Here is Arak, the Saraye Kashani (the house of Kashanis) and Sultan-Abad Museum

If we think of the ancient and well-built bazaar of Arak as a ring to this city then we must say that the House of Kashani is its precious solitaire. Saraye Kashani(the house of Kashanis) is one of the masterpieces of architecture belonging to Ghajar Rein which the double roof and the technical design based on number 7 gives a especial credit to the architecture of the market. When you enter in you see the roof like seven dooms following each other wide in your sight. The elegant roof depicts the seven heavens in your fantasy. Seven springs of light which have been surrounded by seven brick solar decorative designs, which the middle one that is the forth from both sides is different from the other ones.

But what has made Saraye Kashani more brilliant these days is the loftiness of the purpose of a man who has established a small but rich museum totally on his own investment. This report is a reflection of a visit to Sultan-Abad museum of Arak.

Mr. Mohammed Mahdi Baba khani is the founder of Sultan-Abad Museum. The museum took its name from the ancient name of Arak. Mohammed Yusef Gorji, the   commander of Fatthali Shah who was names Sultan, built a checked castle that was called Sultan-Abad then and Arak later on. This city was built in 1808.

Mohammed Mahdi Baba khani believes:" the universe has been built by lovers not thinkers." That is why lovingly he has tried his best to build this private Museum of Sultan-Abad. He who is one of the most prominent engravers (on metal) in addition to Sultan-Abad museum has participated in the other museums in Iran and the world. For instance, there is a Bowl presented in The Organization of Ownerships of thoughts and Spirituals Museum in Geneva which is the symbol of hand craft of Iran. This work of art was selected the best among the works of the member countries in 2004.there are six verses of Koran engraved on the outer part and a poem by Hafez on the inner part of this copper bowl.

Sultan-Abad Museum is 130m2 and it has 3 halls. Each and every corner of it represents the art of this Land, Iran. The works of calligraphy, needlecraft, Ghajar Costumes, Engraving and metal works which have been labeled delicately with ample explanation on them are arranged next to each other so the visitor feels like passing through the time tunnel and get to know the culture of our ancestors.

 In Sultan-Abad Museum there is a perfect gathering of the Iranian calligraphers. You can see the presence of their works on the wall belonging to the 7^th century (Lunar year) to the present. There are works of Mir Ali Heravi the proved calligrapher, who Shah Esmaeel Safavi was in love with his works and brought him from Herat to Tabriz to be near him. There are also works of Mir Emad who was deared by Shah Abbas as well as works of Dervish Abdol Majid who died in youth and Mirza Gholam Reza Isfahani who was trapped in the envy of the rivals and enemies and became wretched.

Mirza Fathali Hejab Shirazi is one of the top rank colligraphers of Ghajar Rein who wrote in Nastaligh Style. Born in Shiraz he was a student of Mirza Kuchak Vesal and learnt perfection, morality, art and science. He also composed poems. There is a poetry book of 6000 verses left by him. He mastered all the six Reed Pens of Nastaligh. He was so skillful in writing that sometimes his works were taken for those of Mir Emad's. That's why he made some changes in his own work later. By the six Reed Pens or all the collection, it's meant the size of the pen starting from smallest one named Ghobar (dust) up to the biggest one orderly named: Ketabat e Khafa, Ketabat, Ghalam (Dang) Sarfasli, Ghalam (Dang) Mashghe, Ghalam (Dang)Jaly. He didn't live long and it seems that he died before he was 50.  He died in 1269(lunar year) and buried in Shah Cheragh. Among his works the followings could be named: a version of six books of Masnavi Molana that belongs to Golestan Palace Museum, a book of Lavayeh e Jaami and Tarikh e Moajam (a book of history) in the same place.

Mirza Gholam Reza Isfahani is one of the most prominent calligraphers of 13^th century. When he was young Naser e Din Shah paid a special attention to him and was invited to teach his children, the princes. But later on he was envied by those who were close to the king and they talked behind his back and he was accused of being Behayi. As a result he was imprisoned and sentenced to death.  He was saved from death by the intercession of one of those close to the king, maybe the princes or as some says Dust Mohammed Khan Moayer ol Mamalek. Since then he lived in absolute wretchedness and hardship and the unkind fate praised his art by making a wreck out of him so that he wrote a desperate letter to Naser e Din Shah which was no more than a shame and alas for the Artists  and artistry of the time.

Mirza gholam Reza Honarmandi is the one artist that claims mastering all the pens, from the smallest one (Ghobar) to the biggest one ( Shesh dang). His Shekasteh Style if not better that his Nastaligh Style, robs shoulder with it. It is said that some of the calligraphies of Shekaste Jail which have been signed by Dervish Abdol Majid belong to him genuinely.   He has written them in hardship and compulsory sedentary and since those of Dervish were priceless he has signed them in his name. Some of his works can be named as follow:

Sepahsalar School Epigraphs are of his most famous works, an issue of Tohfatol Vozara which is now kept in Golestan Palace Museum.

Dervish Abdol Majid Taleghani is the most prominent Master of Shekasteh Nastaligh Style. He lived in 12^th century. He has presented such beautiful and skillful writings in Shekasteh Nastaligh that makes him known as the inventor of this style. He has been so brilliant in this field that has faded away all the masters before and after him. He also composed poetry using Khamush nad Majis As pen names. He also has a book of poems consisting of 1500 verses. He lived very short. He was born in 1150 in taleghan and passed away when he was 35 in 1185 in Isfahan. Though he lived short, he has left numerous works whose beauty astonishes any aestheticians. Some of his works are as follow:

Saadi's Koliyat in Golestan Palace Museum,

Eight pieces in Tehran Decorative Art Museum

One page of Morghae Daryaye Noor in Tehran Decorative Art Museum

Abbas Azod is the son of AsedoSultan and the grandson of Mozafar e din Shah Ghajar. Liots of people in Arak know that Abbas Abad has been named after him but only a few know that this wise man was also an expert calligrapher. He wrote Nastalig preciously, beautifully and expertly.

Among the works of all these masters that are exhibited in Sultan Abad Museum, Master Fathali Vasheghani Farahani is the only one who is living. Mohhamed Mehdi Babakhni who has passed the highest rank of calligraphy being one of his students remembers that when he was Master Vasheghani was invited to the museum and saw his own work says with tearful eyes:" I have written this, 38 years ago. I can't write such a thing anymore, the passage of the years has left me with shaking hands. But it's good that I wrote it when I had the time and power."

Sultan Abad Museum has other parts for the other arts like painting. Abbas Boluki Far the most skillful student of Late Mr. ghular Aghasi was born in 1303 in Tehran. He has many works in Ghahve Khaneyi(a type of traditional coffee shop) School. He passed away after a hard period of illness in the fall of 1379.

This dish in which 1280 grams of silver and 12 grams of 24 carat fine gold has been used is eligible to be nominated the best calligraphy on metal by the experts. It has taken 6 month to make it.

Sultan Abad has a lot to visit and enrich our knowledge and culture. We should only accept the warm invitation.