Let’s call them 1 and 2. So then…
1: He was born in 1904 in the town of Figueres, close to the French
border. As a youngster he attended “drawing school” which is equal
to today’s schools of art and design. When he was 12 years old he
discovered modern painting. He had his first exhibition of charcoal
drawings when he was 15.
2: He was born in 1898 in Palermo. He was an aristocrat and gained
the title of Duke when he was 25 years old. His imagination, his
wild humor, his love for animals. all served later to influence his
jewelry designs.
1: In 1941 four of his precious jewels appeared in a Vogue spread.
He said in part: “The ideal Object to me is an Object that is useful
for absolutely nothing;…” I gotta tell ya. this is my kinda human.
2: In 1919 he met Linda and Cole Porter who became two of his
biggest supporters and backers. Six years later he met Coco Chanel
who then hired him as a textile designer and then asked him to
update some of her jewelry. She was impressed and made him head
designer of Chanel jewelry. He created her Maltese Cross Cuffs.
1: in 1959 he married his lover. Her name was Gala. Hint hint. She
encouraged him to go to America where he became a celebrity
Surrealist and landed on the cover of Time magazine.
And then. a friend saw his jewelry and became so excited she
introduced him to number 2. And 1 and 2 became pals. and
collaborators on some pieces of jewelry. And then one day number 1
created an absolutely beautiful ivory miniature of an enormous
spider with a Medusa head on a barren landscape. And number 2 framed
the ivory miniature in a hammered gold cigarette case with an opal
beetle lurking on the border. It was exhibited–among other items
created by 1 and 2–in 1941-- at the Julien Levy Gallery in New
York.
Which brings us to that momentous moment of decision making which
clearly marks the author of this Tidbit as a vacillating individual
eternally destined to be tortured by indecision. However. this
fellow lives by a credo that has often saved him from total
insanity. And it is this: It is better to make a bad decision than
to make no decision at all. The conundrum of course is this: Divulge
who 1 and 2 are now. or hold off till next week and let you all
whimper with anticipation for the revelation.
Not to worry. I have decided to take the generous route. And so
(drum roll please): Number 1 is–of course–Salvador Dali. And
number 2 is–also of course but perhaps no so easily so–Fulco Santo
Stefano della Cerda, Duke of Verdura. affectionately known to most
as just Verdura.
Okay. There it is. Suspense over. Time for the old look/see. So go.
Now. To my page at tyler-adam.com. lower left side of menu. click on
Tidbits. and you’ll see one helluva cigarette case.
And there ya have it. That’s it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark