Salvador Dali Elephant Bronze
This is a Salvador Dali Bronze sculpture. I purchased it at an auction with some other certified works but it was the only one that didn't come with some type of certificate.
9"X4"X11" (L,W,H)
Online Auction
Yes
Hi Gary,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
All of the versions of Dali's elephant that I've found offered at auction in the past 20-30 years have something riding on its back. Is there any evidence that there was something attached to the blanket on its back?
Also, is there a foundry mark on this anywhere (You might need to look hard to find it). If there is, can you please take a photo and add it here? It may identify if this is a post-humous casting and/or an original or fake.
Thanks,
Delia
Thanks
Hi Gary,
Foundry marks are other marks that will indicate where this bronze sculpture was cast; Dali commissioned a few foundries during his lifetime to cast his works but if the models were not destroyed after his death in 1989, post-humous/unauthorized sculptures could be made. Generally speaking, collectors seek out those works made during the artists' lifetime OR in posthumously authorized castings. Without foundry marks - the names or symbols of the foundries - I must assume this is a posthumous / unauthorized sculpture. It has value but not the same high value it would have in an otherwise authorized casting.
Please confirm if you see any marks that would identify a foundry.
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Delia,
I don’t really know what to look for as far as foundry marks. I know this was in a collection of original works that were all certified. I don’t think that just because most have something on their backs that this was couldn’t be an original. Who would make this (in bronze) and sign his name to it? I don’t see any sign that there was ever anything on it’s back though but it is very much like his other works. I would just like to get something that says it’s his work.
Regards,
Gary Farr