Hidden in the fragrant alleys of the Gran Bazar of Tehran, a “city in the city” of the Iranian capital, there is a unique postcard. It is the treasure of Mohammad Rafi, who for this small shop has been selling only artistic pencils of dozens and dozens of shades for 35 years: “I don’t know how many pencils there are, but I have about 200 available colors”, explained the proud owner of the Medad Rafi store (“Rafi pencils”) to Agence France Presse.
Passionate about drawing, the fifty -year -old Rafi achieved technical studies in the 80s and then starting to work in a pencil manufacturer. Then came the shop which, given that the son will not take the reins of the activity, will exist until Rafi want to work on it.
Of course, it is not easy to find its space in the maze of alleys of the historical market, but if you ask the section dedicated to crafts, you will find its small space of three square meters, where the first -person owner recommends and allows you to try the different shades. Each of these pencils is only sold individually and never in box (even if it comes originally from a set), and only the owner knows the exact location of each individual piece, also because there are no labels.
Produced locally or imported from Europe and America, pencils range between different types and uses – and some are even out of production – but all are very cheap, since the most expensive comes about two euros. Customers are of all kinds, from artists to amateurs to ordinary people: “Every time a customer arrives and he is happy, I enjoy it even if they buy nothing,” said Rafi.
