BUCKINGHAM PALACE PRESENTS 'QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: THE ROYAL TOUR'

A COLLECTION OF 28 OF THE QUEEN'S DRESSES HAVE GONE ON DISPLAY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO CELEBRATE 60 YEARS OF THE MODERN BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AND WILL EVOKE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OVERSEAS TOURS UNDERTAKEN BY THE QUEEN DURING HER REIGN. THE EXHIBITION 'QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: THE ROYAL TOUR' BRINGS TOGETHER EVENING GOWNS, DAY WEAR AND EVEN A KIWI FEATHER CLOAK PRESENTED TO HER MAJESTY BY THE MAORI CHIEFS IN ROTORUA, JANUARY 1954.QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS THE MOST TRAVELED MONARCH AND HAD MADE OVER 170 OFFICIAL VISITS TO COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES ALONE. THE EXHIBITION ALSO INCLUDES JEWELRY AND GIFTS TO THE QUEEN FROM COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES, INCLUDING A CHESS SET FROM NELSON MANDELA WHERE THE PIECES REPRESENT ZULU AND NDEBELE PEOPLE WEARING TRADITIONAL COSTUME. THIS SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT SUMMER OPENING OF THE STATE ROOMS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE RUNS FROM 26.JULY TO 30.SEPTEMBER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION VISIT www.royalcollection.org.uk

LE CLOS OPENS AT DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS A NEW ADDITION TO ITS DUTY FREE SHOPS, LE CLOS A STUNNING BOUTIQUE THAT SELLS SOME OF THE WORLD'S FINEST AND RAREST WINES AND SPIRITS. RETAIL OUTLETS OF LE CLOS HAVE BEEN OPENED IN THE FIRST CLASS LOUNGE AND ON THE SHOPPING CONCOURSE IN TERMINAL 3 OF THE LARGEST AIRPORT TERMINAL IN THE WORLD. THE SHOP LISTS OVER 400 WINES FROM FRANCE, ITALY, THE US, SOUTH AFRICA, SPAIN, AUSTRALIA, CHILE AND NEW ZEALAND. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE CHATEAU PETRUS 1947 (£7,625), CHATEAU CHEVAL BLANC 1961 IN MAGNUM (£9,607), AND DOMAINE DE LA ROMANEE-CONTI 2005 (£16,945). IT ALSO SELLS SPIRITS INCLUDING A 40 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT, AND VISITORS CAN EVEN PURCHASE A $125,000 DOM PERIGNON GUITAR CASE. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR BUYING. YOU CAN PRE-ORDER THROUGH THE ONLINE STORE AND COLLECT YOUR BOTTLES IN THE STORE BEFORE FLYING OUT OF DUBAI, OR IF YOU ARE MAKING A RETURN JOURNEY BACH INTO DUBAI YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR WINES AHEAD OF TIME AND PICK THEM UP AFTER YOUR FLIGHT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.leclos.net

KRAKEN OPUS TO RELEASE $1 MILLION WINE BOOK

KRAKEN OPUS WILL TEAM UP WITH CELEBRITY CHEF MARCO PIERRE WHITE TO LAUNCH AN IMPRESSIVE LIMITED EDITION WINE BOOK, ESTIMATED TO COST $1 MILLION, FOR THE WEALTHY WINE CONNOISSEUR. DUBBED THE WINE OPUS, THE BOOK WEIGHING OVER 30lbs WILL SHOWCASE THE TOP 100 WINERIES OF THE WORLD, ON OVER 850 PAGES AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE SPRING OF 2010. EACH BOOK WILL BE ACCOMPANIED WITH A SIX-BOTTLE CASE OF VINTAGE WINE FROM EACH OF THE 100 LISTED VINTNERS, THAT'S AN AMAZING 600, WITH 25 ALREADY PRE-ORDERED. BOTTLES OF THE FINEST WINE FOR YOUR CELLAR. THERE WILL BE ONLY 100 BOOKS PUBLISHED, WITH A NUMBER OF COPIES SET ASIDE FOR AUCTION.
A SPOKESWOMAN FOR KRAKEN OPUS TOLD DECANTER.COM THAT A 'PANEL OF EXPERTS' WILL DRAW UP A SHORT LIST OF ABOUT 300 PRODUCERS, AND THEN A SECOND PANEL, COMPRISING 40 SOMMELIERS, WILL MAKE UP THE FINAL SELECTION, BASED ON A 'NUMBER OF CRITERIA' AT A 'WINE UN MEETING' IN LONDON IN 2010. THE LIST OF SOMMELIERS AND WINE EXPERTS HAS NOT BEEN REVEALED, BUT THE SPOKESWOMAN SAID 'EVERY WINE-PRODUCING COUNTRY' WILL BE REPRESENTED.

ROBERTO COIN'S CAPRIPLUS COLLECTION

THE CAPRIPLUS COLLECTION BY RENOWNED JEWELER ROBERTO COIN, IS HIS LATEST CREATION OF VIBRANTLY STUNNING JEWELS, WHICH DEBUTED EARLIER THIS SUMMER. THE NEW COLLECTION IS VERY RELAXED AND FUN, A CONTRAST TO HIS MORE FORMAL COLLECTIONS. THE DESIGNS WHICH INCLUDE BRACELETS, RINGS AND PENDENTS ARE MADE OF YELLOW GOLD WITH EBONY AND VARIOUS BRIGHTLY COLOURED GEMSTONES. THE NEW COLLECTION WAS INSPIRED BY THE COLOURFUL SUNSETS OF THE ITALIAN ISLAND OF CAPRI AND CONTAINS BLACK, PINK, YELLOW OR BROWN DIAMONDS, ALONG SET ALONG WITH THE COLOURED GEMS, AND AS WITH AL OF ROBERTO COIN'S COLLECTIONS EACH PIECE IS SET WITH THE SIGNATURE RUBY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.robertocoin.com

ANGULAR MOMENTUM'S NEW ENAMEL BIRD WATCHES

THE LATEST CREATIONS FROM THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM VERRE EGLOMISE ARTISAN TIMEPIECE COLLECTION COMES A BEAUTIFUL AND STUNNING SET OF ENAMEL PAINTED WATCHES IN FOUR VARIETIES, WITH THREE COCKATOO PAINTED DIALS AND ONE KINGFISHER. THE DIALS ARE DONE IN VERRE EGLOMISE, WHICH IS REVERSE HAND-ENAMEL PAINTING ON A SAPPHIRE CRISTAL. USING THE STANDARD ANGULAR MOMENTUM TIME GALLERY WATCH CASE, THE NEW WATCHES ARE EACH DONE IN 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD AND ARE BETWEEN 40mm - 41mm WIDE. DIAMONDS DECORATE THE THIN BEZELS AND LUG STRUCTURES, WHILE EACH WATCH HAS AN ATTACHED ALLIGATOR STRAP. INSIDE THE WATCH IS AN AUTOMATIC MECHANICAL MOVEMENT, TIME IS READ DIGITALLY THROUGH A WINDOW PLACED AT 12 OR 6 O'CLOCK. THE REST OF THE DIAL IS DEDICATED TO STUNNING LIMITED EDITION PAINTINGS. PRICES ARE ESTIMATED TO BEGIN AT $25,000 TO $30,000

BURBERRY OPENS NEW STORE IN SINGAPORE

TODAY, BRITISH LUXURY FASHION HOUSE, BURBERRY ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF ITS 6th AND LARGEST BOUTIQUE IN SOUTH EAST ASIA. THE 815 SQUARE METRE STORE LOCATED ON ION ORCHARD, SINGAPORE'S UP-SCALE LUXURY SHOPPING AREA, OPENED YESTERDAY WITH GREAT FANFARE AND CELEBRATION. THE STORE DESIGN WAS DEVELOPED BY THE BURBERRY CREATIVE DIRECTOR, CHRISTOPHER BAILY AND IS A REFLECTION OF THE NEW BURBERRY DESIGN CONCEPT. BRITISH MATERIALS AND THEMES ARE USED IN THE STORE IN A CONTEMPORARY MANNER, WITH STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED INCLUDING A CUTTING EDGE SOUND SYSTEM, WIFI CONNECTION, A VIP ROOM WITH IN-BUILT IPOD DOCKING STATIONS AND A GIANT 103" HIGH DEFINITION LED VIDEO WALL. TO SPECIALLY MARK THE OPENING OF THE NEW BOUTIQUE, BURBERRY DESIGNED AN EXCLUSIVE RANGE OF LEATHER ACCESSORIES THAT INCLUDE HANDBAGS, CLUTCHES AND OTHER LEATHER GOODS. THE STORE WILL OFFER A FULL RANGE OF FASHION ITEMS FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, FROM BURBERRY PRORSUM, BURBERRY LONDON, BURBERRY LIFESTYLE, BURBERRY SPORTS AND BURBERRY CHILDRENWEAR COLLECTIONS.

PRADA OPENS NEW PLACE BEAUVAU BOUTIQUE

PRADA HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF ITS NEWEST LUXURY BOUTIQUE, WHICH IS A TEMPORARY FIVE-MONTH POP-UP SHOP, AT PLACE BEAUVAU 92, PARIS. THE BEAUTIFUL STUNNING STORE WAS INSPIRED BY THE FRENCH POET, APOLLINAIRE. DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECT, ROBERTO BACIOCCI, THE FRONT OF THE STORE EVOKES THE IMAGE OF THE MIRABEAU BRIDGE, IMMORTALIZED IN GAILLAUME APOLLINAIRE'S POEM, 'LE PONT MIRABEAU', WHICH IS THE FIRST BRIDGE TO BE BUILT IN PARIS. THE BRIDGE SILHOUETTE IS EMPHASIZED BY A DRAMATIC TRAJECTORY TOWARDS THE STAIRCASE, WHERE MANNEQUINS DRESSED IN THE LATEST PRADA FASHIONS ARE GROUPED TO RECREATE A PARISIAN STREET SCENE. THE MOTIF IS CARRIED THROUGH MORE ABSTRACTLY IN THE GROUND FLOOR AREAS, WHICH ARE FURNISHED WITH LILAC CARPETING AND FURNISHINGS, BRONZE-METAL AND GLASS DISPLAY AND HIGHLY POLISHED BLACK AND WHITE CHECKERED MARBLE FLOORS, WHICH HARKENS BACK TO THE ORIGINAL 1913 PRADA BOUTIQUE IN MILAN'S GALLERIA VITTORIO EMANUELE II.

CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST SOLMI OVER CONTROVERSIAL POPE ART CRUCIFIX

ARTIST FEDERICO SOLMI'S CONTROVERSIAL CRUCIFIX THAT WAS CONFISCATED FROM THE ARTE FIERA IN BOLOGNA IN JANUARY IS TO BE RETURNED, AND CHARGES AGAINST THE ARTIST DROPPED. THE CROSS, WHICH FEATURES A POPE CHARACTER WITH A LARGE GRIN AND A PROTRUDING ERECTION, OFFENDED LOCAL JUDGE BRUNO GIANGIACOMO WHO ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT FROM A SECOND HAND SOURCE, HAD IT CONFISCATED FROM THE BOOTH OCCUPIED BY NAPLES' NOT GALLERY AND RELIGIOUS OFFENSE AND OBSCENITY CHARGES LODGED AGAINST SOLMI. THE CRUCIFIX HAD ALREADY BEEN SOLD TO A COLLECTOR, AND SOLMI FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE CHARGES AFTER HE HAD RETURNED TO HIS HOME IN NEW YORK.
BUT AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE CHARGES, JUDGES IN A BOLOGNA COURT FOUND THAT THE CROSS WAS NEITHER BLASPHEMOUS, BECAUSE IT IS NOT A CULT OBJECT, NOR OBSCENE, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE UNANIMOUSLY RULED S SUCH. THE UNIQUE ARTWORK IS "UNDOUBTEDLY PROVOCATIVE IN LIGHT OF ITS ASSOCIATIONS OF SEXUALITY AND RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS", THE JUDGES SAID. "BUT THAT DOES NOT EXCLUDE ITS CONDUCIVENESS TO THE NOTION OF A WORK OF ART." THEY ADDED THAT THE QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE CROSS CAN BE RESOLVED ONLY BY AN "ELEGANT INTELLECTUAL GAME" THAT WOULD BE OF NO JUDICIAL VALUE.

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL HISTORIC 32.01 CARAT ANNENBERG DIAMOND

CHRISTIE'S, NEW YORK, ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING AUCTIONS HOUSES FOR FINE JEWELS AND THE MARKET LEADER IN THE CATEGORY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE ANNENBURG DIAMOND, A SPECTACULAR D COLOUR, FLAWLESS DIAMOND OF 32.01 CARATS, WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF 'JEWELS;THE NEW YORK SALE ON 21.OCTOBER.2009. VALUED AT BETWEEN $3-5 MILLION AND BOASTING THE IMPRESSIVE PROVENANCE SYNONYMOUS WITH THE ANNENBURG NAME, THIS EXTRAORDINARY DIAMOND WILL BE AMONG THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED JEWELS OFFERED AT AUCTION IN THE COMING FALL.
THE ANNENBURG DIAMOND IS A SQUARE EMERALD-CUT D COLOUR, FLAWLESS DIAMOND OF 32.01 CARATS MOUNTED AS A RING AND FLANKED BY TWO PEAR SHAPED DIAMONDS WEIGHING 1.50 AND 1.61 CARATS. THE RING WAS DESIGNED BY RENOWNED MANHATTAN JEWELER DAVID WEBB. FRANCOIS CURIEL, CHAIRMAN OF CHRISTIE'S EUROPE AND INTERNATIONAL HEAD OF JEWELS COMMENTED, "THE ANNENBERG DIAMOND COMBINES THE BEST OF THE 4 C's: TOP COLOUR, PERFECT CLARITY, IDEAL CUT AND EXCELLENT WEIGHT. AND IF YOU ADD TO THIS THE IMPECCABLE PROVENANCE OF THE ANNENBURG NAME, YOU HAVE ONE OF THE FINEST GEMS TO APPEAR ON THE MARKET FOR MANY YEARS." PRIOR TO THE SALE OF THE ANNENBURG DIAMOND IN OCTOBER, CHRISTIE'S HAS ARRANGED A PREVIEW TOUR OF THE DIAMOND TO KEY COLLECTING CENTERS, INCLUDING GENEVA, LONDON, HONG KONG, LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK.

DOLCE & GABBANA DESIGNS FOR A.C. MILAN

LUXURY FASHION DESIGNERS DOLCE & GABBANA HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS LATEST DESIGNS FOR ITALIAN FOOTBALL TEAM A.C. MILAN FOR THE UPCOMING 2009-2010 SEASON. DOLCE & GABBANA DESIGNED THE TEAM'S OFFICIAL UNIFORMS AS WELL AS THE FORMAL UNIFORMS FOR THE ENTIRE A.C. MILAN RED AND BLACK CLUB. THE TEAM IS TRAVELING TO THE US THIS MONTH TO COMPETE AGAINST THE CHELSEA FC, INTER MILAN, AND CLUB AMERICA TEAMS IN MATCHES TAKING PLACE AT THE GEORGIA DOME IN ATLANTA, M&T BANK STADIUM IN BALTIMORE, AND GILLETTE STADIUM IN BOSTON. "WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO ONCE AGAIN LINK THE NAME DOLCE & GABBANA WITH A.C. MILAN", STATE DOMENICO DOLCE AND STEFANO GABBANA, "A TEAM WHOSE INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE PERFECTLY EMBODIES OUR STYLE AND ITALIAN EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE WORLD." A.C. MILAN HAS WON A RECORD 18 OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONAL TITLES.

FRENCH PAINTING STOLEN FROM ATLANTA ART GALLERY DURING PARTY

THE OWNERS OF HUFF HARRINGTON FINE ARTS, ATLANTA, ARE HOPING THAT SOMEONE WILL RECOGNIZE A SMALL OIL PAINTING THAT WAS STOLEN DURING A RECENT BASTILLE DAY PARTY AT THE TRENDY ART GALLERY, ASSUMING THE THIEF TRIES TO SELL OR DISPLAY IT.
THE OIL ON BOARD PIECE 'RED SAIL AGAINST CLEARING SKY' BY FRENCH ARTIST CHRISTIAN NEPO, MEASURES 9 BY 4½ INCHES, AND DISPLAYED ON AN EASEL IN A CORNER CLOSE TO THE FRONT DOOR DURING THE 14.JULY EVENT. IT'S THOUGHT THAT WHOEVER TOOK THE ART WORK, VALUED AT $975, BLENDED IN WITH THE SMALL CROWD OF ABOUT 150 WINE-SIPPING ARTS PATRONS. THE GALLERY REPORTED THE CRIME TO POLICE, BUT KNOW THERE IS LITTLE HOPE IN RECOVERY UNLESS THE BUSINESS ENVELOPE SIZE PIECE BECOMES PUBLIC, AND PLAN TO HAVE A SECURITY GUARD AT THEIR NEXT PARTY 24.SEPTEMBER.

JASPER JOFFE PLANS "SALE OF A LIFETIME'

SOME PEOPLE, WHEN THEIR GIRLFRIENDS DUMP THEM, MIGHT GO OUT DRINKING OR TEAR UP SOME OLD PICTURES. ARTIST JASPER JOFFE IS TAKING MATTERS A BIT MORE TO THE EXTREME: HE IS SELLING EVERYTHING HE OWNS. IN AN UNDERTAKING THAT IS PART SALE, PART EXHIBITION, AND PART PERFORMANCE ART, AND THAT IS BILLED QUITE LITERALLY AS "THE SALE OF A LIFETIME", JOFFE WILL PUT ON OFFER FOR FIVE DAYS AT LONDON'S IDEA GENERATION GALLERY EVERYTHING HE OWNS - ARTWORK, TEDDY BEARS, BOOKS, STEREO, PHOTO ALBUMS. HE WILL KEEP ONLY THE CLOTHES HE IS WEARING. THE EVENT IS BEING MARKED AS A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS FOR THE ARTIST, WHO RECENTLY LEFT HIS GALLERY AND WAS LEFT BY HIS GIRLFRIEND. AND JOFFE IS 33, "THE AGE AT WHICH JESUS DIED AND WAS BORN AGAIN", ACCORDING TO THE PRESS RELEASE. AS SUCH, THAT MAGIC NUMBER WILL RECUR THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBITION, WHICH IS TO BE INSTALLED IN 33 LOTS, EACH FOR SALE FOR £3,333. MERCHANDISE INCLUDES COUNTLESS PAINTINGS BY THE ARTIST (INCLUDING ONE OF HEINRICH HIMMLER, SIMILAR TO THE HIMMLER PORTRAIT THAT CHARLES SAATCHI FAMOUSLY BOUGHT FROM JOFFE IN 2008), ARTWORK BY WOLFGANG TILLMANS AND TRACEY EMIN, A SIGNED COPY OF HENRY KISSINGER'S BOOK 'DIPLOMACY', A WHITE LINEN SUIT JOFFE WORE TO HIS ROYAL COLLEGE GRADUATION, ANTIQUE STUFFED BEARS, AND A LARGE FLAT-SCREEN TV. THE SHOW/SALE RUNS 29.JULY THROUGH 2.AUGUST, WITH A PRIVATE VIEWING 28.JULY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.ideageneration.co.uk/

PARTRIDGE FINE ARTS PLACED INTO ADMINISTRATION

PARTRIDGE FINE ART, THE FAMED ANTIQUES DEALERSHIP SET UP IN 1902 TO BUY ANTIQUES FOR QUEEN MARY, WAS PLACED INTO ADMINISTRATION -MEANING IT WILL BE RUN BY A BANKRUPTCY SPECIALIST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS CREDITORS, EARLIER THIS WEEK. THE HISTORIC BUSINESS, WHICH SELLS TO PRIVATE CLIENTS, DESIGNERS AND INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM, IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR SELLING A LOUIS XVI WRITING TABLE TO THE J. PAUL GETTY NEARLY 35 YEARS AGO FOR WHAT WOULD BE FOR MILLIONS OF POUNDS AT TODAY'S PRICES. THE TABLE WAS DESIGNED IN 1777 BY JEAN-HENRI RIESENER, ONE OF THE GREATEST CABINET MAKERS OF HIS AGE, AT THE BEHEST OF MARIE ANTOINETTE, WHO SAW IT AS AN INTEGRAL PIECE OF FURNITURE FOR HER PALACE AT VERSAILLES. THE ALLIED IRISH BANK IS THE MAIN CREDITOR TO THE COMPANY. ANDREW STONEMAN AND MATT BOND, PARTNERS IN MCR, HAVE BEEN APPOINTED JOINT ADMINISTRATORS AND BUSINESS IS GOING ON AS USUAL AT THE DEALERSHIP'S LUXURIOUS FOUR-STORY A LISTED TOWNHOUSE ON NEW BOND STREET, CALLED THE 'PALACE OF THE ARTS'. IT MAINTAINS PHOTOGRAPHS OF EVERY SINGLE ITEM THAT IT HAS SOLD SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR. PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT IS THE FIRM'S PRESIDENT BUT IT IS UNKNOWN AS OF YET IF SHE WILL REMAIN ON THE PAYROLL. ALTHOUGH AN MCR PARTNER SAID IT WAS TOO EARLY TO DETERMINE THE MAIN REASONS FOR PARTRIDGE'S TROUBLES, A FIRM SPOKESMAN CITED THE RECESSION AS THE PRIMARY FACTOR. THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE FOCUSING ON SAVING THE BUSINESS, WITH HOPES TO SELL IT AS A THRIVING COMPANY PRESERVING BOTH THE HISTORY OF THE FIRM AND THE JOBS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. THE COMPANY WAS OWNED BY THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY UNTIL 2005 WHEN IT WAS SOLD TO AMOR HOLDINGS FOR AROUND £14 MILLION, ENDING 103 YEARS OF FAMILY OWNERSHIP. IT IS BELIEVED THAT CANDY & CANDY, THE INTERIOR DESIGN AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN BUYING THE BUSINESS IN THE PAST AND MAY STILL BE KEEN ON THE IDEA.

SHANGHAI ART MUSEUM PRESENTS "SALVADOR DALI IN SHANGHAI"

THE STRATTON FOUNDATION AND THE DALI UNIVERSE PRESENT AN EXCITING HISTORIC EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO THE RENOWNED ARTIST AND MASTER OF SURREALISM, SALVADOR DALI. THE EXHIBITION "SALVADOR DALI IN SHANGHAI" IS A RARE COLLECTION OF ARTWORKS THAT WILL DELIGHT AND SURPRISE. OPENING 31.JULY AND ON VIEW TILL 14.AUGUST AT THE SHANGHAI ART MUSEUM. THE EXHIBITION "SALVADOR DALI IN SHANGHAI" COMMEMORATES THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF DALI'S DEATH AND DISPLAYS THE ARTIST IN ALL HIS GLORY. CURATOR OF THE EXHIBITION AND PRESIDENT OF THE STRATTON FOUNDATION, BENJAMIN LEVI IS AN AVID COLLECTOR AND EXPERT OF DALI'S WORK. A PERSONAL FRIEND OF THE ARTIST, LEVI HAS ASSEMBLED THE COLLECTION OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS, CAREFULLY SELECTING EACH ARTWORK IN ORDER TO BRING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DALI'S LIFEWORK TO THE PUBLIC EYE. AS AN ARTIST, DALI NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, HE WILL ALWAYS AROUSE INTEREST, SPECULATION, DISCUSSION AND MOST OF ALL, PLEASURE. AN EXHIBITION OF EPIC PROPORTIONS, THE VISITOR WILL TAKE AN UNFORGETTABLE TOUR OF OVER 350 ARTWORKS.
THIS IS THE ONLY COLLECTION OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD, FEATURING THE MOST IMPORTANT AND LARGEST GROUPING OF BRONZE SCULPTURES, SUCH AS THE 'SPACE ELEPHANT' AND THE 'BUSTE DE FEMME RETROSPECTIF'. THE SHOW ALSO DISPLAYS A STAGGERING NUMBER OF RARE GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATING THE GREAT THEMES OF LITERATURE, SUCH AS THE 'DIVINE COMEDY' AND 'HAMLET'. BEAUTIFUL SHIMMERING GLASS SCULPTURES, DALI INSPIRED FURNITURE, PAINTINGS, COLLAGES OF THE MYSTICAL 'TAROT' AND THE MAE WEST'S LIPS REMIND THE VIEWER THAT DALI WAS A MULTI-FACETED ARTIST WHO EXPLORED A WIDE RANGE OF THEMES AND MATERIALS. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EXHIBITION IS DALI'S VAST AND MESMERIZING ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING 'SPELLBOUND' WHICH WAS CREATED FOR THE SET OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S 1945 HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. THIS IS A RARE AND UNIQUE OCCASION FOR THE PEOPLE IN SHANGHAI AND VISITORS TO VIEW AN ENTHRALLING COLLECTION WHICH OFFERS THE GENERAL PUBLIC A SURREAL EXPERIENCE BEYOND THEIR WILDEST IMAGINATION.

DALI MUSEUM ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR NEW HURRICANE SAFE BUILDING

ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF SALVADOR DALI WORKS OUTSIDE OF HIS NATIVE SPAIN IS BEING MOVED TO A MORE SECURE LOCATION, A HURRICANE-PROOF, CEMENT AND GLASS BUILDING LOCATED JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION IN ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA. THE COLLECTION OF 2,140 PIECES, INCLUDING 96 PAINTINGS BY THE "ENFANT TERRIBLE" OF SURREALISM, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS ETCHINGS AND DRAWINGS, WILL BE RELOCATED IN A NEW, $35 MILLION STRUCTURE THAT WILL HAVE A STURDIER STRUCTURE AND BE LESS EXPOSED TO THE COASTAL ELEMENTS. THE MOST UNIQUE ASPECT OF THE NEW SALVADOR DALI MUSEUM WILL BE ITS 18 INCH THICK WALLS, CAPABLE OF RESISTING THE IMPACT OF A CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE, PACKING WINDS UP TO 165 MILES PER HOUR. ITS STRUCTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN EVOKE ELEMENTS THAT ARE VERY CHARACTERISTIC OF DALI (1904-1989), SUCH AS "THE RATIONAL AND THE APOLLONIAN ALONGSIDE THE IRRATIONAL, DIONYSIAN AND FANTASTICAL", THE MUSEUM'S DIRECTOR, DR CHARLES HENRI HINE SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. HE SAID DALI'S WORK WILL FINALLY HAVE THE HOME IT DESERVES IN THE NEW MUSEUM, WHICH IF PLANS PROCEED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, WILL BE INAUGURATED ON 11.JUNE.2011. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES OF THE ST PETERSBURG COLLECTION IS THAT IT GIVES A SENSE, LIKE NO OTHER, OF DALI'S 'SUCCESSIVE PERIODS" AND ALLOWS HIS FERVENT ADMIRERS TO APPRECIATE HIM BOTH AS A "CLASSIC, ALMOST IMPRESSIONIST" YOUNG ARTIST AND AS A SURREALIST PAINTER AND THE CREATOR OF 'NUCLEAR MYSTICISM", THE DIRECTOR SAID. REFERRING TO A THEORY OF ART DEVELOPED BY DALI THAT COMBINED RELIGION, MATH, SCIENCE AND CATALAN CULTURE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REVIVE CLASSICAL VALUES AND TECHNIQUE.
THE CURRENT MUSEUM DRAWS CLOSE TO 200,000 VISITORS A YEAR AND GENERATES $60 MILLION FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND THOSE NUMBERS COULD DOUBLE ONCE THE NEW BUILDING IS INAUGURATED. THE NEW, THREE STORY BUILDING WILL COVER AN AREA OF MORE THAN 64,500 SQUARE FEET, WITH DALI'S WORK EXHIBITED ON THE THIRD FLOOR, AND WILL INCLUDE A CAFETERIA, A THEATER, A BOOKSTORE AND A SCULPTURE GARDEN.

S.T. DUPONT CREATES $79,000 GOLD LIGHTER

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST VENERABLE PARISIAN LUXURY GOODS MAKERS S.T. DUPONT HAS RECENTLY CREATED THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE LIGHTER, WITH AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF $79,000. THE EXQUISITE LIGNE 2 CHAMPAGNE LIGHTER IS PART OF THE FIRMS PRESTIGE COLLECTION AND IS MADE OF SOLID 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD EMBELLISHED WITH 468 BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS. ALSO AVAILABLE IS A MATCHING FOUNTAIN PEN ALSO OF SOLID 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD WITH RHODIUM FINISHED TRIMS AND 502 BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS FOR $74,000. S.T. DUPONT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELD IN HIGH REGARD BY CONNOISSEURS, BUT HAS GAINED RECENT ACCLAIM WHEN SEVERAL OF ITS PIECES WERE USED BY DANIEL CRAIG AS JAMES BOND IN CASINO ROYALE.
S.T. DUPONT WaS FOUNDED IN PARIS IN 1872 BY SIMON TISSOT DUPONT; HIS SON ANDRE DUPONT, WHO HAD EXPERTISE BOTH IN LEATHER GOODS AND AS A GOLDSMITH, INVENTED THE FIRST POCKET LIGHTER IN 1941 FOR THE TRAVELING CASE OF A MAHARAJAH. AT THE TIME DUPONT'S ULTRA-LUXURIOUS TRAVEL CASES WERE ITS MAIN LINE; IN 1947 THEY MADE ONE IN LAVENDER BLUE LEATHER FOR HRH PRINCESS ELIZABETH OF YORK, THE FUTURE QUEEN OF ENGLAND. IN 1952 DUPONT PATENTED THE ADJUSTABLE GAS LIGHTER UPON WHICH THE PRESENT MODEL IS BASED AND CREATED A SPECIAL MODEL FOR THE DUKE OF WINDSOR, WHICH WAS REISSUED IN 2006.

MUSEO THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA PRESENTS LES LARMES D'EROS

THE MUSEO THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA, MADRID, WILL BE PRESENTING A STUNNING NEW EXHIBITION, 'TEARS OF EROS', BEGINNING 3.NOVEMBER.2209 AND RUNING THROUGH TO 31.JANUARY.2010. THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SEXUAL DESIRE AND THE DEATH INSTINCT -EROS AND THANATOS - IN THE VISUAL ARTS IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS EXHIBITION, WHOSE TITLE IS ALSO TAKEN FROM THAT OD GEORGES BATAILLE'S BOOK: LES LARMES D'EROS. THE EXHIBITION ALSO INCORPORATES SOME OF BATAILLE'S IDEAS ON EROTICISM: THE NEED FOR BEAUTY, TEMTATION AS PROHIBITION AND TRANSGRESSION, AND THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE EROTIC AND THE RELIGIOUS SACRIFICE. THE EXHIBITION FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON 19th CENTURY EUROPEAN PAINTING AND SCULPTURE, INCLUDING THE WORKS OF CANOVA, INGRES, DELACROIX, MILLAIS, MOEAU AND RODIN, BUT ALSO LOOKS BACK TO EARLIER PERIODS, IN PARTICULAR THE BAROQUE WITH RUBENS AND BERNINI. IN ADDITION IT LOOKS AT LATER WORKS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE PRESENCE OF 19th CENTURY EROTIC THEMES IN SURREALISM AND ITS WAKE. FIGURES AND EPISODES DERIVED FROM CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY AND FROM JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION MAKE UP THIS SURVEY, WHICH IS ORGANIZED INTO TWO PRINCIPLE SECTIONS: 'FROM TEMPTATION TO SACRIFICE, WHICH LOOKS AT THE PRESENCE OF DEATH IN EROTIC PASSION THROUGH THEMES SUCH AS THE BIRTH OF VENUS, EVE AND THE SERPENT, THE TEMPTATIONS OF SAINT ANTHONY, AND THE KISS. A SECOND SECTION ENTITLED 'THE ETERNAL SLEEP', ANALYZES THE SUBJECT OF DEATH AND DYING TRANSFORMED INTO A TRANCE SIMILAR TO AMOROUS ECSTASY, PRESENT IN THEMES SUCH AS APOLLO AND HYACINTH, VENUS AND ADONIS, MARY MAGDALEN AND THE SKULL, AND THE "BEAUTIFUL SUICIDE VICTIMS", CLEOPATRA AND OPHELIA.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.museothyssen.org

FORD'S THEATRE REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC

THE FORD'S THEATRE SOCIETY AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE FORD'S THEATRE MUSEUM, HAS BEEN REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC. LOCATED BELOW THE NEWLY RESTORED FORD'S THEATRE, THE MUSEUM USES 21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSPORT VISITORS TO 19th CENTURY WASHINGTON. THE MUSEUM'S REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ARTIFACTS ARE SUPPLEMENTED WITH A VARIETY OF NARRATIVE DEVICES -- ENVIRONMENTAL RECREATIONS, VIDEOS, AND THREE DIMENSIONAL FIGURES, BRINGING TO LIGHT ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S PRESIDENCY AND LIFE IN WASHINGTON DC. THE NEW EXHIBITS INSIDE THE MUSEUM SHOWCASE LINCOLN'S ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON DC, BY TRAIN, THE ASSEMBLY OF LINCOLN'S PRESIDENTIAL CABINET, LIFE IN THE LINCOLN WHITE HOUSE, CIVIL WAR MILESTONES AND GENERALS, VIDEO FEATURES DEMONSTRATING LINCOLN'S ROLE AS EMANCIPATOR AND ORATOR AND THREE DIMENSIONAL FIGURES OF THE ASSASSINATION CONSPIRATORS. THE MUSEUM ALSO IS HOME TO A HOST OF VALUABLE ARTIFACTS INCLUDING POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PARAPHERNALIA, A FORD'S THEATRE PLAYBILL, THE CLOTHING AND BOOTS WORN BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE NIGHT OF HIS ASSASSINATION, THE DERINGER PISTOL USED BY JOHN WILKES BOOTH AND OTHER WEAPONS AND PERSONAL ITEMS BELONGING TO THE ASSASSINATION CONSPIRATORS.
IN AUGUST 2007, THE 144 YEAR OLD THEATRE, WHERE PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS ASSASSINATED IN APRIL 1865, AND MUSEUM WERE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND WORK BEGAN ON RENOVATIONS, RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING. IN FEBRUARY 2009, THE RESTORED AND RENOVATED THEATRE REOPENED, WHICH GETS AN ESTIMATED 1 MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR NOT, BUT THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSED UNTIL RECENTLY.

DOM PERIGNON VINTAGE 1995 WHITE GOLD JEROBOAM

DOM PERIGNON VINTAGE 1995 WHITE GOLD JEROBOAM WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN MAY 2008 FOR $17,000, AND NOW IS CONSIDERED THE MOST EXPENSIVE CHAMPAGNE JEROBOAM WITH PRICES APPROACHING $40,000 IN SOME MARKETS. A JEROBOAM IS A 3 LITER BOTTLE, WHICH HOLDS THE SAME AMOUNT AS FOUR REGULAR BOTTLES AND IS NAMED AFTER A BIBLICAL KING. THE BOTTLE COMES SHEATHED IN WHITE GOLD WHICH IS LASER ENGRAVED WITH THE DOM PERIGNON LABEL AND IS LIMITED TO ONLY A HUNDRED BOTTLES OF THIS SPECIFIC VINTAGE, WITH ONLY A FEW BOTTLES AVAILABLE IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES.

GRAFF SUPERSTAR DIAMOND LADY'S WATCH

THERE ARE DIAMOND WATCHES AND THEN THERE ARE DIAMOND WATCHES, THE NEW GRAFF SUPERSTAR IS BEYOND A DIAMOND WATCH IT IS A WORK OF STUNNING ART. THE GRAFF SUPERSTAR DIAMOND LADY'S WATCH IS INSPIRED BY ONE OF GRAFF'S TRADEMARK BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS. THE CASE AND BRACELET IS DONE IN 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD WHILE A STUNNING COLLECTION OF 176 DIAMONDS SET WITHIN THE CASE AND ANOTHER 94 DIAMONDS MAKE UP THE BRACELET, IN ALL THERE IS OVER 59 CARATS OF GRAFF QUALITY DIAMONDS. THE DIAMONDS ARE TRILLIANT AND TRAPEZE CUTS WHICH GIVES THE TIMEPIECE A CLEAN MODERN LOOK AND ANGULAR SHAPE THAT LENDS TO ITS 'TOTAL DIAMOND WATCH' STYLE. A TRAPEZE CUT EMERALD SET IN THE FACE IS THE ONLY NON-DIAMOND ON THE WATCH AND SERVES AS THE 12 O'CLOCK MARKER. THE GRAFF SUPERSTAR IS A ONE OF A KIND WATCH THAT ONLY THE JEWELRY HOUSE OF LAURENCE GRAFF COULD CREATE. WE HERE AT ARIA LOOK FORWARD TO MORE STUNNING CREATIONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.graffdiamonds.com