Monir Farmanfarmaian has set a new record for a local female artist after an untitled mirror mosaic by the 96-year old Iranian artist sold nearly for a whopping 1 million at an art auction that took place in the Iranian capital.
Another painting entitled, “Pi+Rouz+G” by Hossein Zenderudi fetched 35.5 billion rials. which roughly converts to about $845,000. The aforesaid painting turned out to be the second most high-priced artwork that was bought at the sale of Iranian modern art, which was held at the Parsian Azadi Hotel.
In addition to her first mirror mosaic, another of Farmanfarmaian’s untitled mirror mosaic sold for 29 billion rials (nearly $690,000). This was the third most steeply-priced item sold at the auction.
A noteworthy 114 artworks were sold out during the auction, fetching more than a staggering 344 billion rials (about $8.2 million). Much to the chagrin of Hossein Cheraghchi, his untitled painting that carried a steep price tag of 150 to 200 million rials did not find a buyer.
A couple of photographs associated with the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war were also acknowledged during the auction. This comprised Saeid Sadeqi’s black and white photograph dubbed, “Conquest of Khorramshahr” that showed Iranian soldiers celebrating the freedom of Khorramshahr at the Friday Mosque of the city.
While the photo was estimated at 300 to 400 million rials, it was sold for 750 million rials.
Other black and white photograph by Mohammad Farnud entitled “Khordad 3, ’61, Khorramshahr”, was estimated at 200 to 250 million rials, but fetched 700 million rials. This photo gives us a glimpse of a sandbag barricade that is built in the front of dilapidated buildings in Khorramshahr back in 1982.
