British museum snaps up Rolling Stones artwork

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — The Victoria and Albert Museum in London said Tuesday it had bought the original artwork of the Rolling Stones' iconic red lips and tongue logo at auction in the United States.

The museum paid 92,500 dollars (63,800 euros) for "The Tongue" which was sold by Chicago-based website Mastro Auctions after it was put up for sale by British artist John Pasche, who designed the logo in 1970.

First used on the band's 1971 album "Sticky Fingers", it is considered one of the first examples of a rock group using a trademark and remains the band's logo to this day.

An independent British art charity, The Art Fund, contributed 50 percent of the cost of the artwork which will go on show in the museum's permanent collection.

© 2008 AFP