Dalí, the craziest artist of the 20^th century was not only a painter. He was also a goldsmith.

Come discover his work under a new light through this collection of 37 jewels made of gold and precious stones as well as the 27 sketches he drew from 1941 to 1970.

The Owen Cheatham collection is finally being show in a case worthy of it at the famous Dalí museum of Figueras in Spain. It is being presented as part of the permanent DALÍ exhibition and can be visited independently from the main museum.

Dalí started drawing jewels in 1941. They were then produced in New York in the workshops of Argentinean goldsmith Carlos Alemany. Shiny facets, bright colours, embossed details… the artist’s trademark was quite noticeable and drew attention from collectors all over the world. The Owen Cheatham Foundation bought the lot of them in 1958, but they were then sold a number of times before being donated to the Figueras Dalí museum.

The royal heart (1953)

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Gold, precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, topazes, emeralds, aquamarines…etc), corals and pearls: Dali used only the noblest and purest materials to design his unique and extravagant jewellery created by his wild imagination. Some of these jewels are even considered part of his life’s major works as an artist on the whole.

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Salvador Dalí once  said that “Without an audience, without the presence of spectators, these jewels would not fulfil the function they were created for. In the end, it is the spectator who is the true artist. His sight, his heart, his mind – and their respective capacities to comprehend the artist’s intention – are what give these jewels life”.

The eye of Time (1949)

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For more information:

Dalí Museum of Figueres. At the corner of Mª Àngels Vayreda and Pujada del Castell. E-17600Figueres.

http://www.salvador-dali.org/museus/joies/en_index.html