An office furniture kit that once belonged to the former Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was recently sold for the record price of EUR 55,000, more than five times the starting price, at the Auction for Office Furniture and Antique writing Instruments organized by Artmark.

Other items that belonged to the communist leader were also sold during Artmark’s auctions, such as the set of Cross pens - awarded for EUR 2,000 and the certificate of “first hunter” of the communist Romania - sold for EUR 125.

Art collectors also auctioned for works signed by Romanian Ioan Andreescu. His painting Garofita Rosie in Pahar (Red Carnation in a Glass) was sold for EUR 57,500.

“Without any doubt, both Andreescu and Ceausescu can be called the winners of this marathon of auctions,” reads a statement of Artmark.

The artwork Visare (Dreaming) signed by Romanian painter Nicolae Grigorescu was also awarded for EUR 37,500.

New author records have been set for Ion Marinescu Valsan’s Drumul spre Casa (The Way Hme) ­- sold for EUR 1,800 and for Constantin Jiquidi’s Povestile Pelesului (The Stories of Peles) ­- awarded for EUR 4,500.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com