The Tehran bazaar's pencil seller - in pictures

  • In a dimly lit corner of the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Mohammad Rafi is surrounded by all colours of the rainbow in his tiny shop that sells nothing but art pencils. All photos: AFP
    In a dimly lit corner of the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Mohammad Rafi is surrounded by all colours of the rainbow in his tiny shop that sells nothing but art pencils. All photos: AFP
  • 'I don't know how many pencils there are but I have about 200 colours available,' says the proud 50-year-old owner of Medad Rafi (Rafi's pencil shop)
    'I don't know how many pencils there are but I have about 200 colours available,' says the proud 50-year-old owner of Medad Rafi (Rafi's pencil shop)
  • Rafi himself takes up much of the three-square-metre shop in the market's arts and crafts section, where he has welcomed generations of customers
    Rafi himself takes up much of the three-square-metre shop in the market's arts and crafts section, where he has welcomed generations of customers
  • 'Every time a customer shows up, I enjoy it, even if they don't buy anything,' Rafi says with a smile
    'Every time a customer shows up, I enjoy it, even if they don't buy anything,' Rafi says with a smile
  • 'Depending on what they want to do with it, I advise customers on the colour, the texture or the brand,' says Rafi, who sells the pencils individually, not by the box
    'Depending on what they want to do with it, I advise customers on the colour, the texture or the brand,' says Rafi, who sells the pencils individually, not by the box
  • He is proud to cater to all budgets, offering locally made pencils and others imported from Europe and America
    He is proud to cater to all budgets, offering locally made pencils and others imported from Europe and America
  • 'The most expensive pencil costs 100,000 tomans (about $2.15),' he says. 'But it is one of the best'
    'The most expensive pencil costs 100,000 tomans (about $2.15),' he says. 'But it is one of the best'
  • A drawing lover since childhood, Rafi has always adored pencils and, after his technical studies in the 1980s, began his professional life in a pencil manufacturing company before opening his shop.
    A drawing lover since childhood, Rafi has always adored pencils and, after his technical studies in the 1980s, began his professional life in a pencil manufacturing company before opening his shop.
  • Unlike many other shop owners in the bazaar, he will not pass on the business to his son, a trained physician who 'is not interested in this work'
    Unlike many other shop owners in the bazaar, he will not pass on the business to his son, a trained physician who 'is not interested in this work'
  • 'Fortunately, I have a large stock' accumulated over the years, Rafi says. He has some pencils 'made 72 years ago' and 'some pencils that are no longer produced'
    'Fortunately, I have a large stock' accumulated over the years, Rafi says. He has some pencils 'made 72 years ago' and 'some pencils that are no longer produced'