3002
Winterauktionen 24.–25.11.2023
Dalí, Salvador
1904 Figueres - 1989 ibid.
«Trajano joven».
Yellow gold 18k, mounted on a black marble base. Signed on the plinth, numbered «68» and dated 1973. Hallmark and mark «B» in hexagon with indistinct sequence of numbers.
H 10,5, W 7, D 5,5 cm (sculpture),
H 7,8, W 5,5, D 6 cm (base). Original wooden box.
Work from an edition of 107 signed and numbered copies.
Trajan is considered to be the first Roman emperor whose family was not settled in the capital of the empire but in the Spanish province. He was awarded the honorary title of «optimus princeps» (best emperor), a distinction that no emperor before or after him ever received. And he is considered Dalí's favourite emperor. This, by the way, «[...] not only because he was Spanish, [...] but because the Roman Empire was the most widespread in his time, [...] art and literature flourished and he rejected the persecution of Christians. Dalí felt spiritually connected to him.» from: Sammlerkreis für Kunst, Verband deutscher Ärzte, 28.07.1987
The sculpture of pure gold is in the tradition of medieval golden Madonna representations or Benvenuto Cellini's famous Saliera. The noble 18-karat precious metal, which Dalí chose as the casting material for his small sculpture, particularly captivates the viewer.
Certificate of authenticity: of the artist, 1973, signed by hand and numbered «68».
Provenance: purchased from the Sammlerkreis für Kunst, Verband deutscher Ärzte, in 1973; since then private collection High Rhine.
Purchase price: according to written correspondence 14.300 DM (approx. 7311 €).
Literature: Robert and Nicolas Descharnes, Dalí, Le dur et le mou, Sortilčge et magie des formes, Sculptures & Objets, Paris 2003, p. 184, No. 455 (cf., there in bronze, around 1956).

Condition report