We discovered this awesome photo on Ebay. The 8"x10" photo had the following inscription on the back:
Salvador Dali shows Jot Singh, Air-India's Publicity man for Europe, his creation - the swan. The swan is so designed that seen upside down, it becomes an elephant. One such swan and two elephants (inverted swans) from the supports of the ashtray Dali has created for Air-India. The ashtray top is composed of shell-shape centre encircled by a serpent. The airline will make a limited quantity for presentation as gifts.
Air-India, Public Relations 1968
A while back we had written about the ashtray that Dali is holding. Dali Ashtray Post
We are kinda bummed because we missed out on this rare photo, which ended up fetching $114.50.
1 comment:
This Ashtray was produced in a very limited edition of only 275 units manufactured at Teissonniere-Limoges for AIR INDIA in year 1967, to be given away only to select personalities around the globe.
Due to the fragile and very delicate manufacturing material, only very few of these ashtrays might be left in the world today.
I have been told by Air India Officials that at least one of these pieces fetched well over 12.000 Euros at auctions in Paris.
This seems not strange if we think that only a few of the 275 units might have survived the passage of time.
Thank you for the picture, a very nice finding.
The ashtray was a design intended to serve as a present for personalities attending the theatrical release of Walt Disney's "The Jungle Book" in Madrid/Spain that is why Dali requested a live elephant baby in exchange for his great work.
Keep up the good job.
Post a Comment