This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
The swagggering image of Moshe Dayan in his famous black eye patch inspired the Israeli people for over four decades. Dayan, who lost his left eye in combat in Syria during World War II as a British army officer, played a pivotal role in Israel's hard-won independence and became the nation's army chief of staff from 1953 to 1958, during which he planned and led the invasion of the Sinai peninsula during the war with Egypt. He was a member of the Israeil Knesset in the 1960s, then served as the country's minister of defense during the 1967 Six-Day War and at the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Dayan later became Prime Minister Menachem Begin's foreign minister and was instrumental in drawing up the Camp David peace accord with Egypt in 1977. An outspoken political force until his death on October 16, 1981 at age 66, Dayan's brilliant leadership and military genius is of course symbolized by the centerpiece of this moving display -- a black cloth eye patch worn by Dayan -- which is accompanied by a 3 1/2" x 5" b&w photo signed by Dayan in black marker, the signature rating a nine. There is also a nameplate reading "Moshe Dayan" and a Star of David engraved against a backing motif of blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag. The patch and photo are in near-mint condition. The display is mounted in a black frame that sizes the piece to an overall 16" X 35" and the patch comes with a certificate of authenticity.