When most of us think Salvador Dali, we think of boldly surreal, flamboyant artwork. But Dali was an incredibly original and prolific jewelry designer as well. His collection currently resides in Dalí-Joies at the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain.
All the pieces in the collection are unique items, and the combination of materials, dimensions and shapes used by Salvador Dalí make this a one-off set in which the artist managed to express in a unique way the wealth of his singular iconography. Gold, platinum, precious stones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, aquamarines, topazes, etc.), pearls, corals and other noble materials combine to form hearts, lips, eyes, plant and animal forms, religious and mythological symbols and anthropomorphic forms.
As well as designing the forms of the jewels, Salvador Dalí personally selected each of the materials used, not only for their colours or value but also for their meaning and the symbolic connotations of each and every one of the previous stones and noble metals. Some of the jewels that form part of this collection, such as The Eye of Time (1949), Royal Heart (1953), or The Space Elephant (1961), have become key works and are considered to be as exceptional as some of his paintings.
The Bleeding World. 18 karat yellow gold; 18 karat white gold; Diamonds (6), diamond cut (round) of 1.5 to 2.5 mm in diameter, approximately; Natural rubies (corundum) (2), irregular shaped fragments (in the shape of teardrops); Pearls (17), of 3.0 to 3.5 mm in diameter
Tristan and Isolde. Technique: 18 karat yellow gold; Platinum; Diamonds (39), diamond cut (round) and 8/8 (the smallest), of 1.0 to 3.0 mm in diameter, approximately; Almandine garnet (1), triangular cabochon
The Honeycomb Heart. 18 karat yellow gold; On the pin, 13-14 carat yellow gold; Diamonds (13), diamond cut (round) and 8/8, of 1.5 to 3.0 mm in diameter approximately; Natural rubies (corundum), mixed cut (round and oval) of 2.0 to 4.5 mm approximately.
Ruby Lips. 18 karat yellow gold; Natural rubies (corundum), mixed cut (round and oval), of 2.0 to 4.0 mm, approximately; Pearls (13), of 4.0 to 6.0 mm in diameter, approximately.
18 karat yellow gold (on the figure and on the untied ring); 16 karat yellow gold (on the pieces of the necklace); Natural Amethyst (quartz) (1), fantasy cut (oval) of 50.7 x 46.0 x 26.0 mm, approximately; Natural green sapphire (corundum) (70), mixed cut (oval) of 5 to 9 mm, approximately; Diamonds, diamond cut (round, oval and marquise), of 2 to 6 mm, approximately.