'Dovima' finds a new home at Dior

Richard Avedons photograph of model Dovima poised between two elephants in a full-length Dior gown is one of the most instantly recognisable images in fashion history.

By ELLE UK and NonePublished: 23 November 2010

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In an auction of Avedons work held in Paris over the past weekend, Dior bid for the right to bring Dovima home and won.

Maison Christian Dior paid 841,000 for a seven-foot-tall print of the iconic image, setting a new sales record for Avedons work in the process.

The auction of 65 works from the Richard Avedon Foundation raised a total of 5.5 million.

The 65 Avedon photographs in this sale represented not only the largest ensemble of his works to ever hit the market, but also offered several unique and extremely rare items, says Christie's, the auctioneers. Proceeds will initiate The Richard Avedon Foundations endowment in support of its philanthropic mission.

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