Dalí-Designed Bronze Book Cover Stolen in France

A bronze book cover designed by Salvador Dalí, weighing about 150 kilograms, was reported stolen from the contemporary art centre in Issoire, central France, during the night around October 4-5. The Clermont-Ferrand prosecutors’ office has opened an investigation into the disappearance of the cover from Livre de l’Apocalypse, a monumental art book also known as the Book of Revelation. The cover is made of bronze and decorated with gold, precious stones and seashells. Prosecutors described the work as exceptional and unique, and said it was of great value. The book, created between 1958 and 1961 at the initiative of publisher Joseph Forêt, brought together contributions from artists and writers including Dalí, Jean Cocteau, Bernard Buffet and Jean Giono. The complete volume weighs about 210 kilograms, according to reports. The circumstances of the theft remain unclear. Investigators have not established how the heavy cover was removed or whether the museum was forcibly entered. The owner, Christian Karoutzos, reportedly said a large gate and the plexiglass display case were damaged, but those details have not been confirmed as investigative findings.