mansion in 2005. The Memorial Museum of H.Z. Taghiyev (under the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan) was also established on the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev. == Memorial Museum of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev ==
Memorial Museum of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev
by Isaak Brodsky, c. 1912Restoration of rooms, personal belongings, and furniture of the Memorial Museum of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev has been organized by specialists from Azerbaijan and Italy. The interior restorations are based on photographs from the family photo album. The museum includes the following restored rooms: • '''Taghiyev's study''' – furnished with Taghiyev's writing desk, armchair, books on Russian law, and a private collection of paintings. Included is a portrait of Taghiyev himself, painted by Isaak Brodsky in 1912, which was commissioned by the city council for his financial contributions to aid the construction of a local technical college. • Oriental Hall – one of the mansion's largest and most ornate rooms, designed in an Oriental (Mauritanian) style. It was used for official meetings, receptions, and ceremonies. Nine kilograms of gold were used for inscription and decoration. • '''Taghiyev's library''' – the contents of the room highlight Taghiyev's great efforts to promote learning and philanthropy. For example, he financed the publishing of works by prominent writers, poets, and historians. He also owned the newspaper Kaspi and was the first to publish the Quran in Azerbaijani. • Billiard roomDining room – displays velvet-covered chairs, a silver enameled dinner set, silver knives from France, cut glass goblets, and other luxuries. • Monitored room – an interactive display for museum visitors. • Boudoir – a small sitting room of Taghiyev's second wife, Sona Khanim. Also called the "Mirror Hall" due to the plate glass covering the ceiling and colorful ornaments decorating the walls. • BedroomDressing room == Museum funds ==
Museum funds
Throughout its history, the National Museum has established dedicated funds to carry out expeditions, enable preservation efforts, promote cultural study and education, and develop the museum's collection. As of 2024, the museum hosts 12 unique funds. The oldest funds, established in the 1920s, include the Archaeological Fund (1920), which facilitates study of the historical, archaeological, and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan; the Numismatics Fund (1920), which preserves, studies, and promotes a collection of 100,000 ancient and oriental coins, as well as non-coin material (stamps, orders, medals, etc.); and the Ethnographic Fund (1925), which seeks to represent cultural artifacts and crafts of Azerbaijani ethnic groups, including copperworking, faience, wood products, fabrics, and carpets. Additional newer funds include the Special Fund (precious metals and jewelry) (1955), Fund of Documentary Sources (1996), Fund of Gifts and Memorabilia (2009), and Patriotic War Fund (2021), among others. File:Azərbaycan Sacilər dövlətinin qızıl dinarı.jpg|Golden dinar of the Sajid state of Azerbaijan (Fund of Numismatics) File:Etnofond.jpg|Cultural artifacts (Ethnographic Fund) File:H.Z.Tağıyevin qız məktəbinin təntənəli açılış mərasimi.1901-ci il.jpg|Opening ceremony of the Muslim boarding school for girls, founded by H.Z. Tagiev (1901) (Fund of Documentary Sources) File:Bakı xanlığının bayrağı. XVIII əsr.jpg|Flag of Baku Khanate (18th century) (Fund of Weapons and Banners) File:Nəriman Nərimanova məxsus yazı ləvazimatı.jpg|Writing set owned by Nariman Narimanov (Fund of Gifts and Memorabilia) File:I Avropa Oyunlarının qızıl medalı.jpg|Gold medal of the 1st European Games (Fund of Auxiliary Historical Materials) File:Şəhid və qazilərə məxsus materiallar.jpg|Materials belonging to martyrs and veterans (Patriotic War Fund) File:“20 Yanvar” xalçası.1990-cı il.jpg|20 January (carpet, 1990) (Ethnographic Fund) File:Azıxantropun alt çənəsi.jpg|Lower Jaw of Azykhantrop == Restoration laboratory ==
Restoration laboratory
Since its establishment, the museum has carried out restoration and conservation efforts. Originally focused primarily on archaeological findings, there are now restoration specialists from a wider variety of fields who deal with materials including metal, ceramics, wood, textile (carpet and embroidery), painting, and graphics. To improve their professional skills, laboratory employees refer to new publications about restoration and conservation and apply advanced methods to their work. == Museum directors ==
tickerdossier.comtickerdossier.substack.com