Persian Art Popular at Sotheby’s, Christie’s

TEHRAN. (Iranart) - I ranian artworks fetched close to $3 million in the two recent auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s sale of ‘Middle Eastern, Modern and Contemporary Art’ in London.

Twenty items by Iranian artists were sold during the two events generating  $2.9 million. The sold pieces accounted for about one third of the total sale of the auctions, which was $9.6 million, Honaronline reported. In Sotheby’s auction of ‘20th Century Art: Middle East’, in late October, 57 pieces were displayed for the bidders,  with Iranian works comprising over 60%  of the sales and a painting by Sohrab Sepehri sold at the highest price.

Of the 20 Iranian works, 19 went under the hammer, fetching $1.58 million, while the entire sales figure of the auction was $2.74 million.

At the 23rd edition of Christie’s sale, in late October, of the whole 57 artworks on display, 15 by 12 Iranian artists went under the hammer. The auction made a total of $6.9 million and Iranian artists had one fifth of the share. As per reports by the auctions, the works of Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980), one of the celebrated Iranian poets and painters, are still the highlight of Middle East auctions.

At Sotheby’s his untitled painting from ‘Tree Trunk Series’ fetched $360,000, marking the highest bid of the event. Another work by Sepehri at the auction was sold for $74,250.  Another untitled painting by Sepehri was sold for $115,412 at Christi’s.