Bolurfrushan
The Bolurfrushan family is a family of merchants, industrialists, bankers and insurers, ACTIVE in Tehran from before the establishment of the Qajar dynasty. Throughout the 19th century the main activities of the family were the manufacturing and distribution of crystal and stainless steel products, the import of crystal ware and commodities such as tea and (later on) banking.
History
The Bolourforoushan (Bolurfrushan) families consist of two separate families, interlinked through bloodlines and business. After having been known as ‘Bolourforoush’, both families, except the Barjesteh and Sasar branches, opted for the Bolourforoushan family name at the time of Reza Shah, who was actually the one suggesting this family name (see farman).
The Bolourforoush(an) families of Tehran became well-known and prominent throughout Iran by establishing the first crystal and stainless Steel factories (Kar Khaney Bolourforoushan va Varsho-Saazi), private bank (Bank Saderat Iran) and insurance brokerage (SafeCover Insurance).
The Bank Saderat started operating at 13 November 1952 with a board of three directors and 20 employees to become, several years later, the largest privately owned bank in the wide region, also having branches in Hamburg (since 1961), London, Paris, Nice and New York. The bank was nationalised on 28 May 1979 and thus became state-owned until June 2009, when shares were offered at the Stock Exchange. After 40 years it had 3,300 branches and more than 30,000 employees. This made it one of the largest banks in the Middle East with 28 international branches and services in 12 countries. It now owns the Tashkent bank and PLC London and three joint venture banks (Future Bank Bahrain, Arian Bank Afghanistan and Honor Bank Belarus).
In 1971 the family pioneered the first private insurance brokerage in Iran. In 1979 these activities were continued in New York, to be transferred to Dubai in 1980.
The Bolurfrushan International Group is headed by Abbas Bolurfrushan (chairman) and Arya H. Bolurfrushan (director) and has a leading role in (capital) investments, insurance, real estate and retail in the Persian Gulf region, as well as in the field of philanthropy.
Prominent family members
- Haj Mohammad Esmail Bolourforoush, merchant, manufacturer and importer of crystal objects and landowner in Tehran, married to Belgheis Khanom (Khanom Najaffi), daughter of Haj Seyyed Javad Khazaneh, treasurer of Persia at the time of Nasser ed-Din Shah and Mozaffar ed-Din Shah
- Haj Mohammad Hossein Bolourforoushan, crystal merchant and industrialist, president of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lion and Sun organisation and member of parliament, business partner of Haj Mohammad Hassan Bolourforoushan.
- Haj Mohammad Hassan Bolourforoushan, crystal merchant and industrialist, business partner of Haj Mohammad Hossein Bolourforoushan.
- Hossein Barjesteh (1899–1972), considered one of the best Tehran lawyers of his time.
- (Haj Agha) Hassan Barjesteh (1901–1969) keliddar of the Shrine of Emam Reza in Mashad until the massacre by Reza Shah’s troops in the shrine. Prominent legal adviser in Bazaar matters in Tehran.
- Prof. Dr. (Mohandes) Mohammad Bolourfoushan (1908), professor of Mineralogy at the University of Tehran, member of the Board of the Bank-e Saderat and starting player in Iran’s first national soccer team.
- Haj Ahmad Agha Bolourforoushan (Bolurfrushan), banker, married to Effat Khanom Mofarrah, whose brother Mohandes Mofarrah initiated the founding of the Bank Saderat.