QUEEN'S LAWYERS MOVE TO BAN PAPARAZZI FROM SANDRINGHAM

THE QUEEN HAS INSTRUCTED HER TEAM OF LAWYERS TO ISSUE A STRONG WARNING TO ALL THE NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE EDITORS NOT TO USE PAPARAZZI PICTURES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY DURING THEIR ANNUAL HOLIDAY VISITS AT SANDRINGHAM IN NORFOLK. THE ROYAL FAMILY TRADITIONALLY SPENDS MUCH OF THE AUTUMN AND WINTER MONTHS AT THE QUEEN'S PRIVATELY-OWNED COUNTRY ESTATE, WHERE FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERS FOLLOW AND STALK THEM ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS. PICTURES OF THE QUEEN AND OTHER ROYALS OUT SHOOTING, OR ENJOYING A LEISURELY WALK, ON THE ESTATE HAVE REGULARLY APPEARED IN VARIOUS NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES FOR DECADES, BUT THIS IS THIS FIRST TIME THE QUEEN HAS TAKEN STEPS TO WARN OFF PHOTOGRAPHERS. IT FOLLOWS REPORTS EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT THE QUEEN WILL BREAK WITH TRADITION THIS YEAR BY INVITING PRINCE WILLIAM'S GIRLFRIEND, KATE MIDDLETON, TO SPEND CHRISTMAS DAY AT SANDRINGHAM. MIDDLETON WOULD BE THE FIRST UNMARRIED PARTNER OF A ROYAL TO SHARE CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH THE ROYAL PARTY. THE LETTER, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN SENT TO BARONESS BUSCOMBE AND TIM TOULMIN, THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR OF THE PRESS COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT COMMISSION, CLAIMS THAT THE NUMBER OF 'INTRUSIONS' BY PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH LONG LENSES INCREASED 'SIGNIFICANTLY' LAST YEAR, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE PICTURE AGENCIES INVOLVED HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT LEGAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM IF THERE IS ANY REPETITION. THE LETTER ALSO STATES THAT THE ROYAL FAMILY WILL STILL MAKE THEMSELVES FOR THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS DAY PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITY WHEN THEY ATTEND CHRISTMAS MASS AT THE LOCAL CHURCH.

BOWERS MUSEUM PRESENTS THE BAROQUE WORLD OF FERNANDO BOTERO

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, WORLD-RENOWNED ARTIST FERNANDO BOTERO UNVEILS A EXHIBITION I CALIFORNIA WHEN 'THE BAROQUE WORLD OF FERNANDO BOTERO' RECENTLY OPENED AT BOWERS MUSEUM, SANTA ANA. THE EXHIBITION, WHICH REMAINS ON VIEW THROUGH 6.DECEMBER.2009, IN THE JANICE FEY SMITH AND ROBERT GUMBINER GALLERIES, INCLUDES A SELECTION OF RECENT SCULPTURES NEVER BEFORE SHOWN IN NORTH AMERICA. RECOGNIZED WORLDWIDE FOR HIS UNIQUE STYLE OF VOLUMINOUS FORMS AND SENSUOUS FIGURES, BOTERO'S WORK TAKES ON RELIGION, POLITICS, AND HISTORY WITH A CRITICAL AND COMICAL APPROACH. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES 100 PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND DRAWINGS, DATING FROM THE 1950s TO THE PRESENT, OF BOTERO'S FAVORITE WORKS AS WELL AS PIECES HE REACQUIRED YEARS AFTER THEY LEFT HIS POSSESSION. ALL THE WORKS ARE GENEROUSLY ON LOAN FROM THE 77 YEAR OLD COLOMBIAN ARTIST'S PERSONAL COLLECTION AND MANY HAVE NEVER BEFORE BEEN SEEN IN PUBLIC.
AS A PAINTER, SCULPTOR AND DRAFTSMAN BOTERO (b. 1932) DEPICTS THE COMEDY AND TRAGEDY OF HUMAN LIFE IN MOVING EXPRESSION, MOCKING OBSERVATION, AND SOMETIMES DEEP, ELEMENTARY EMOTION. WORKING IN A BROAD RANGE OF MEDIA, BOTERO HAS CREATED A WORLD OF HIS OWN, AT ONCE ACCESSIBLE AND ENIGMATIC, WITH A PARTICULAR BLEND OF VIOLENCE, SERENITY AND BEAUTY. BOTERO'S ROOTS ARE IN MEDELLIN, A COLOMBIAN TOWN CLOSE TO THE ANDES MOUNTAINS. THERE HE DREW UPON HIS FIRST IMAGES OF THE SPANISH COLONIAL BAROQUE-STYLE, A MOVEMENT OF EXTRAVAGANT RICHNESS, FEATURING SUMPTUOUS DECORATIONS THAT FLOURISHED ON THE WALLS OF EVERY CHURCH IN SOUTH AMERICA.

PIPER HEIDSIECK AND CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN CREATE THE 'LE RITUEL' BOX SET

PIPER HEIDSIECK AND CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN HAVE RECENTLY COLLABORATED ON A PROJECT NAMES LE RITUEL AFTER A FRENCH RITUAL POPULAR IN THE 1880s WHERE ONE WOULD DRINK CHAMPAGNE FROM A WOMAN'S SHOE. THE SHOE IS NOW MADE OF CRISTAL AND IS DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE ONE OF CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN'S SHOES AND FEATURES HIS SIGNATURE LACQUERED RED SOLE AND A HEEL RESEMBLING THE STEM OF A CHAMPAGNE FLUTE. THE SHOE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A BOTTLE OF PIPER HEIDSIECK BRUT AND COMES IN A UNIQUE SHOE BOX.
THE STUNNING BOX SET WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM COLLETTE FROM 26.OCTOBER.

JIMMY CARTER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM REOPENS AFTER OVERHAUL

THE JIMMY CARTER LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, ATLANTA, REOPENED ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S 85th BIRTHDAY AFTER AN OVERHAUL THAT DEVOTES MORE SPACE THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY TO A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S WORK AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE. CARTER BEAMED THURSDAY AS HE SPOKE TO HUNDREDS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, SAYING: "THERE'S NO WAY ANY OF YOU CAN IMAGINE THE EMOTIONS THAT FILL MY HEART AND MIND IN THIS MOMENT." ABOUT A THIRD OF THE ATLANTA MUSEUM EXPLORES THE GEORGIA DEMOCRAT'S LIFE AFTER HE WAS DEFEATED BY RONALD REAGAN. IT INCLUDES DOZENS OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS DETAILING HIS EFFORTS TO ERADICATE DISEASE, RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND MONITOR ELECTIONS. AS IF TO REMIND VISITORS OF THE IMPACT OF HIS WORK SINCE LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE, THE EXHIBIT ENDS BY FEATURING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN AWARDS THAT CARTER HAS RECEIVED FOR HIS WORK IN AND OUT OF THE OVAL OFFICE.
THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSED IN LATE APRIL, THE $10 MILLION PROJECT, WHICH TOOK ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO COMPLETE, IS THE FIRST MAJOR UPDATE TO THE MUSEUM SINCE IT WAS BUILT 23 YEARS AGO. ATTENDANCE HAD FALLEN ABOUT 50% IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AN NEWER ATLANTA ATTRACTIONS, SUCH AS THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM, DREW IN MORE TOURISTS AND STUDENTS. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IS SIX TOWERING HIGH-RESOLUTION VIDEO SCREENS GIVING VISITORS A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PRESIDENT. IT FOCUSES ON A BUSY DAY - 11.DECEMBER.1978 - THAT STARTS WITH CARTER RECEIVING A WAKE-UP CALL AT 5:30am AND FOLLOWS HIM AS HE GRAPPLES WITH THE AFTERMATH OF A MIDDLE EAST PEACE DEAL, THE TEETERING REGIME OF A US ALLY IN IRAN AND EFFORTS TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH CHINA. THE MUSEUM TOUR STARTS WITH EXHIBITS ON CARTER'S CHILDHOOD IN SEGREGATED SOUTHWEST GEORGIA AND A MODEL OF A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE WHERE THE PRESIDENT ONCE WORKED AS A YOUNG NAVAL OFFICER. IT THEN TRACKS HIS POLITICAL CAREER, FIRST AS A STATE SENATOR, THEN AS GOVERNOR AND FINALLY AS PRESIDENT. THE WHITE HOUSE SECTION INCLUDES A FULL SCALE REPLICA OF THE OVAL OFFICE, AND AN EXHIBIT DEPICTING CAMP DAVID, WHERE CARTER'S "CABIN DIPLOMACY" HELPED BROKER A PEACE DEAL BETWEEN EGYPT AND ISRAEL. SOME 27 MILLION PAGES OF DOCUMENTS FROM CARTER'S TERM SIT BEHIND A GLASS WALL IN A NEARBY ROTUNDA. CARTER SAID HE HOPES THE CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS THAT HE AND HIS WIFE ROSALYNN HAVE FACED WILL INSPIRE VISITORS TO DO MORE TO HELP OTHERS.

WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM OPENS IN SAN FRANCISCO

WALT DISNEY'S RELATIVES GREETED THE FIRST WAVE OF VISITORS AS A NEW MUSEUM DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE THE PERSONAL WORLD OF THE LEGENDARY ANIMATOR OPENED THURSDAY. "WALT DISNEY REACHED PEOPLE BECAUSE HE WAS A MAGICAL STORYTELLER", DISNEY'S GRANDSON, WALTER E.D. MILLER, SAID AS THE MUSEUM OPENED. "NOW IT'S OUR TURN TO TELL WALT'S STORY." THE $110 MILLION WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM, SAN FRANCISCO, WAS CO-FOUNDED BY MILLER AND HIS MOTHER, DIANE DISNEY MILLER. THE WALT DISNEY CO. COLLABORATED ON THE PROJECT, BUT THE MUSEUM IS AN INDEPENDENT VENTURE BY THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY FOUNDATION. FAMILY MEMBERS SAY THEY WERE MOTIVATED BY CONCERNS THAT THE VIEW OF DISNEY THE MAN HAD GOTTEN LOST IN THE LEGEND. EXHIBITS FOLLOW DISNEY'S LIFE FROM CHILDHOOD TO HIS STRUGGLES GETTING ESTABLISHED AS AN ARTIST AND HIS LATER SUCCESSES, WITH A GOAL, ACCORDING TO GRANDSON MILLER, OF NARRATING THE LIFE OF "SOMEONE WHOSE NAME IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH A BRAND AND TO PRESENT HIM SIMPLY AS A HUMAN BEING WITH EXTRAORDINARY VISION." DARK TIMES AREN'T GLOSSED OVER. ONE SECTION DEALS WITH A BITTER STRIKE AT DISNEY STUDIOS AND ANOTHER PRESENTS AUDIO TAPES OF DISNEY'S TESTIMONY BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE. ITEMS ON DISPLAY INCLUDE THE EVOLUTION OF MICKEY MOUSE AND A HOST OF OTHER ANIMATED CREATIONS, WITH THE STATIONS OFFERING VISITORS A CHANCE TO LISTEN AND EVEN EXPERIMENT WITH THE MECHANICS OF ANIMATION. A SHOWSTOPPER IS A GALLERY SHOWING A MODEL OF DISNEYLAND, RIGHT DOWN TO THE REVOLVING TEA CUP RIDE. VISITORS ON THURSDAY PORED OVER THE MODEL, POINTING OUT LANDMARKS TO EACH OTHER. DESIGNERS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE MUSEUM'S SETTING, A REFURBISHED BUILDING AT THE FORMER PRESIDIO ARMY BASE. A GALLERY DEVOTED TO DISNEY NATURE FILMS HAS A GLASS WALL LOOKING OUT DIRECTLY OUT TO THE STUNNING VISTA OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. WALLS OF PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW VARIOUS GENERATIONS OF THE DISNEY FAMILY. IN A NEAT EFFECT, SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE SMALL VIDEO SCREENS SHOWING HOME MOVIES OF WEDDINGS AND TRIPS. 'IT'S LIKE GOING THROUGH THEIR FAMILY ALBUMS", SAID VISITOR WILLIAM ROBINSON OF SAN FRANCISCO. ROBINSON, AN AMATEUR FILMMAKER IN HIS SPARE TIME, SPENT A WHILE LOOKING AT A DISPLAY OF THE MULTI-PLANE CAMERA DISNEY DEVELOPED TO ADD DEPTH TO "SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS", THE MOVIE DUBBED 'DISNEY'S FOLLY' UNTIL IT OPENED TO WILD ACCLAIM. "HE WAS A HUGE INSPIRATION", ROBINSON ADDED. "I ALREADY KNOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK'"

NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER PRESENTS DIANA : A CELEBRATION

KNOW TO MANY AS "THE PEOPLE'S PRINCESS", PRINCESS DIANA WON THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ATLANTIC AND AROUND THE WORLD. FROM 2.OCTOBER THROUGH 31.DECEMBER.2009, THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER, PHILADELPHIA, WILL HOST THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELING EXHIBITION, 'DIANA: A CELEBRATION', PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIFE AND WORK OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. MAKING ITS EAST COAST DEBUT, AND RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2007, THE AWARD-WINNING EXHIBITION EXPLORES DIANA'S CHILDHOOD, HER ENGAGEMENT TO HRH PRINCE CHARLES, THEIR ROYAL WEDDING, THEIR CHILDREN, AND DIANA'S LIFE AND WORK AS A GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN AND MODEL CITIZEN. DIANA: A CELEBRATION IS ON LOAN FROM THE ALTHROP ESTATE, THE SPENCER FAMILY'S 500 YEAR OLD ANCESTRAL HOME IN ENGLAND. COVERING 10,000 SQUARE FEET, DIANA: A CELEBRATION FEATURES OVER 150 ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING HER STUNNING ROYAL WEDDING GOWN AND DIAMOND TIARA, AND 28 DRESSES, GOWNS AND SUITS CREATED BY LUXURY DESIGNERS SUCH AS VERSACE, VALENTINO AND CHANEL, WHICH ARE ORGANIZED INTO NINE GALLERIES: CHILDHOOD, SPENCER WOMEN, ENGAGEMENT, ROYAL WEDDING, TIARA GALLERY, STYLE & FASHION, HER WORK, TRIBUTE AND CONDOLENCES. THE MYRIAD OF CHARITIES AND CAUSES DIANA CHAMPIONED, INCLUDING HER PIONEERING EFFORTS WITH HIV AND AIDS PATIENTS, THE HOMELESS, AND THE CAMPAIGN TO BAN LANDMINES, ARE ALSO FEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION. A THREE-SCREE VIDEO PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS THE HUNDREDS OF ASSOCIATIONS THAT CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM HER PATRONAGE AND ENERGETIC DEDICATION. THE WORLD'S GRIEF AT HER UNTIMELY DEATH IS DEALT WITH SENSITIVITY, IN A DISPLAY OF BOOKS OF CONDOLENCE AND SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND REMEMBRANCE.

$15,000 MACALLAN 57 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT IN LALIQUE DECANTER

LUXURY BRAND MACALLAN AND LEGENDARY CRISTAL HOUSE LALIQUE HAVE TEAMED UP TO LAUNCH THE THIRD STUNNING DECANTER IN THE MACALLAN IN LALIQUE SIX PILLARS COLLECTION. THE THIRD DECANTER TAKES ITS INSPIRATION FROM THE MACALLAN FINEST CUT WHICH IS THE TOP FRACTION OF A NEW MAKE SPIRIT WHICH IS FILLED INTO CASKS FOR MATURATION. THE UNIQUE DECANTER HOUSES AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 57 YEAR OLD MALT WHISKEY, AND IS THE SECOND OLDEST 'VINTAGE' WHISKEY EVER RELEASED - A SOFT SUMPTUOUS SINGLE MALT THAT SHOWS OFF A CLASSIC TASTE OF DRIED FRUITS, SPICE AND HINTS OF TEA.
THE CRISTAL DECANTER'S DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY ONE OF RENE LALIQUE'S OWN DESIGNS OF A DECANTER FEATURING THE STILLIGOUTE OF A PERFUME BOTTLE BUILT INTO THE CAP, THE DECANTER IS MADE FROM LALIQUE CRISTAL, WHICH WAS WORKED ON BY UP TO 15 CRAFTSMEN AND EACH ONE BEARS THE ESTEEMED 'LALIQUE FRANCE' SIGNATURE, AND ONLY FOUR HUNDRED WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $15,000.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS MICHELANGELO'S MARBLE BOY

THE MARBLE BOY, A FRAGMENTARY MARBLE STATUE OF A NUDE YOUNG BOY ATTRIBUTED TO MICHELANGELO, WILL MAKE ITS WAY ACROSS 5th AVENUE FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE FRENCH CULTURAL SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES TO THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK. FRANCE HAS AGREED TO LOAN THE INTENSELY LYRICAL WORK, THE ONLY STATUE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WIDELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE RENAISSANCE MASTER, TO THE MUSEUM FOR A TEN YEARS PERIOD, AS A SYMBOL OF THE STRONG TIES OF FRIENDSHIP THAT CONTINUE TO BIND BOTH COUNTRIES, AND TO GIVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE MARBLE. THE STATUE, IDENTIFIED VARIOUSLY AS A YOUNG ARCHER OR A CUPID, HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SOME CONTROVERSY BUT IS INCREASINGLY VIEWED AS HAVING BEEN CARVED BY THE FAMED RENAISSANCE SCULPTURE MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGE PRODIGY. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN REMOVED FROM ITS FORMER LOCATION AT 972 5th AVENUE AND WILL BE DISPLAYED IN THE MUSEUM'S VELEZ BLANCO PATIO (1st FLOOR) STARTING 3.NOVEMBER.2009.
WHEN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ACQUIRED THE PAYNE WHITNEY MANSION (AT 972 5th AVENUE) IN 1952 TO SERVE AS THE HEADQUARTERS OF ITS CULTURAL SERVICES, NON ONE RECALLED THE STATUE'S ILLUSTRIOUS PEDIGREE, AND IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SALE OF THE BUILDING. INDEED, THE MARBLE FIGURE OF A NUDE BOY MISSING HIS ARMS AND LOWER LEGS WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BUILDING: IT HAD BEEN ORIGINALLY OBTAINED BY FAMED ARCHITECT STANFORD WHITE TO FURNISH THE NEW HOME HE WAS DESIGNING FOR MR AND MRS PAYNE WHITNEY. FOR DECADES, THE MARBLE BOY STOOD ANONYMOUSLY IN THE BUILDING'S ENTRANCE HALL, ABOVE A FOUNTAIN DESIGNED BY WHITE. IN DEFERENCE TO STANFORD WHITE'S VISION, THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM WILL PROVIDE THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT WITH A FAITHFUL REPRODUCTION OF THE STATUE, WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED ABOVE THE FOUNTAIN AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED BY WHITE.

INGMAR BERGMAN ITEMS SOLD AT AUCTION IN STOLKHOLM FOR $2.6 MILLION

A CHIPPED AND INCOMPLETE CHESS SET BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FEATURES IN ONE OF INGMAR BERGMAN'S BEST KNOWN FILMS FETCHED ONE OF THE HIGHEST BIDS AT A SPECIAL AUCTION FOR THE LATE DIRECTOR'S BELONGINGS, AUCTION HOUSE OFFICIALS SAID TUESDAY. THE SET, WHICH HAD A VALUE AT AROUND $1,430-$2,150, SOLD FOR $142,000, SAID A SPOKESWOMAN AT BUKOWSKIA IN STOCKHOLM. IT IS MISSING A WHITE KING AND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN USED IN 'THE SEVENTH SEAL', ONE OF BERGMAN'S MOST FAMOUS FILMS. "IN ONE PART OF THE FILM, MAX VON SYDOW SWEEPS HIS MANTLE OVER THE TABLE AND THE PIECES FALL TO THE GROUND AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE WHITE KING BREAKS INTO PIECES", BERGSTROM SAID. SHE CONTINUED TO ADD THAT THE AUCTION BEGAN MONDAY AND LASTED FOR MORE THAN NINE HOURS, ENDING IN THE EARLY HOURS OF TUESDAY AND GARNERING A TOTAL OF $2.6 MILLION. ALL 337 OBJECTS, INCLUDING BERGMAN'S WASTE BIN, WRITING DESK AND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS, WERE SOLD. A RED-PAINTED, DEVIL-SHAPED JUMPING JACK, GIVEN TO BERGMAN BY HIS GRANDSON OLA, WAS AUCTIONED FOR $4,100. A WOODEN MODEL OF STOCKHOLM'S ROYAL DRAMATIC THEATER WITH A TINY MODEL OF THE LEGENDARY DIRECTOR SITTING INSIDE IT, SCORED THE HIGHEST BID OF $147,500. BERGMAN HEADED THE THEATER FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN THE MID-1960s. BERGSTROM CALLED THE AUCTION "HISTORIC", SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE HAMMER PRICES WERE EXPECTED TO BE HIGHER THAN ESTIMATES, THEY STILL EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. "AND BECAUSE IT'S HIM, INGMAR BERGMAN, IT INFLATES THE PRICES A BIT, OF COURSE." ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO BERGMAN'S FAMILY ACCORDING TO A SOURCE AT THE AUCTION HOUSE. BERGMAN INSISTED IN HIS WILL THAT HIS ASSETS BE AUCTIONED OFF TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING CAUGHT UP IN "SOME KIND OF EMOTIONAL HULLABALOO". BERGMAN DIED 30.JULY AT THE AGE OF 89 IN HIS HOME ON THE BALTIC SEA ISLET OF FARO. HIS FILMS WON NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS, INCLUDING BEST FOREIGN FILM OSCARS FOR "THE VIRGIN SPRING", "THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY" AND "FANNY AND ALEXANDER". HIS 84 ACRE FARO PROPERTY IS ALSO UP FOR SALE IN A PROCESS MANAGED BY CHRISTIE'S GREAT ESTATES IN LONDON.

PETRA DIAMONDS ANNOUNCE DISCOVERY OF 507.55 CARAT ROUGH DIAMOND

PETRA DIAMONDS HAS ANNOUNCED THE RECENT RECOVERY OF A 507.55 CARAT ROUGH WHITE DIAMOND FROM THE FAMED CULLINAN MINE IN SOUTH AFRICA. ACCORDING TO THE MEDIA RELEASE, PETRA RECOVERED THE DIAMOND ON 24.SEPTEMBER. WHILE EXPERTS CURRENTLY ARE ANALYZING THE STONE, INITIAL EXAMINATIONS INDICATE THAT THE STONE IS OF EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR AND CLARITY, AND IS MOST LIKELY A TYPE II DIAMOND. FURTHER DETAILS, INCLUDING THE EXACT COLOUR GRADING AND CLARITY, WILL BE RELEASED ONCE THE DIAMOND HAS UNDERGONE APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS. ACCORDING TO THE RELEASE, THE AMAZING DISCOVERY OF THE 500 PLUS CARAT PIECE ROUGH WAS PART OF A RUN THAT ALSO INCLUDED A 168 CARAT PIECE OF ROUGH AND TWO OTHER STONES 58.5 AND 53.3 CARAT. AT 507.55 CARATS, THE DIAMOND, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN NAMED, IS ONE OF THE TOP 20 LARGEST HIGH QUALITY ROUGH DIAMONDS EVER FOUND, RANKING IT ALONGSIDE OTHER ROUGH DIAMONDS FOUND AT THE CULLINAN MINE. THE CULLINAN MINE PRODUCED THE WORLD'S LARGEST GEM QUALITY DIAMOND EVER RECOVERED, THE "CULLINAN", AT 3,106 CARATS ROUGH, AND WAS THE SOURCE FOR THE 'GOLDEN JUBILEE', AT 755 CARATS ROUGH, AND THE 'CENTENARY', AT 500 CARATS ROUGH. CULLINAN ALSO PRODUCED THE PIECE OF ROUGH THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME THE TAYLOR-BURTON DIAMOND, WHICH WAS 69 CARATS POLISHED. "THE CULLINAN MINE HAS AGAIN GIVEN THE WORLD A SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL AND IMPORTANT DIAMOND", PETRA DIAMONDS CEO JOHAN DIPPENAAR SAID IN THE RELEASE. "INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT IT IS OF EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR AND CLARITY, WHICH SUGGESTS EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL FOR ITS POLISHES YIELD. WE NOW EAGERLY AWAIT THE FINDINGS OF THE EXPERT ANALYSIS."

HUGH JACKMAN AND DANIEL CRAIG LOSE COMPOSURE AS RINGING PHONE INTERRUPTS SHOW

TWO OF HOLLYWOOD'S TOUGHEST AND MOST SOUGHT AFTER LEADING MEN RECENTLY LOST THEIR COMPOSURE AT A THEATERGOER FOR LEAVING HIS MOBILE PHONE ON WHILE THEY PERFORMED ON BROADWAY. JAMES BOND STAR DANIEL CRAIG AND X-MEN'S HUGH JACKMAN MANAGED TO STAY IN CHARACTER, THOUGH APPEARED STUNNED, AS THE PHONE RANG. BUT AS THE RINGING CONTINUED, THEIR PATIENCE WAS PUSHED TO THE LIMIT AND THEY TOLD THE MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE TO 'ANSWER THAT CALL'. THE PAIR WERE DEEPLY IMMERSED IN 'A STEADY RAIN'. IN WHICH THEY PORTRAY TOUGH CHICAGO COPS, WHEN THE PHONE SOUNDED. JACKMAN STOMPED ABOUT THE STAGE AS HE ASKED: 'YOU WANNA GET THAT? COME ON, JUST TURN IT OFF. UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A BETTER STORY. YOU WANT TO GET UP AND TELL YOUR STORIES?' THE AUDIENCE LAUGHED AND GAVE JACKMAN A ROARING ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR TAKING A STAND. SECONDS LATER, ANOTHER PHONE RANG. CRAIG RESPONDED: 'JUST GET THE PHONE.' THEIR COOL APPROACH WAS IN CONTRAST TO ACTOR RICHARD GRIFFITHS, WHO IN 2005, ORDERED A WOMAN OUT OF A WEST END SHOWING OF 'HEROES' AFTER HER PHONE RANG DURING THE PERFORMANCE. SET AGAINST A SPARSE BLACK BACKDROP, THE PLAY TELLS THE STORY OF TWO POLICEMEN AND HOW THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS CHANGED FOREVER BY A DOMESTIC DISPUTE. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE MAINLY KNOWN FOR THEIR DIVERSE MOVIE WORK, BOTH ACTORS ARE EXPERIENCED STAGE ACTORS.

LOUIS VUITTON L'AME DU VOYAGE JEWELRY COLLECTION BY LORENZ BAUMER

PARIS-BASED JEWELRY DESIGNER LORENZ BAUMER (WHO HAS BEEN LONG ASSOCIATED WITH CHANEL FINE JEWELRY) RECENTLY JOINED LOUIS VUITTON AND WILL DESIGN A FINE JEWELRY COLLECTION FOR THE BRAND THAT WOULD BE UNVEILED SOMETIME NEXT MONTH. THE STUNNING NEW COLLECTION WILL BE NAMED L'AME DU VOYAGE (THE SOUL OF THE VOYAGE) AND CONSISTS OF SIX SETS, A ONE OF A KIND NECKLACE WHICH WILL BE THE FOCAL POINT OF EACH. WITH PRICES RUNNING UP TO $2.5 MILLION. THE THEME OF THE COLLECTION IS CIRCLES, WHICH BAUMER DESCRIBES AS A SYMBOL OF PERFECTION. BAUMER SAYS HIS MISSION IS TO HELP VUITTON BE 'RECOGNIZED, ADMIRED AND RESPECTED AS A JEWELER. WE WANTED TO SHOW AT THE BEGINNING THE VISION, THE CAPACITY OF CREATING INCREDIBLE PIECES IN TERMS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND THE ABILITY TO TALL A STORY. IT'S LIKE WRITING A BOOK. WE JUST WROTE A CHAPTER.'
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COLLECTION IS A BIB-STYLE NECKLACE DESIGNED IN A SERIES OF CIRCLES I WHITE, RED AND YELLOW GOLD, OVERLAPPING AND GLINTING WITH COLOURFUL GEM-STONES, WHICH BAUMER REFERS TO AS MASAI IN HONOR OF THE BRIGHT COLLARS WORN BY THE SEMI-NOMADIC AFRICAN PEOPLE. WHILE BAUMER IS THE TYPE OF JEWELER WHO EMPHASIZES DESIGN OVER MATERIALS, HE'S DELIGHTED THAT HIS ARSENAL OF GEMS ARE TWO VUITTON DIAMONDS WITH PATENTED CUTS, A ROUNDED-CUT FLOWER AND A POINTED-CUT VERSION THAT MIRRORS THE SHAPES OF THE HOUSE'S MONOGRAM MOTIF. THE STONES, WHICH BOAST BETWEEN 61 AN 77 FACETS, ARE EXTREMELY RARE. 'THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE YOU CAN FIND THESE DIAMONDS, AND IT'S AT LV', HE SAYS, A BIG SMILE SPREADING OVER HIS BOYISH FACE.

CHRYSLER MUSEUM PRESENTS TO LIVE FOREVER: EGYPTIAN TREASURES FROM THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM

PYRAMIDS AND PHARAOHS, SPHINXES AND SARCOPHAGI. WHAT OTHER CULTURE EVOKES SUCH RICH IMAGINATION AND ECHOES OF IMMORTALITY AS ANCIENT EGYPT? ON 14.OCTOBER, THE NILE COMES TO NORFOLK WITH THE PUBLIC DEBUT OF 'TO LIVE FOREVER: EGYPTIAN TREASURES FROM THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM'. THIS BLOCKBUSTER SHOW, ON VIEW THROUGH 3.JANUARY.2010 IN THE LARGE CHANGING GALLERY, PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITIONS THAT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM HAS EVER HOSTED. AS ITS TITLE SUGGESTS, TO LIVE FOREVER EXPLORES THE AGE OLD QUESTIONS OF IMMORTALITY AND LIFE AFTER DEATH. FOR ANCIENT EGYPTIANS, DEATH WAS AN ENEMY THAT COULD BE OVERCOME THROUGH A BIT OF INGENUITY AND CAREFUL PREPARATION. IF THEIR EFFORTS WERE SUCCESSFUL AND THE GODS WERE APPEASED, THE END OF LIFE ON EARTH WAS MERELY A PORTAL TO A NEW BEGINNING. FOR ITS FIRST-EVER SPECIAL EXHIBITION OF EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES, THE CHRYSLER HAS DRAWN FROM THE EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS OF THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM, RENOWNED AS ONE OF THE RICHEST COLLECTIONS OF SUCH ART IN THE WORLD. MORE THAN 120 RARE OBJECTS, INCLUDING MUMMIES, COFFINS, SARCOPHAGI, STATUARY, JEWELRY AND FUNERARY SHROUDS, TRACE THE EGYPTIANS' ALL-CONSUMING EFFORTS TO OUTFIT THEIR TOMBS TO PLEASE THE GODS, SUBDUE DEATH AND ALLOW THEM TO 'LIVE FOREVER' IN THE AFTERLIFE. THE CHRYSLER IS PROUD TO BE THE ONLY MID-ATLANTIC VENUE FOR THIS REMARKABLE DISPLAY OF EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS RELATED TO THEIR QUEST TO ACHIEVE ETERNAL LIFE.
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HERMES PAYS £75 MILLION FOR ASPREY JEWELERS BUILDING

HERMES, THE LUXURY FRENCH FASHION HOUSE, HAS EXCHANGED CONTRACTS TO BUY THE BOND STREET BUILDING THAT THE WORLD RENOWN JEWELER ASPREY OCCUPIES FOR £75 MILLION AND IS THOUGHT TO HAVE AMBITIONS TO ACQUIRE THE STRUGGLING HISTORIC BUSINESS. HERMES, WHICH IS A MAJORITY-OWNED BY ITS FOUNDING FAMILY WITH ABOUT 30% FLOATED ON EURONEXT, IS ABOUT TO BUY THE BUILDING FROM QUINLAN PRIVATE, RUN BY THE FORMER IRISH TAX INSPECTOR TURNED PROPERTY MOGUL. HERMES BEAT CHANEL TO THE 19th CENTURY BUILDING IS A CLOSE BIDDING WAR. THE 172 YEAR OLD HIGH FASHION HOUSE REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE PURCHASE, WHICH WILL PRODUCE A YIELD OF AROUND 3%, THE MOST AGGRESSIVE PRICE PAID FOR A BOND STREET SHOP IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. HERMES' PERFORMANCE IS IN A MARKED CONTRAST TO ASPREY'S, ACCOUNTANTS TO THE FIRM EARLIER THIS YEAR QUESTIONED THE ABILITY OF ASPREY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN AFTER IT TUMBLED INTO THE RED, SAYING IT RELIED ON THE GOODWILL OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO KEEP IT AFLOAT. THE COMPANY HAS HAD TWO CONSECUTIVE LOSS MAKING YEARS AND HAS SUFFERED A DROP IN SALES FROM £17 MILLION TO £13 MILLION. IT WAS BOUGHT IN 2006 BY A CAYMAN-BASED HEDGE FUND IN A COMPLICATED STRUCTURE. THE HERMES DEAL IS THE LATEST INDICATION OF HOW ATTRACTIVE THE UK PROPERTY MARKET IS TO FOREIGN INVESTORS THANKS TO THE WEAKNESS OF STERLING AND A NEAR 50% FALL IN PRICES FROM THE PEAK OF 2007.

'THE VENUS FIXERS' TELLS HOW SOLDIERS SAVED ARTWORKS DURING WORLD WAR II

FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX, RECENTLY PUBLISHED 'THE VENUS FIXERS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE ALLIED SOLDIERS WHO SAVED ITALY'S ART DURING WORLD WAR II. IN 1943, WITH THE WORLD CONVULSED BY WAR AND A FASCIST DEFEAT IN EUROPE FAR FROM CERTAIN, A FEW VISIONARIES, CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS ALIKE, SAW PAST QUESTIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH TO REALIZE THAT VICTORY WASN'T THE ONLY THING AT STAKE. SO WAS THE PRICELESS CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS. IN THE MIDST OF THE CONFLICT, THE ALLIED FORCES APPOINTED THE MONUMENTS OFFICERS, A MOTLEY GROUP OF ART HISTORIANS, CURATORS, ARCHITECTS AND ARTISTS, TO ENSURE THAT THE GREAT MASTERPIECES OF EUROPEAN ART AND ARCHITECTURE WERE NOT LOOTED OR BOMBED INTO OBLIVION. THE JOURNALIST ILARIA DAGNINI BREY FOCUSES HER SPELLBINDING ACCOUNT ON THE MONUMENTS OFFICERS OF ITALY, QUICKLY DUBBED "THE VENUS FIXERS" BY BEMUSE TROOPS. WORKING ON THE FRONT LINES IN CONDITIONS OF GREAT DEPRIVATION AND DANGER, THESE UNLIKELY SOLDIERS STRIPPED THE GREAT GALLERIES OF THEIR INCOMPARABLE HOLDINGS AND SENT THEM INTO SAFETY BY ANY MEANS THEY COULD; WHEN TRUCKS COULD NOT BE REQUISITIONED OR 'BORROWED', A TIEPOLO ALTARPIECE MIGHT MAKE ITS MIDNIGHT JOURNEY ACROSS THE COUNTRYSIDE BALANCED IN THE FRONT BASKET OF A BICYCLE. THEY BLOCKED A NAZI CONVEY OF 200 STOLEN PAINTINGS, INCLUDING DANAE, TITIAN'S VOLUPTUOUS MASTERPIECE, AN INTENDED BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR HERMANN GORING. THEY WORKED WITH SKEPTICAL ARMY STRATEGISTS TO MAKE SURE AIR RAIDS DIDN'T TAKE OUT THE HEART OF AN ANCIENT CITY, AND PATCHED UP RENAISSANCE PALAZZI AND ANCIENT CHURCHES WHOSE LEAD ROOFS WERE SOMETIMES MELTED AWAY BY THE SAVAGERY OF THE ATTACKS, EXPOSING THEIR FRESCOED INTERIORS TO THE HARSH TUSCAN WINTERS AND BLISTERING SUMMERS. SOMETIMES THEY FAILED. BUT TO THE ASTONISHING DEGREE, THEY SUCCEEDED, AND ANYONE WHO MARVELS AT ITALY'S ARTISTIC RICHES TODAY IS WITNESSING THEIR HANDIWORK. IN THE COURSE OF HER RESEARCH, BREY GAINED UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO THE PRIVATE ARCHIVES AND PRIMARY SOURCES, AND THE RESULT IS A STUNNING BOOK AT ONCE THOROUGH AND GRANDLY ENTERTAINING, A REVELATORY TAKE ON A LITTLE KNOWN CHAPTER OF WORLD WAR II HISTORY.

COCA COLA ITALY COLLABORATES WITH FASHION DESIGNERS FOR CHARITY

ITALIAN FASHION DESIGNERS DONATELLA VERSACE, ALBERTA FERRETTI, ANNA MOLINARI FOR BLUMARINE, VERONICA ETRO, SILVIA VENTURINI FOR FENDI, CONSUELO CASTIGLIONI FOR MARNI, ANGELA MISSONI AND ROSSELLA JARDINI FOR MOSCHINO, HAVE TEAMED WITH COCA COLA FOR A STUNNING FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN IN SUPPORT THE ABRUZZO CHARITY PROJECT WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN IN THE ITALIAN REGION, DEVASTATED BY THE TRAGIC EARTHQUAKE IN ABRUZZO, ITALY, THAT OCCURRED 6.APRIL.2009. THE FAMOUS LUXURY FASHION DESIGNERS DRESSED THE ICONIC 'COCA COLA LIGHT' BOTTLES WITH A FLURRY OF FANTASY AND COLOUR, WHICH WERE RECENTLY SOLD AT AN AUCTION DURING "TRIBUTE TO FASHION" SHOW IN MILAN. THE EIGHT DESIGNERS, WHICH WERE ONLY WOMEN, CREATED AMAZING LIMITED EDITION ARTWORKS IN EACH OF THE FASHION HOUSES TRADEMARK STYLE. THE LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION OF COCA COLA LIGHT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN ITALY AFTER 25.SEPTEMBER.

SMITHSONIAN ACQUIRES TWO 'LION KING' COSTUMES

PRODUCERS OF "THE LION KING" MUSICAL ARE DONATING TWO OF THE BROADWAY SHOW'S ELABORATE COSTUME PIECES TO THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY. MUSEUM OFFICIALS ACCEPTED SIMBA'S MASK AND THE COSTUME FOR TRIBAL SHAMAN AND SHOW NARRATOR RAFIKI WHICH WILL BE PLACED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY COLLECTION. THEY'LL BE IN RARE COMPANY AMONG OVER 50 OBJECTS FROM BROADWAY, INCLUDING COSTUMES FROM "HELLO, DOLLY!", "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF", "RENT", AND "CATS". "WE'LL HAVE RAFIKI NEXT TO DOLLY LEVI. THAT'S A BIG THING", SAID A GIDDY THOMAS SCHUMACHER, THE SHOW'S PRODUCER. "THE RAFIKI COSTUME REALLY SPEAKS TO THE DESIGN AND SOUL OF THE SHOW", HE SAID. "THIS IS A COMPLETELY ORIGINAL COSTUME THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. THAT'S KIND OF THRILLING." DESIGNER JULIE TAYMOR CREATED THE COSTUMES, PUPPETRY AND SCENIC DESIGN THAT BROUGHT THE 1994 ANIMATED DISNEY MOVIE TO LIFE ON STAGE IN 1997. THE HIT SHOW HAS NOW BEEN SEEN BY OVER 50 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, THE FIRST AMERICAN MUSICAL TO HIT THAT MILESTONE AND ONLY THE FOURTH IN THEATER HISTORY. THE STUNNING SHOW, FEATURING THE MUSIC OF ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE, INCLUDING THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING "CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT", HAS BEEN PRESENTED IN 13 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. MUSEUM CURATOR DWIGHT BLOCKER SAID THE SHOW REPRESENTS AN EVOLUTION IN BROADWAY DESIGN, ONE REASON WHY HE SOUGHT OUT THE "LION KING" PIECES. IT ALSO HAS A INTERGRATIONAL APPEAL, WHICH HE SAID IS RARE BECAUSE MUSICAL TASTES TEND TO VARY BY AGE GROUP. "THE MUSICAL IS AN INDIGENOUS AMERICAN ART FORM IN TERMS OF HOW WE KNOW IT", BLOCKER SAID. "THE LION KING", HE CONTINUED, "TOOK THE MUSICAL TO AREAS IT HAD NEVER EMBRACED BEFORE, BRINGING ANIMALS TO LIFE WITH LIVE PUPPETRY AND GROUNDBREAKING COSTUMES." THE MUSEUM HOPES TO DISPLAY THE OBJECTS IN LATE 2010.