Salvador Dalí

Learn about SALVADOR DALÍ (1904-1989), Books & Manuscripts artist,their past and upcoming works offered at auction at Christie's

Born in 1904 in Figueras, Spain, Salvador Dalí is one of the most recognized names in Twentieth Century painting. Throughout the 1920s, Dalí was a leading Surrealist, known for his sometimes grotesque juxtapositions and startling images. In 1934, Dalí's muse, Gala, encouraged him to go to America where he became an immediate celebrity. During this time, Dalí experimented in many new mediums. He produced a dream sequence in Alfred Hitchcock's film Spellbound, designed window displays at Bonwit Teller and collaborated with Elsa Schiaparelli on clothing and costume jewellery designs. In the late 1930s, he was introduced to Fulco di Verdura who agreed to collaborate on some precious jewellery with him. Their collaboration resulted in a collection of brooches, ear clips, watches and necklaces which was exhibited in 1941 at the Julian Levy Gallery in New York. With support from Gala, Dalí signed a contract to create five designs a year with the jewellery manufacturer, Alemany. The jewellery designs, echoing the imagery in his paintings, were inventive, clever and remarkable. Dalí utilised rubies, pearls, diamonds and precious metal to create the unique designs. Twenty-two pieces were purchased by the Owen Cheatham Foundation in 1954 and for fund raising purposes, were toured like an art exhibit. Salvador Dalí died in 1989, leaving an artistic legacy. His works are housed in private collections, museums worldwide, including the Salvador Dalí Museum in Cleveland, Ohio and St. Petersburg, Florida and his Teatro-Museo Dalí in Figueras, Spain.

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