Silvio Gazzanigaan original pencil drawing of the World Cup

Silvio Gazzaniga an original pencil drawing of the World Cup, signed by the artist, 49 x 36cm, unframed

With Brazil winning the Jules Rimet Trophy for the third time in 1970 in Mexico, FIFA rules dictated that Brazil would keep the Rimet Cup in perpetuity. FIFA, therefore, needed another trophy for subsequent World Cups. Fifty three designs were summitted by artists from all over the world and Silvio, Gazzaniga's was the winning design. The new cup represents the joy, exultation and greatness of the athlete at the moment of victory, two stylised figures that hold the world aloft. 

Closeted away in his studio situated in the artists quarter of Milan, near the Brera Academy and Sforzesco Castle, Gazzaniga began work immediately. Given the difficulties involved in preparing simple sketches to show the fluidity of the design, he also created a plasticine model and a plaster cast. The uncertainty involved in creating a design without first having reached a formal agreement also stood him in good stead. 53 designs were submitted from 25 nations worldwide, but after experiencing the sight, feel, symbolic beauty and photogenic quality of Silvio Gazzaniga's design, FIFA gave their seal of approval. The Cup was immediately cast in gold and officially adopted by FIFA in January 1972. Gazzaniga created the world's most sought after football trophy

Silvio Gazzaniga was born in Milan in1921. During the avant-garde period of the 1940s, he attended the "Humanitarian School of Applied Art and the High School of Art, specialising as a goldsmith and jeweller. After the War, he started his career as a sculptor of medals, cups and decorations and at the end of 1953 began to collaborate with, Bertoni Milano (known today as GDE Bertoni), as artistic director and master sculptor. He went on to create other important football trophies, Riding on the wave of this great international success, the artist continued to create other important football trophies, including UEFA Cup trophy 1972 and the UEFA Super Cup trophy 1973. He also produced the Baseball World Cup trophy in 2001.