135 - OFFICIAL TORCH OF THE 1968 GRENOBLE OLYMPIC GAMES

OFFICIAL TORCH OF THE 1968 GRENOBLE OLYMPIC GAMES Hailed by two million spectators during the torch relay that traversed France in 50 stages over more than 7,000 km from December 19, 1967, to February 6, 1968, its first torchbearer was Alain Mimoun, the 1956 Olympic gold medalist in the marathon at the Melbourne Games, with the final torchbearer being Alain Calmat, a silver medalist in figure skating at the 1964 Innsbruck Olympic Games, who on February 6, 1968, at 4:10 p.m., during the opening ceremony and after crossing the Ice Stadium, climbed the ninety-six steps of the grand tower to the cauldron, created by the sculptor César, to light the Olympic flame before sixty thousand spectators and General de Gaulle, who declared the Xth Winter Olympic Games “open.” Handcrafted, only 33 copies are said to have been produced. Made of copper-plated sheet metal and featuring a long handle partially covered with a red felt grip, it is topped with a protective sleeve for the burner, the body of which is adorned with three silver medals featuring the official emblem of the Grenoble Games, designed by Roger Excoffon (1910–1983). Manufactured by STEFI (Société Technique d’Études et Fournitures Industrielles), it measures 76 cm in height, with a diameter of approximately 9.5 cm for the burner and 4.2 cm for the handle. The torch is in used condition and shows a few very slight dents; the red felt on the handle and the burner in the burner chamber are no longer present. One of the few examples still available. Provenance: Private collection.