8395

Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics Presentation Torch

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Albertville 1992 Winter Olympics Presentation Torch

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Auction Date:2019 Oct 31 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Exceedingly rare official 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics presentation torch, consisting of a bulbous steel alloy body, measuring 16.5? long and 3? at its widest point, designed by Philippe Starck and familiarly known as 'La Corne,' or 'The Horn.' The sleek, modernist design resembles a bull's horn or flame when turned upside down, and is engraved at the top with golden lettering, "XVIes Jeux Olympiques d'Hiver 1992," followed by a small emblem of the five Olympic rings. As a presentation edition of the torch, it does not contain the burner, or serial number. This version of the torch was given to special VIPs.

One day after the Olympic flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, on December 13, 1991, it was taken from Athens to Paris via supersonic Concorde. The relay route aimed to cover as much of France as possible by passing through all regional capitals, and the 57 days of the French leg echoed the 57 events of the Albertville Games. Carried by 5,500 torchbearers, the flame passed down the iconic Champs-Elysees and made a stop at IOC founder Pierre de Coubertin's childhood home during its 5,700 km trek through the nation. Unlike many relays where each torchbearer carries their own torch, the Albertville torches were passed from bearer to bearer and thus manufactured in extremely limited quantities. Albertville is easily the rarest and most sought-after torch of the last thirty years, and examples are seldom offered on an international stage.