TEHRAN-The 19th edition of the Tehran Auction with a collection of classic and modern Iranian art will be held on January 26 at Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran.

In the upcoming edition of the auction, a total of 90 works will go under the hammer, which includes works by classic artists such as Hossein Qollar-Aghasi, Mahmoud Farshchian, and Mahmoud Zangeneh as well as modern artists like Sohrab Sepehri, Bahman Mohasses, Sadegh Tabrizi, Parviz Tanavoli, Mohammad Ehsai, and Hossein Zenderoudi among many other renowned figures, ILNA reported on Monday.

The highest estimate of the auction belongs to an untitled oil on canvas painting from the “Tree Trunks” series by Sepehri printed in the 1970s, estimated between 200 billion rials ($400,000) and 220 billion rials ($440,000). The second rank of most valuable works jointly goes to another untitled painting by Sepehri as well as a calligraphy painting by Zenderoudi titled “Who’s Watching?” painted in 1974, both estimated between 140 billion rials ($280,000) and 160 billion rials ($320,000).

A gouache on cardboard painting by Aydin Aghdashloo titled “Mors and Vita” from the “Memories of Destruction” series painted in 2009 is third in the list of the highest estimates, priced between 100 billion rials ($200,000) and 120 billion rials ($240,000).

The first of its kind in Iran, the Tehran Auction was launched in 2012 as an independent and private initiative to introduce the best in Iranian art, ranging from established and emerging Iranian artists to art collectors and the global audience.

It is aimed at addressing the increasing interest in modern and contemporary Iranian art and facilitating the acquisition of quality works in reliable ways.

The previous edition of the auction that focused on contemporary Iranian art grossed over 617 billion rials ($1.234 million) last December. At the 18th Tehran Auction, of the total of 114 artworks by 113 contemporary veteran and young artists specializing in painting, sculpture, and photography, all but two works were sold.

Prior to the 19th auction, the collection of works will be displayed at Tehran’s Parsian Azadi Hotel from January 24 to 25.

SS/SAB