14.8.09

THE MORGAN LIBRARY PRESENTS BLAKE'S WORLD: A NEW HEAVEN IS BEGUN


VISIONARY AND NONCONFORMIST WILLIAM BLAKE (1757-1827) IS A SINGULAR FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF WESTERN ART AND LITERATURE: A POET, PAINTER AND PRINT-MAKER. AMBITIOUSLY CREATIVE, BLAKE HAD AN ABIDING INTEREST IN THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY, WHICH, DURING THE AGE OF REVOLUTION, INSPIRED THOROUGHLY ORIGINAL AND PERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE STATE OF MAN AND HIS SOUL. IN HIS LIFETIME BLAKE WAS BEST KNOWN AS AN ENGRAVER; HE WAS LATER RECOGNIZED FOR HIS INNOVATIONS ACROSS MANY OTHER DISCIPLINES. WILLIAM BLAKE'S WORLD: A NEW HEAVEN IS BEGUN -- THE SUBTITLE IS A QUOTE FROM BLAKE REFERRING TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DATE OF HIS BIRTH --- IS ON VIEW FROM 11.SEPTEMBER.2009 THROUGH 3.JANUARY.2010. IN THE MORGAN LIBRARY AND MUSUEM'S FIRST EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO BLAKE IN TWO DECADES, FORMER DIRECTOR CHARLES RYSKAMP AND CURATORS ANNA LOU ASHBY AND CARA DENISON HAVE ASSEMBLED MANY OF BLAKE'S MOST SPECTACULAR WATERCOLOURS, PRINTS, AND ILLUMINATED BOOKS OF POETRY TO DRAMATICALLY UNDERSCORE HIS GENIUS AND ENDURING INFLUENCE.
AMONG THE EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS IS BLAKE'S SUPERLATIVE WATERCOLOUR SERIES -- TWENTY-ONE ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE BOOK OF JOB AND TWELVE DESIGNS ILLUSTRATING MILTON'S L'ALLEGRO AND IL PENSEROSO -- OTHER IMPORTANT DRAWINGS ARE ON DISPLAY, INCLUDING FIRE WHICH ADDRESS THE SUBJECT OF WAR. THE MORE FULLY EXPRESSED 'CONTINENTAL PROPHECIES', A SERIES OF THREE ILLUMINATED BOOKS, FURTHER SHOWCASE BLAKE'S TALENTS AS A VISUAL ARTIST AND HIS PASSIONATE INTEREST IN POLITICS. BLAKE'S FAME AS A POET IS SEEN IN HIS FAIR COPY OF BALLADS KNOWN AS 'THE PICKERING MANUSCRIPT', NAMED AFTER ITS EARLY OWNER AND PUBLISHER. GIVING VOICE TO BLAKE'S WELL-KNOWN POEM 'AUGURIES OF INNOCENCE', FOUND IN THE MANUSCRIPT, IS THE ACTOR JEREMY IRONS, WHO HAS ALSO RECORDED THE SHORTER POEM,'TYGER'. THESE CAN BE HEARD ON A GALLERY LISTENING STATION AND ON THE MORGAN'S WEBSITE. ALSO ON VIEW IS THE ONLY DATED COPY OF BLAKE'S DRAMATIC 'THE MARRIAGE OF HEAVEN AND HELL'.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT http://www.themorgan.org

PACO RABANNE CREATES $57,000 FRAGRANCE '1 MILLION 18 CARATS '


PACO RABANNE CELEBRATES THE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LAST YEARS MOST POPULAR MEN'S FRAGRANCES '1 MILLION', BY CREATING A LUXURIOUS LIMITED EDITION FRAGRANCE "1 MILLION 18 CARATS", WHICH IS PRICED AT $57,000. THE 100ml FLACON OF THE COLOGNE IS COVERED IN 18 CARAT GOLD WITH A CROWN SET WITH 0.3 CARATS OF DIAMONDS, AND IS INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED TO ADD TO IS EXCLUSIVENESS. THE LEATHER TRAVEL CASE, DESIGNED BY NOE DUCHAUFOUR-LAWRENCE, IS DECORATED TO LOOK LIKE A BANK VAULT WITH ITS OWN LIGHTING AND THREE DRAWERS FOR SPARE REFILLS. THE NOTES OF THE FRAGRANCE WHICH WERE CREATED BY PERFUMERS MICHEL GIRARD, OLIVIER PESCHEAU AND CHRISTOPHE RAYNAUD ARE: BLOOD ORANGE, GRAPEFRUIT, CINNAMON, MINT, ROSE, SPICES, LIGHT LEATHER, WHITE WOOD, PATCHOULI AND AMBER.

13.8.09

VACHERON CONSTANTIN $1,100,000 KALLA DUCHESSE LARGE MODEL



RECENTLY THE DIAMOND STUDDED VACHERON CONSTANTIN KALLANIA TIMEPIECE WON THE BEST JEWELRY WATCH AWARD AT THE VOGUE JEWELS AWARDS 2009. THE EXQUISITE WATCH MADE FROM 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD SET WITH DIAMONDS ACROSS ITS BRACELET, CASE AND DIAL IS DEFINITELY A CLASS APART FROM THE OTHER WATCHES. VACHERON CONSTANTIN HAS ADDED THE NEW KALLA DUCHESSE LARGE MODEL TO ITS STUNNING TIMEPIECE COLLECTION. THE NEW WATCH BOASTS THE SAME TONNEAU SHAPE DESIGN AS THE ELEGANT KALLANIA WATCH, ALBEIT IN A LARGER SIZE, AND IS ENTIRELY PAVED WITH 876 DIAMONDS TOTALING OVER 58 CARATS. POWERED BY A MANUAL MOVEMENT, THIS TIMEPIECE HAS AN AMAZING 40 HOUR POWER RESERVE AND IS WATER RESISTANT UP TO 30 METERS. PRICED AT $1,100,000 THIS TIMEPIECE IS BEAUTY PERSONIFIED AND SURE TO BECOME A STATUS SYMBOL FOR ANYONE WHO WEARS IT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.vacheron-constantin.com

MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART, GEORGIA, ANNOUNCES NEW CHANGES


CHANGE IS IN THE AIR AT THE MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART, AUGUSTA, GA, WITH EVERYTHING FROM ADMISSION FEES TO A REFRESHED NEW LOOK IN THE GALLERIES. IT ALL BEGINS THIS MONTH AND WILL CONTINUE WELL INTO 2010. "CHANGE IS IN THE NATURE OF GOOD PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, BUT IT OFTEN HAPPENS I SUCH SMALL INCREMENTS THAT IT'S ALMOST NOT PERCEPTIBLE. MOST OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AT THE MORRIS WILL BE READILY NOTICEABLE TO ALL. THESE CHANGES REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WAY WE SEE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR GUESTS, AS WELL AS TO THE DISPLAY AND INTERPRETATION OF THE ART. THESE CHANGES WILL PROVIDE FRESH AND VISUALLY EXCITING WAYS TO SEE THE MORRIS' WONDERFUL COLLECTIONS", SAID KEVIN GROGAN, DIRECTOR OF THE MORRIS MUSEUM OF ART. "OUR AMBITION IS TO MAKE THE MUSEUM FIRST, EASILY ACCESSIBLE IN EVERY WAY TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN."
FIRS,T THE MUSEUM RECENTLY CHANGED THE ADMISSION FEES TO INCREASE MORE ACCESSIBILITY. NOW, CHILDREN AGE 12 AND YOUNGER ARE FREE (PREVIOUSLY, ONLY CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 WERE FREE ON ADMISSION), ALSO VISITORS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 TO 18, SENIORS, MILITARY PERSONAL AND STUDENTS WITH IDs ARE $3; ADULTS ARE $5; MUSEUM MEMBERS ALWAYS GET IN FOR FREE AND ALL VISITORS ARE FREE ON SUNDAYS. SECOND, CELL PHONES, ONCE BANNED, ARE NOW ALLOWED INTO THE GALLERIES. VISITORS CAN TEXT OR TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS; HOWEVER, PHONE RINGERS MUST BE SILENCED AND PHONE CONVERSATIONS ARE DISCOURAGED IN THE GALLERIES (BUT ALLOWED ANYWHERE OUTSIDE). THIRD, STILL PHOTOGRAPHY IS PERMITTED IN THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT GALLERIES FOR PRIVATE, NONCOMMERCIAL USE ONLY. IN ADDITION, FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY AND TRIPODS ARE NOT PERMITTED, THERE WILL BE SIGNS DESIGNATING SOME GALLERIES AS "NO PHOTOGRAPH AREAS". AND FINALLY, THE MORRIS IS LAUNCHING A NEW WEB SITE IN THE FALL AND WILL BE REINSTALLING THE ENTIRE PERMANENT COLLECTION FROM MID-DECEMBER OF 2009 THROUGH EARLY MARCH OF 2010.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VIST www.themorris.org

WHOOPI GOLDBERG LISTS HER SOHO CO-OP ON MARKET


WHOOPI GOLDBERG HAS PUT HER NEW YORK CITY CO-OP ON THE MARKET. THE TWO BEDROOM LOFT IN SOHO, ON WOOSTER STREET, TAKES UP A FULL FLOOR. GOLDBERG IS AN AVID ART COLLECTOR, PERHAPS EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF A PACK RAT, BUT THE RESULTING EFFECT IS A WONDROUS HOME THAT MUST BE FASCINATING TO WANDER ABOUT IN PERSON. SHE HAS COVERED THE WHITE PAINTED WALLS IN EACH OF THE ROOMS WITH A STUNNING DISPLAY OF ART WORKS COLLECTED OVER A LIFETIME. MASSIVE MAHOGANY WINDOWS ND HISTORICAL ELEMENTS ABOUND THROUGHOUT THE LOFT WHICH HAS AN SLIGHTLY UNFINISHED LOOK WITH EXPOSED BRICK, EXTREMELY HIGH CEILINGS, ORIGINAL WOOD FLOORING AND STRUCTURAL COLUMNS. CUSTOM DETAILS ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE LIVING AREAS WITH VINTAGE CEILING FANS, CUSTOM DOORS, LIGHT FIXTURES AND WALL MOUNTINGS. AMENITIES INCLUDE A VALCUCINE KITCHEN, SEPARATE GUEST QUARTERS, THREE BATHS, BAR AREA, AND A PRIVATE MASTER SUITE. THERE IS ALSO A COMMON ROOF DECK AND TWO PRIVATE STORAGE BINS IN THE BASEMENT. SOHO LIVING OFFERS AN ABUNDANCE OF HIGH-END BOUTIQUES, RESTAURANTS AND GALLERIES, IT'S WHERE ART MEETS FASHION MEETS THEATER. IT IS LISTED THROUGH SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY FOR $3.9 MILLION WITH A MONTHLY MAINTENANCE OF $3,522.




LOUIS VUITTON: ART, FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE


A POWERFUL ENTITY IN THE WORLD OF LUXURY GOODS, WHICH HAS BEEN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ART AND FASHION, LOUIS VUITTON' REACH OVER THE YEARS HAS EXTENDED BEYOND ITS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS A LUGGAGE MAKER. IN ITS LATEST BOOK WHICH IS TO BE RELEASED IN SEPTEMBER, LOUIS VUITTON'S UNPARALLELED REACH OVER NUMEROUS FACETS OF SOCIETY AND DESIGN ARE OUTLINED IN ITS SELF-TITLED BOOK, LOUIS VUITTON: ART, FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE. THE STUNNING NEW BOOK FEATURES 400 PAGES FILLED WITH AMAZING IMAGERY, AND TALKS ABOUT THE COMPANY'S COLLABORATIONS WITH NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL CREATIVE MINDS SUCH AS JUN AOKI, DAVID LACHAPELLE, ANNIE LEIBOVITZ, TAKASHI MURAKAMI AND, AND STEPHEN SPROUSE, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THREE LANGUAGES, ENGLISH, FRENCH AND ITALIAN. A SPECIAL DELUXE EDITION EXCLUSIVELY DESIGNED FOR LOUIS VUITTON BY TAKASHI MURAKAMI WILL BE RELEASED ON 1.SEPTEMBER AT LOUISVUITTON.COM AND AT SELECT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES. IT IS A MUST READ FOR ANY CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN ADMIRER AND WILL BE AT $130.


12.8.09

WOMAN ATTACKS MONA LISA WITH MUG OF HOT TEA


A WOMAN IS BEING HELD IN PARIS AFTER ATTACKING THE MONA LISA WITH A CUP OF STEAMING HOT ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA. THE WOMAN THREW THE CERAMIC MUG FULL OF THE BREW OVER THE HEADS OF TOURISTS, SCORING A DIRECT HIT ON THE MOST FAMOUS WORK OF ART IN THE WORLD, IN FRONT OF STUNNED SECURITY GUARDS AT THE FRENCH CAPITAL'S LOUVRE MUSEUM. THE MUG MERELY BOUNCED OFF THE BULLET-PROOF SECURITY GLASS AND SHATTERED ON THE FLOOR, A GUARD SAID. GUARDS WRESTLED THE RUSSIAN WOMAN TO THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON SUNDAY 2.AUGUST, WHICH HAS ONLY JUST BEEN REPORTED. A MUSEUM SPOKESMAN SAID: "THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE PAINTING WHATSOEVER. IT IS PROTECTED BY GLASS ALMOST 2 CENTIMETERS THICK, AND ALSO CONTAINED IN A SPECIAL SEALED BOX TO PROTECT IT FROM VIBRATIONS AND HUMIDITY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL GUARDED WORKS OF ART IN THE WORLD, AND IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN A WELL-AIMED TEA-CUP TO DAMAGE IT." SHE IS BEING HELD IN CUSTODY AND IS SAID TO HAVE UNDERGONE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION. DOCTORS WERE TRYING TO ASSESS WHETHER SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM STENDHAL SYNDROME, A RARE CONDITION THAT CAUSES DIZZINESS, CONFUSION OR VIOLENT ACTS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS EXPOSED TO ART. A POLICE SPOKESMAN ADDED: "WE ARE STILL ESTABLISHING HER STATE OF MIND AT THE TIME THOUGH THERE IS A POSSIBILITY SHE COULD BE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE." A SOURCE AT THE MUSEUM CLAIMED THE WOMAN HAD BOUGHT THE MUG OF TEA AT A MUSEUM CAFE. THE LAST ATTACK ON A WORK OF ART AT THE LOUVRE WAS IN 1998, WHEN A MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR ATTACKED A STATUE OF ROMAN PHILOSOPHER SENECA WITH A HAMMER. THE MONA LISA IS THE ONLY PAINTING EVER TO BEEN STOLEN FROM THE LOUVRE, IN 1911, AND THEN RECOVERED. IT IS OWNED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND IS SEEN BY AN ESTIMATED 8.5 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR.

GRAFF DIAMONDS £40 MILLION RAID IS BRITAIN'S BIGGEST GEM HEIST



TWO SMARTLY DRESSED MEN, WEARING IMMACULATE SUITS AND CONCEALED HANDGUNS, ARRIVED AT THE PRESTIGIOUS MAYFAIR JEWELERS GRAFF DIAMONDS BY TAXI ESCAPED WITH JEWELRY WORTH OVER £40 MILLION, IN WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE BRITAIN'S BIGGEST GEMS RAID. SCOTLAND YARD TODAY ISSUED CCTV IMAGES OF THE PAIR, WHO THREATENED THE STAFF AT GRAFF'S WITH HANDGUNS, BRIEFLY SEIZED A WOMAN EMPLOYEE AS A HOSTAGE, AND FIRED WARNING SHOTS AS THEY MADE A GETAWAY IN A SERIES OF CARS, APPEALING TO ANYONE WHO RECOGNIZES THEM TO COME FORWARD URGENTLY. THE EXTENT OF THE HEIST HAD BEEN KEPT SECRET BUT POLICE HAVE NOW DISCLOSED THE STAGGERING SUM YESTERDAY AND RELEASED THE CCTV FOOTAGE IN THE HOPE OF CATCHING THE "EXTREMELY DANGEROUS" MEN. BRITAIN'S PREVIOUS BIGGEST DIAMOND JEWELRY ROBBERY IS BELIEVED TO BE A £23 MILLION RAID, WHICH ALSO TOOK PLACE AT GRAFF'S, IN 2003.

THE TWO MEN, THOUGHT TO BE LONDONERS, ARRIVED IN A TAXI AT 4.40p ON 6.AUGUST AND WERE ONLY IN THE NEW BOND STREET JEWELERS FOR A MATTER OF MINUTES. AFTER BEING LET IN THROUGH THE SECURITY DOORS, BOTH MEN PRODUCED HANDGUNS AND THREATENED STAFF. THEY SELECTED A TOTAL OF 43 ITEMS, INCLUDING RINGS, BRACELETS, NECKLACES AND WATCHES, AND PLACED THEM INTO A BAG, BEFORE BRIEFLY SEIZING A WOMAN EMPLOYEE HOSTAGE. SHE WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE BUT RELEASED WHEN THE THIEVES MADE THEIR GETAWAY IN A BLUE BMW, HAVING FIRED A WARNING SHOT ABOVE THEIR HEADS. THE ESCAPE WAS NEARLY FOILED WHEN THE BMW CRASHED INTO A BLACK CAB IN DOVER STREET. THE MEN THEN SWITCHED TO A SILVER MERCEDES, AND LATER AGAIN INTO A BLACK VEHICLE POSSIBLY A FORD GALAXY OR VW SHARAN. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT THE JEWELS WERE TRANSFERRED TO A WAITING MOTORCYCLIST WHO WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE QUICKLY. DETECTIVES BELIEVE THE THIEVES TARGETED THE MOST EXPENSIVE ITEMS IN THE STORE. ONE OFFICER SAID: "THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND WE SUSPECT THEY ALREADY HAVE A MARKET FOR THE JEWELS." THE SUSPECTS DETAILS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED TO ALL PORTS AND AIRPORTS BUT POLICE BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE ORGANIZED AN ESCAPE ROUTE AND MAY ALREADY HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY.

11.8.09

LOSS OF PRIVATE ART COLLECTION MOURNED AMONG ART CONNOISSEURS


THE DESTRUCTION IN A FIRE LAST MONTH OF ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND AFRICAN ART IN THE COUNTRY IS BEING MOURNED NOT ONLY BY ITS OWNER, BUT ALSO BY ITS OWNER, BUT ALSO IN MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES, PARTICULARLY AMONG ART CONNOISSEURS WHO RECOGNIZED THE IMMENSITY OF THE LOSS. GUTTED IN THE 29.JULY BLAZE, PEGGY COOPER CAFRITZ'S $5.2 MILLION MANSION IN THE KENT NEIGHBORHOOD OF NORTHWEST WASHINGTON DC HELD MORE THAN 300 SCULPTURES, PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER PIECES THAT SHE HAD PAINSTAKINGLY ACCUMULATED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, OFTEN FROM THE ARTISTS WHOSE CAREERS SHE HAD PERSONALLY NURTURED. INCLUDED WERE WORKS OF 19th AND 20th CENTURY PAINTERS LIKE EDWARD MITCHELL BANNISTER, JACOB LAWRENCE AND ROMARE BEARDEN AS WELL AS CONTEMPORARY WORKS BY SUCH ARTISTS AS HANK WILLIS THOMAS, NICK CAVE, AND KARA WALKER. VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE, WHICH CAFRITZ WAS AWAY ON HOLIDAY. JACK SHAINAN, A NEW YORK GALLERY OWNER, SAYS THAT THE BLAZE DESTROYED "A SINGULAR VISION". FOR NOW, CAFRITZ SAYS, SHE CANNOT BEAR TO THINK ABOUT STARTING OVER WITH HER COLLECTION. "I KNOW I WILL, BUT IT'S TOO SOON", SHE SAYS.

DETAILS ABOUT QUEEN'S GIFTS TO SECURITY KEPT SECRET


FOR MANY YEARS, THE QUEEN HAS REWARDED THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO GUARD HER SANDRINGHAM ESTATE WITH MINIATURE BOTTLES OF WHISKEY. AN INNOCENT ENOUGH GESTURE, ONE WOULD THINK, YET IT SEEMS THAT THE NUMBER OF GIFTS SHE BESTOWS IS NOT ONLY A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET BUT A MATTER OF GRAVE NATIONAL SECURITY. NORFOLK POLICE BELIEVE THAT TO DIVULGE THE INFORMATION OF HOW MANY OF ITS OFFICERS RECEIVE PRESENTS WOULD ALLOW 'DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN TERRORISTS TO ESTABLISH THE LEVEL OF POLICE PROTECTION AFFORDED TO ROYAL RESIDENCES'. IT WAS WILLING, HOWEVER, TO REVEAL THAT TWO OFFICERS HAD EACH RECEIVED CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS WORTH £13 FROM THE QUEEN, BUT ON THE ISSUE OF THE WHISKEY THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN SEALED TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY. A WRITTEN STATEMENT SAID: 'ANY DISCLOSURES OF INFORMATION THAT MIGHT ALLOW EXTREMISTS TO GAUGE THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION AFFORDED TO SANDRINGHAM WOULD PROVIDE ANYONE INTENT ON COMMITTING ACTS OF TERRORISM WITH VITAL INTELLIGENCE AS TO THE LEVEL OF POLICE RESISTANCE THAT THEY MAY ENCOUNTER.' IT ADDED: 'THIS WOULD SEVERELY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE OPERATIONS THAT SEEK TO SAFEGUARD MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD AND WOULD UNDERMINE THE SECURITY OF ROYAL RESIDENCES.'
OF COURSE CYNICS MAY BE TEMPTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE QUEEN'S SECURITY HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN SO DILIGENT IN THEIR PROTECTION OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. EVER SINCE MICHAEL FAGAN BROKE INTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN MARCH 1982, THE QUEEN AWOKE TO FIND HIM SITTING ON HER BED, SECURITY BREACHES HAVE OCCURRED WITH ALARMING FREQUENCY. IN 1992, KEVIN MCMAHON WAS ARRESTED IN THE PALACE GROUNDS TWICE IN ONE WEEK. THE FIRST TIME FORCING THE DIVERSION OF A HELICOPTER CARRYING THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. THE SAME YEAR, AN INTRUDER HELPED HIMSELF TO A GLASS OF WHISKEY IN PRINCESS ALEXANDRA'S PRIVATE APARTMENT IN ST JAMES PALACE. TWO YEARS LATER, SECURITY AT ST JAMES'S WAS DESCRIBED AS 'ABYSMAL' FOLLOWING A BREAK-IN AT PRINCE CHARLES APARTMENT. IN 2002, A DRUNKEN REVELER ENTERED ST JAMES'S LATE AT NIGHT AND KNOCKED ON PRINCESS ANNE'S DOOR, ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS TO VICTORIA STATION. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, 'COMEDY TERRORIST' AARON BARSCHAK GATECRASHED PRINCE WILLIAM'S 21st BIRTHDAY PARTY AT WINDSOR, WEARING A DRESS, BEARD AND SUNGLASSES. HE CLIMBED UP TO THE STAGE AND KISSED THE PRINCE ON BOTH CHEEKS. THE EMBARRASSING INTRUSIONS HAVE LEFT LOCAL POLICE ON HIGH ALERT TO PREVENT FURTHER INCIDENTS, HENCE THE REFUSAL TO DISCLOSE DETAILS OF THE WHISKEY DISTRIBUTION.

10.8.09

JEAN DUNAND TOURBILLON ORBITAL CONFUCIUS TIMEPIECE



JEAN DUNAND, THE ULTRA-LUXURY HOUSE OF SWISS WATCHMAKING FOUNDED SIX YEARS AGO BY CHRISTOPHE CLARET AND THEIRRY OULEVAY, HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A CHARMING AND UNIQUE INTERPRETATION OF THEIR GROUNDBREAKING TOURBILLON ORBITAL TIMEPIECE COLLECTION WHICH PAYS HOMAGE TO THE CHINESE PHILOSOPHER CONFUCIUS THROUGH AN EXQUISITE ARTFORM QUITE APART FROM THAT OF THE MASTER WATCHMAKER. FOR THOSE NOT ENTIRELY FAMILIAR WITH THE TOURBILLON ORBITAL WATCH, THE MASTERPIECE OF HAUTE HOROLOGERIE FEATURES A FLYING TOURBILLON THAT ORBITS THE DIAL THROUGH A ROTATING MOVEMENT JOINED TO A CENTRAL ARRANGEMENT OF DUAL BALL-BEARINGS. THE CANVAS FOR THE STUNNING MINIATURE LINE PAINTING MASTERPIECE IS AN 18 CARAT GOLD DIAL BASE, WHICH IS OVERLAID WITH A THIN LAYER OF BLACK ONYX. MINIATURE PAINTER ANDRE MARTINEZ, WHOM JEAN DUNAND CLAIMS IS THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL IN SWITZERLAND CAPABLE OF EXECUTING THE ARTWORK ON THE PERILOUSLY SMALL SURFACE. MARTINEZ EMPLOYED TINY MARTEN HAIR BRUSHES TO APPLY EXACTINGLY MIXED COLOURS, USING THE POWERFUL MAGNIFICATION OF A BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE FOR AID. CURVES AND CHANNELS SUCH AS THOSE SEEN ON CONFUCIUS' BEARD OR FACE ARE GIVEN CONTRAST AND GREATER DEPTH BY REPEATED STROKES THAT ADD TINY INCREMENTS TO THE VOLUME OF PAINT. THE JEAN DUNAND TOURBILLON ORBITAL CONFUCIUS IS PRESENTED IN 18 CARAT ROSE GOLD AND MEASURES 45mm X 15.30mm. IT SHARES THE SAME TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AS THE OTHER TIMEPIECES IN THE TOURBILLON ORBITAL SERIES, AND EMPLOYS THE DISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS WHICH HAVE BECOME HALLMARKS OF THE JEAN DUNAND BRAND. A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS ARE THE CHARACTERISTIC 'SKYSCRAPER' HANDS IN 18 CARAT GOLD WHICH SUBTLY HINT AT THE APPRECIATION FOR THE ART DECO DESIGN SHARED BY BOTH COMPANY FOUNDERS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.jeandunand.com

9.8.09

BUTLER & WILSON CELEBRATES 40 YEARS WITH A NEW BOOK



THE LUXURY COSTUME JEWELERY DESIGNER TO CELEBRITIES AND ROYALTY ALIKE IS CELEBRATING 40 STUNNING YEARS OF AMAZING HISTORY AND CREATIONS WITH A LAVISH BOOK, BY SIMON WILSON AND MADELEINE MARSH. A MERE MENTION OF BUTLER & WILSON NEVER FAILS TO CONJURE IMAGES OF DELICIOUS BRIGHTLY COLOURED SPARKLING GEMS AND FANTASTICALLY DESIGNED OVER SIZED RHINESTONES. ADORED BY THE LIKES OF PRINCESS DIANA, KATE MOSS AND SHARON STONE, IT HAS BEEN 40 YEARS SINCE SIMON WILSON DESIGNED HIS FIRST COLLECTION OF COSTUME JEWELRY FROM A MARKET STALL ON THE KING'S ROAD. WILSON PROGRESSED TO A STAND-ALONE BOUTIQUE IN 1972 ON THE FULHAM ROAD IN LONDON, WHICH, ALONGSIDE A SISTER BRANCH IN THE SMART SHOPPING AREA OF SOUTH MOLTON STREET, CONTINUED TO GROW FROM STUNNING CREATION TO STUNNING CREATION. A DECADE LATER, THE FULMAN ROAD SHOP BECAME FAMOUS FOR ITS TRAFFIC STOPPING BILLBOARDS, WHICH FEATURED THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ACTRESSES AND MODELS OF THE TIME, SUCH AS JERRY HALL, FAYE DUNAWAY, CATHERINE DENUEVE, AND BIANCA JAGGER TO NAME BUT A FEW, EMBLAZONED OUTSIDE THE STORE WEARING WILSON'S DECADENT DESIGNS. THE TOP NAMES WERE HAPPY TO POSE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA FOR LEADING PHOTOGRAPHERS SUCH AS DAVID BAILEY, TERENCE DONOVAN AND JOHN SWANNELL, SIMPLY IN EXCHANGE FOR A FEW PIECES OF COVETABLE BUTLER & WILSON JEWELRY. BUTLER & WILSON ARE RELIABLY THE FIRST PORT OF CALL WHEN A GLAMOROUS BIT OF AFFORDABLE SPARKLE IS REQUIRED,. THE COMPANY HAS PROVIDED JEWELS FOR MANY TV SHOWS INCLUDING STRICTLY COME DANCING, BRITAIN'S NEXT MODEL, AND THE X-FACTOR, AND CELEBRITIES SUCH AS GIRLS ALOUD, MADONNA AND KYLIE MINOGUE. A CURRENT BEST-SELLER IN THE SWAROVSKI ENCRUSTED EVENING BAG. MOST RECENTLY, VINTAGE CLOTHING HAS BEEN ADDED IN ADDITION TO THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF A MEN'S COLLECTION BLENDING SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES.
THE 40th ANNIVERSARY BOOK FEATURES OVER 200 FULL PAGE IMAGES OF THE MOST ICONIC PIECES AND PHOTO SHOOTS. PRICED AT Priced at £48, WITH £10 FROM EACH SALE BEING DONATED DIRECTLY TO BREAST CANCER CARE. FOR THOSE PARTIAL TO A SLICE OF BUTLER & WILSON STYLE FOR THEIR COFFEE TABLE, A MAGNIFICENT EDITION VERSION HAS BEEN PRODUCED, CONSISTING OF HUNDREDS OF TIGHTLY PACKED, MULTI-COLOURED STONES AND JEWELS ADORNING THE COVER, FOR AN EYE-WATERING SUM OF £500.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.butlerandwilson.co.uk