January 08, 2004
Lost Treasures
A few years back, when I was involved with some import/export business, I received a fax from an auction house (I think they were based in London) about upcoming items for sale and they included a few cars owned by the Shah, including his Rolls Royce and a couple of other rare cars. However, it was obvious that some of the better known and more rare cars rumored to have been owned by him, including his rare Mercedes-Benz Gull Wing were not included and presumably stayed in Iran. I inquired about the collection and never went any further but a couple of years later came close to purchasing another car owned by former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. It was a Peykan (reportedly the very first built in Iran, although most Iranians believe that first car was owned by Prime Minister Hoveyda) given to Ceausescu by the Shah. I digressed...
What reminded me of all this is the news about Francis Bacon's Two figures lying on a bed with attendants possibly leaving Iran for a show in UK. The piece, in reality three paintings as seen above, has been in storage for about 25 years as even the distorted nude figures of Bacon have been too risque for show during all this time. Makes you wonder what else may still be in some damp storage room or corner of someone's closet in Iran that is of historical, artistic or cultural significance.
Writing this reminded me of a few other things. One was this group that was professionally cleaning out the palaces, resorts and residences of Kish Island right after the revolution and selling them at this semi-secret location in Tehran. They would have all new "inventory" (read freshly looted items) every week and this is when there was absolutely no commercial flights to the island and local vigilantes were in charge all over Iran, including Kish I'm sure. It was rumored that they even sold handguns and other unique items with engravings to indicate they were presents from various former governments and officials (including one from an unnamed U.S. president) to the Shah.
The other one was visiting Niavaran Palace 17 years after Pahlavi family had left it, with a few missing paintings on the walls, and in Shah's private theatre there is a large wall display full of pottery, statues and other relics from the Inca, Aztec and other ancient people/cultures of Americas. I asked anyone I could find there, but nobody had any idea what they were, where they came from, how valuable the collection was or even seemingly cared much about the bunch of old pots on the shelves. I could scream, but didn't and again wonder now as to what else may be there that its value or importance is not known or appreciated.
Painting story from: Iran Filter.
Posted by Pedram at January 8, 2004 07:03 PMThe first Peykan, as I understand, is kept at Iran-Khodro (formery Iran-National) and was never utilized.
Posted by: Coward at January 8, 2004 08:19 PMI just watched the eyeiranian and another show called shahrbaanoo . I recommend that you watch shahrbanoo, it definitely worth it.
Posted by: Bahareh at January 8, 2004 11:19 PM"Watched the eyeiranian"? What do you mean Bahareh? Pedram has a TV show?
Posted by: The Other at January 8, 2004 11:43 PMHi, it's me again. First of all sorry about the typo in the last post, it should have been Frontline instead of your site’s name. ( How embarrassing is this ! I was just so eager to come here and tell you about shahrbaanoo that I freaked out ! Phew ) I don't know whether or not you have seen this show but here in L.A it was on KETC and it was right after Frontline. Frontline was nothing like what I thought it would be and instead of an indepth show it seemed rather a narrowed show that was only attacking Iranian Government anyway it could and it was getting vengeance by doing so for Zahra Kazemi. It wasn't really in sake of people and there were scenes that went beyond the reality so they can add some salt and pepper to the story. I hope you don't get me wrong 'cause I am aware of the corrupt and strict government that we have in Iran, it's just that it was not in any means showing what people are going through and it is not right to show a small part of the hardships of a generation and make it something bigger just so they can show what happened to Zahra Kazemi. Nevertheless seeing the scenes from kooy-e daaneshgah and demonstrations did bring horror and sorrow back for me.
Anyway, Shahrbanoo was shown right after this and it was about a persian person named Hamid and his wife Melissa-- two New Yorkers who went to Iran for a trip. I don't wanna say any more and blow it; I hope you watch it though and maybe there could be a discussion for that show. ( I can see the potential ;))
I am a new reader of your site and I'm pretty excited about it 'cause it seems to be very nice. I hope you keep up with the nice writing.
I just tried to get some information and apparently Ceausescu's car could not have been the first Peykan. It's probably a story put forward by the people trying to sell it to add to its value. I haven't been able to confirm that Iran Khodro/Iran National has that car either. But I'm still amazed at the amount of information Pedram puts out here on regular bases and I keep learning new things. Thank you man.
Posted by: Naser at January 9, 2004 01:34 PMI second Naser's point about what Pedram puts out here. An example is this picture. I read this "news" about Francis Bacon earlier yesterday and searched everywhere to see the actual and complete picture, but Pedram had it up and ready shortly after, with some additional input. Thanks Pedram.
Posted by: Roya at January 9, 2004 01:59 PMThanks for the information!
I really used it.
Best regards