Photo By Gail

In 1935, Salvador Dalí transformed one of the most ordinary objects of then modern life — the rotary telephone dial — into a glamorous work of Surrealist design. Created in collaboration with fashion innovator Elsa Schiaparelli, Dalí’s Telephone Dial Powder Compact reimagined a functional makeup case as a miniature piece of practical art.

At first glance, the compact resembles the circular dial of an old-school telephone, complete with numbered apertures and glossy enamel detailing. Open it, however, and the illusion gives way to practicality: a mirror, a powder compartment, and a puff, all neatly tucked inside. The piece perfectly captures Dalí’s fascination with everyday objects displaced into unexpected contexts, where function and fantasy coexist.

The compact was produced in limited numbers and offered to Schiaparelli’s elite clientele, with some examples personalized through engraving. Today, it stands as a rare and delightful artifact from the golden age of Surrealism, blurring the lines between fashion accessory, industrial design, and fine art.

More than a novelty, the Telephone Dial Compact embodies Dalí’s belief that art should intrude into daily life — sometimes literally ringing you up while you apply your powder.

Spotted at the Winter Show NYC and Available from Didier Ltd.