November 12, 2017

By BRIAN KRAPF

This set of chairs and its table were made as a souvenir of the 1943 Tehran Conference. Each chair measures six inches high, and the entire set is handmade with a definite folk art quality. The set would have been made in or near Tehran to sell as a souvenir. While other Tehran Conference souvenir items—particularly, locally made textiles—periodically enter the market, this set of chairs is very unique and the only one I have seen.

The Tehran Conference, codenamed Eureka, took place from 28 November through 1 December, 1943 at the Soviet Union’s Tehran embassy. Importantly, it was the first time the Big Three met to discuss wartime strategy. The Cairo Conference had taken place just a few days earlier but did not include Stalin. The chief focus of the Tehran Conference was the pledge commitment to open a second front against Germany. An additional pledge commitment, however, recognized Iran’s independence.

Brian Krapf formerly served as President of the American Political Items Collectors.