Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Spring 2021
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/30/2021
Continuing in a tradition that dates back to ancient Greece, where a sacred fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics on the altar of the sanctuary of Hestia, each Olympic Games begin with the torch relay, which formally ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony.
This rarely seen and highly desirable Calgary Olympics torch originates from a high ranking Petro-Canada corporate executive in 1988. Produced by the National Research Council of Canada and Wemas Metal Products, and designed as a replica of the Calgary Tower, the torch is approx 23” in length and features an aluminum body with carved Maple wood handle and mounted finial, with engraved metal ring at the base. Raised text and imagery encompasses the torch body including the Olympic rings and Calgary Games logo, with “XV Olympic Winter Games Calgary Alberta Canada 1988” in both English and French. Utilizing petrol, kerosene and alcohol as the fuel source, the torch was designed to burn for approx 45 minutes. 10 small pictogram figures are masterfully carved into the handle representing different Olympic events, with a grooved portion for handling. “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (“Faster, Higher, Stronger”) is also engraved to the metal ring at the base. Disassembling into four separate pieces including the body and handle, four-wick canister, mounting lid and inner spring, a sticker from Wemas is affixed to the interior portion of the torch along with the engraved production number of “C172”. The original metal base that allows the torch to be mounted for display also accompanies, with the bottom of the torch containing threading designed to screw into the base, for a total mounted height of just over 27”.
Remaining in gorgeous overall condition, with a blemish-free wooden handle and light wear throughout to the metal components, there is some scratching and groove marks from use within the inner section that houses the wick canister, with additional wear to the exterior of the canister. Burn marks are visible along the interior lid showing the torch was lit, with scratches to the interior of the top from use. The finial on the handle also shows light wear with scratches. The wick does not appear to have been used, with this changed at some point – likely for aesthetics, with the original burnt wick removed.
Especially scarce due to its rarity, torches from the Calgary Olympics are among the rarest on the collector market due to the nature of the torch relay at the time. Only about 100 to 150 torches were produced according to different online information sources, and they were shared among torchbearers. That practice has now changed dramatically since 1988. It should also be noted that the high ranking executive the Olympic torch and additional items originate from went to Greece and was present for the torch lighting ceremony, and brought the flame back to Canada (with the flame carrier offered in a different lot). He also carried the flame in one of the relay legs with Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. A desirable example in beautiful condition of one of the most sought-after modern Olympic torches, this specimen is worthy of even the most advanced Olympic collection.
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