Smirnovs Museum

The “Smirnovs Museum” is located in the Sololaki district of Old Tbilisi and is among the city’s museums distinguished for the remarkably diverse representation of 18th–19th century European artistic culture, including German, French, Russian, Italian, and Georgian works.

The house, in which three generations of the Smirnov family lived, was built in 1859 by order of the Armenian merchant and philanthropist Yagor Tamamshev, based on a design by the German architect Otto Simonson.

The museum’s collection is exceptional for uniting objects of such varied character, material, and purpose under one roof.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the house and its residents hosted many renowned European, Georgian, and Russian public figures, among them Ilia Chavchavadze, Davit Sarajishvili, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Ivan Aivazovsky, Ivane Nikoladze, Petre Melikishvili, Ivane Javakhishvili, Titsian Tabidze, and others.

The museum preserves Western European and Russian decorative-applied artworks from the 18th–19th century salon of Alexandra Rosset-Smirnova, along with paintings, graphic works, and sculptures. The collection includes works by F. X. Winterhalter, I. Zankovsky, A. Remi, F. Baikov, I. Paevsky, A. Akopyan, A. Neumann, P. D. Mitreyer, F. Krüger, T. Horscheldt, W. Hogarth, and others.

Also displayed are porcelain pieces manufactured by renowned factories such as Limoges, Gardner, Kornilov Brothers, Kuznetsov, and more; as well as valuable furniture by Gambs, Bauer, and a piano played during visits to the Smirnov family home by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Anton Rubinstein.

The museum’s collection is notable for its rare and unique editions, including old publications in French, Italian, Russian, German, and English. It also houses an ancient and unique collection of Orthodox icons.

Visitors will encounter significant historical documents, including cards and correspondence by Ilia Chavchavadze addressed to Kola Eristavi, among others.

Even today, the spirit of the 19th century can be felt within the museum - its romantic atmosphere and the beautiful synthesis of cultures characteristic of the multiethnic nature of Old Tbilisi.