2685) Christian Dior (1905-1957), Republic of France (Republique Francaise): A 5000€ 1 Kilo Pink Gold Proof Coin minted by the Monnaie de Paris (The Paris Mint) in collaboration with Dior: Year of Coin release: 2021:
Christian Dior SE (commonly known as Dior, is a European multinational luxury fashion house controlled and chaired by French businessman Bernard Arnault.
The company was founded in 1946 by French fashion designer Christian Dior, who was originally from Normandy. Christian Dior exploded onto the Paris fashion scene with designs that flew in the face of wartime restrictions and reintroduced femininity and luxury to women's fashion.
This brand sells only shoes and clothing that can only be bought in Dior stores. Haute couture is under the Christian Dior Couture division.
The Coin:
The Monnaie de Paris has collaborated with the French house and created a unique series of coins inspired by two traditions of fine French craftsmanship.
Transparency was beautifully conveyed into metal through the use of engraving, polishing and sandblasting to obtain larger than life textures.
The initials "RF" stands for Republique Francaise (French Republic)
While the drawing of the bottle on a bed of roses glimpsed through a star-shaped window remains the same on the obverse as for the 2kg gold coin, the 1kg gold coin’s reverse is specific.
The denomination of the "5,000 Euro" Gold Coin is in the centre of the Reverse.
Here, thanks to a technical innovation, the bow, an ornament Christian Dior frequently used, struck in pink gold, perfectly rounded, creates the illusion of a supple fabric with a regular grain, sealed on the Obverse of the coin.
Using the design of the 2kg gold coin on the obverse and reverse, but this time on a round shape, the 1kg gold coin only has 18 pieces minted.
More about Christian Dior:
Christian Ernest Dior (21.01.1905 – 24.10.1957) was born into a wealthy family and had his heart set on a career in architecture.
However, his father had other ideas and thought a career in diplomacy was better. A compromise was reached when after studying political science at Ecole des Sciences Politiques in Paris, his father sponsored him to start a small art gallery.
Following the closing of his gallery, Dior began to make ends meet by selling his fashion sketches, and in 1935, he landed a job illustrating the magazine Figaro Illustré.
When World War II began the following year, Dior served in the south of France as an officer in the French army.
After the war ended, he founded and established the Dior fashion house. He was a master at creating shapes and silhouettes.
His "New Look" revolutionised women's fashion and contributed to the re-establishment of Paris as the centre of the fashion world.
Dior had attracted attention with his overt use of fabric, bustier-style bodices, wasp waists and curvaceous silhouettes and was heralded as an overnight sensation.
He started the brand in Paris at 30 Avenue Montaigne. It took less than three months from the brand's launch to its first collection on 12.02.1947.
Stars flocked to Christian Dior; everyone from Rita Hayworth to Margot Fonteyn wanted to outfit themselves in this “New Look” that was ahead of its time.
Princess Margaret and Marilyn Monroe were also devotees. With such high-profile women donning his clothes, the brand grew quickly and cemented itself as one of the most iconic in sartorial history.
He even outfitted Marlene Dietrich for her 1950 role in Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright.
In 1947 Dior also launched his first perfume intending to create “a fragrance that is like love”.
Christian’s sister Catherine served as a member of the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation during World War Two. She was captured by the Gestapo and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp until her liberation in 1945.
Dior named his debut fragrance Miss Dior to honour the heroism of his sister. The scent is created from notes of gardenia, galbanum and bergamot; carnation, iris, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose and narcissus.
Christian Dior passed away of a sudden heart attack while on vacation in Montecatini, Italy, on 24.10.1957.
- Dior became the first designer to be featured on the cover of TIME magazine, proving he was true fashion royalty.
- According to his wishes, Yves Saint Laurent became his successor and was named artistic director of the haute couture house at the age of 21.
- Vintage Dior dresses are in high demand, with celebrities like Bella Hadid and Jennifer Aniston spotted on the red carpet in original “New Look” Christian Dior gowns.
The Lucky Charms: Christian Dior was very superstitious, to the point of establishing in his couture and his company a set of talismans, both guides and good luck charms. There is lily of the valley, clover, star, bee and the number 8.
Links to other posts in Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
Links to other Coins in the Cyborg Revolution Coin Series" issued in this Series:
Links:
Most Haunted Places Coin Series:
Links to other posts on Metropolis Tiffany Art Coin Series:
The 7-Summits Silver Coin Series:
For other interesting posts on honouring the work done for the blind/visually impaired persons please visit the following links:
1) A tour of Pune's Blind School and interaction with the students - a short story
2) A two-Rupee coin issued by the Indian Mints honouring Louis Braille on the occasion of his 200th Birth Anniversary in 2009 and a brief report on the Braille system
6) Honouring Louis Braille on the Bicentenary of his birth in 2009
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