BONHAM'S TO SELL RARE WHITE JADE DOUBLE-DRAGON IMPERIAL SEAL

THE WISE WORDS, 'LOVE YOUR PEOPLE AS YOU WOULD YOUR OWN CHILDREN', ON THE SEAL OF A CHINESE EMPEROR WHO RULED A CENTURY AGO WERE NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE HIS REIGN DURING THE BOXER REBELLION AROUND 1900. THE IMPERIAL WHITE JADE DOUBLE-DRAGON SEAL IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £100,000 TO £150,000 AT BONHAM'S SALE OF FINE CHINESE ART IN THE NEW BOND STREET SHOWROOM, LONDON, ON 5.NOVEMBER DURING ASIAN ART WEEK IN LONDON. THE RECTANGULAR SEAL IS SURMOUNTED WITH A PAIR OF DRAGONS, EACH RECUMBENT WITH BULGING EYES AND A SCALY CONJOINED BODY ARCHING OVER SWIRLING CLOUDS PIERCED WITH AN APERTURE FOR ATTACHMENT, THE BASE CARVED WITH FOUR CHARACTERS READING "AIREN RUZI" WITHIN THE BORDER OF SCROLLING TENDRILS, THE STONE OF A PALE WHITE TONE WITH SMALL AREAS OF OPAQUE INCLUSIONS -- IT IS JUST FOUR AND A QUARTER INCHES LONG.
A SPOKESMAN FOR BONHAM'S SAID: "ONCE IN A WHILE AN OBJECT OF UNIQUE IMPERIAL CHINESE IMPORTANCE EMERGES WHICH CAUSES ONE TO CATCH ONE'S BREATH, HOLDING IN ONE'S HANDS A PERSONAL OBJECT USED BY AN EMPEROR THAT EXCEPTIONALLY CAPTURES HIS LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE AS SHOWN IN HIS ATTEMPT AT REFORM. IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO BE SELLING SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY, FINE AND RARE SEAL.'

REPUBLICA FASHION CREATES £159,995 DIAMOND GUCCI BELT

GOLDSTRIKER AND STUART HUGHES HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A NEW AND UNIQUE LUXURY WEBSITE, republica-fashion.com, WHICH HAS A STUNNING RANGE OF AMAZING DESIGNS FOR THE DISCERNING SHOPPER WHO REQUIRES ONLY THE VERY BEST. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE COLLECTION IS THE NEW GUCCI DIAMOND BELT, WHICH STEALS THE CROWN OF BEING THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE BELT IN THE WORLD, TO DATE. IT WAS PERSONALLY COMMISSIONED BY AN ANONYMOUS CLIENT OF REPUBLICA, WHICH USED THE HIGHLY RESPECTED SKILLS OF UK DESIGNER STUART HUGHES TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. THE PROCESS WAS TO RE-CREATE THE CLASSIC DOUBLE-G GUCCI LOGO INTO PLATINUM AND DIAMONDS. THE FINAL RESULT WAS 250 GRAMS OF PLATINUM AND 30 CARATS OF FLAWLESS DIAMONDS. LIMITED TO JUST TWO SPECTACULAR CREATIONS, THE GUCCI DIAMOND BELT IS PRICED AT £159,995 (US $256,970)

V & A PRESENTS 'MAHARAJAH: THE SPLENDOR OF INDIA'S ROYAL COURTS'

THE V&As AUTUMN EXHIBITION, "MAHARAJAH: THE SPLENDOR OF INDIA'S ROYAL COURTS', WILL BE THE FIRST TO COMPREHENSIVELY EXPLORE THE WORLD OF THE MAHARAJAHS AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARILY RICH CULTURE. IT WILL BRING TOGETHER OVER 250 MAGNIFICENT OBJECTS, MANY ON LOAN TO THE UK FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM INDIA'S ROYAL COLLECTIONS. THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE THREE THRONES, A SILVER HOWDAH, GEM-ENCRUSTED WEAPONS, COURT PAINTINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, A ROLLS ROYCE, INDIAN TURBAN JEWELS AND JEWELERY COMMISSIONED FROM CARTIER AND VAN CLEEF & ARPELS IN THE 20th CENTURY. THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER THE PERIOD FROM THE 18th CENTURY WHEN THE GREAT ERA OF THE MAHARAJAHS BEGAN TO THE END OF THE BRITISH RULE IN 1947. IT WILL SHOW THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE MAHARAJAHS IN A HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT AND LOOK AT HOW THEIR PATRONAGE OF THE ARTS BOTH IN INDIA AND EUROPE RESULTED IN SPLENDID AND BEAUTIFUL COMMISSIONS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE ROYAL STATUS AND IDENTITY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BEGIN WITH A RECREATION OF AN INDIAN ROYAL PROCESSION WITH A LIFE SIZED MODEL ELEPHANT ADORNED WITH ANIMAL JEWELRY, TEXTILES AND TRAPPINGS AND SURMOUNTED WITH A SILVER HOWDAH. THE INITIAL DISPLAYS WILL EXPLORE IDEAS OF KINGSHIP IN INDIA AND THE ROLE OF THE MAHARAJAH AS RELIGIOUS LEADER, MILITARY AND POLITICAL RULER AND ARTISTIC PATRON. SYMBOLS OF KINGSHIP WILL INCLUDE A GADDI (THRONE) FROM UDAIPUR, ELABORATE TURBAN PALANQUIN FROM JODHPUR USED TO CARRY THE MAHARAJAH'S WIFE WILL PROVIDE A RARE GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF THE LADIES AT THE ROYAL COURT. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE GRAND IMPERIAL DURBARS OF THE RAJ THROUGH LARGE SCALE PAINTINGS AND RARE ARCHIVE FILM FOOTAGE. THE SECTION WILL ALSO INCLUDE A STUNNING CARPET OF PEARLS, RUBIES, EMERALDS AND DIAMONDS MADE FOR THE MAHARAJAH OF BARODA AND EXHIBITED AT THE DURBAR OF 1903.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.vam.ac.uk

DETROIT SCIENCE CENTER PRESENTS ACCIDENTAL MUMMIES OF GUANAJUATO

THROUGH A REPLICA OF CEMETERY GATES, A NEW EXHIBITION OFFERS A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHOSE BODIES WERE ACCIDENTALLY MUMMIFIED IN THE MINING TOWN OF GUANAJUATO, MEXICO, MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO. 36 MUMMIES ON LOAN FROM GUANAJUATO'S MUSEO DA LAS MOMIAS (MUSEUM OF THE MUMMIES) GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY 10.OCTOBER AT THE DETROIT SCIENCE CENTER AS PART OF THE 'ACCIDENTAL MUMMIES OF GUANAJUATO' TRAVELING EXHIBIT. THE ROUGHLY $2 MILLION PROJECT MARKS THE FIRST TIME THE MUMMIES HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN THE US. USING SCIENTIFIC, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESEARCH, THE EXHIBIT EXPLORES THE LIVES OF MINERS, SOLDIERS, FARMERS AND CHILDREN WHOSE BODIES WERE MUMMIFIED AND STORED IN ABOVE-GROUND CRYPTS.
PAST THE EXHIBIT GATES, REPLICATING THE PORTAL AT THE CEMETERY WHERE THE FIRST GUANAJUATO MUMMY WAS DISCOVERED IN 1865, VISITORS WALK THROUGH A ROOM BORDERED WITH CRYPTS, WHERE THEY LEARN ABOUT MEXICAN TRADITIONS SURROUNDING DEATH. AT ONE END, FIVE MUMMIES ARE DISPLAYED BEHIND GLASS AS THEY MIGHT HAVE LOOKED IN THEIR CRYPTS. VISITORS THEN ENTER THE MAIN EXHIBIT SPACE, WHERE 21 MUMMIES, SOME POSITIONED AS IF STANDING UPRIGHT, ARE SHOWN. EACH MUMMY IS ACCOMPANIED BY TEXT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH THAT GIVES HIS OR HER NAME, AN ESTIMATE OF THE AGE AT WHICH THE PERSON DIED, AND DETAILS ABOUT THE LIFE. ACCORDING TO LOCAL LEGEND, THE BODIES WERE PRESERVED BECAUSE THE CITY'S WATER IS RICH WITH MINERALS AND SULFUR.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.detroitsciencecenter.org

SOTHEBY'S SELLS RARE QIANLONG PERIOD DRAGON THRONE FOR RECORD $12 MILLION

RECENTLY AT SOTHEBY'S HONG KONG FINE CHINESE CERAMICS AND WORKS OF ART AUTUMN SALE 2009, AN OUTSTANDING IMPERIAL CARVED ZITAN 'DRAGON' THRONE OF THE QIANLONG PERIOD WAS SOLD FOR CLOSE TO HK$86 MILLION/$12 MILLION TO A BIDDER IN THE ROOM, BREAKING THE WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR ANY CHINESE FURNITURE. BIDDING OPENED AT HK$13 MILLION, QUICKLY REACHING HK$20 MILLION, WHEN A BIDDER IN THE ROOM SHOUTED OUT A BID OF HK$30 MILLION. THE FRENZIED BIDING CONTINUES FOR SOME TIME, WITH A NEW BIDDER OVER THE PHONE JOINING THE COMPETITION AT HK$60 MILLION. AFTER A TOTAL OF 36 FURIOUS BIDS WHICH LASTED FOR A TENSION FILLED TEN MINUTES, THE THRONE WAS EVENTUALLY SOLD FOR AN ASTONISHING HAMMER PRICE OF HK$76 MILLION, NOT INCLUDING BUYER'S PREMIUM, FAR EXCEEDING THE HIGH ESTIMATE OF HK$30 MILLION/$3.9 MILLION US. A SPOKESPERSON FOR SOTHEBY'S SAID: "THIS THRONE WAS LITERALLY THE SEAT OF IMPERIAL POWER, AND THIS HAS AROUSED ENORMOUS INTEREST AMONG DISCERNING COLLECTORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. AS THE FINEST PIECE OF IMPERIAL FURNITURE TO COME TO THE MARKET IN A DECADE, IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT IT HAS NOW BROKEN THE WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR CHINESE FURNITURE."

JEFF KOONS GIANT RABBIT ARRIVES IN COVENT GARDEN FOR POP LIFE: ART IN THE MATERIAL WORLD

TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF TATE MODERN'S MAJOR AUTUMN EXHIBITION 'POP LIFE: ART IN THE MATERIAL WORLD', A GIANT 53 FOOT HELIUM BALLOON BY JEFF KOONS WAS UNVEILED YESTERDAY AT COVENT GARDEN. IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT KOONS' RABBIT BALLOON HAS BEEN SHOWN IN THE UK AND ITS RESIDENCY IN THE MARKET BUILDING MARKS A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COVENT GARDEN AND TATE MODERN, LONDON. KOONS CREATED THE LARGE-SCALE SILVER BALLOON FOR MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE 2007 IN NEW YORK. HE MODELED IT AFTER HIS ICONIC METER HIGH STAINLESS STEEL SCULPTURE RABBIT 1986. THE SILVER RABBIT FLOATED DOWN THE STREETS OF BROADWAY THROUGH THE CROWDS TO CELEBRATE TE OCCASION. BOTH THE ORIGINAL SCULPTURE AND A FILM OF THE BALLOON IN MACY'S DAY PARADE ARE INCLUDED IN 'POP LIFE: ART IN A MATERIAL WORLD.' RABBIT IS ON DISPLAY IN THE SOUTH HALL, MARKET BUILDING, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON. 'POP LIFE: ART IN A MATERIAL WORLD' IS ON DISPLAY AT TATE MODERN FROM 1.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 17.JANUARY.2010.

CARAVAGGIO'S 'ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS' TO BE RESTORED IN PUBLIC

CARAVAGGIO'S 'ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERDS', A 1609 MASTERPIECE, IS GETTING A VERY PUBLIC RESTORATION IN ITALY'S LOWER CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT. STARTING NEXT WEEK, SMALL GROUPS OF TOURIST'S, STUDENTS AND ART AFICIONADOS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WATCH RESTORERS TOUCH UP THE PAINTING IN ITS TEMPORARY PARLIAMENTARY HOME. THE RESTORATION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF CARAVAGGIO'S DEATH IN FEBRUARY 2010, WHEN IT WILL BE EXHIBITED IN THE GALLERY OF THE QUIRINALE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE. RESTORER VALERIA MERLINI SAID WEDNESDAY THE AIM OF THE TOUR IS TO GET THE PUBLIC MORE INVOLVED IN A WORK OF ART. THE WORK, COMPLETED DURING CARAVGGIO'S BRIEF STAY IN MESSINA, SICILY, WAS TRANSFERRED TO ROME LAST MONTH FROM MESSINA'S MUSEUM.

BANKSY'S RECENT MURAL GOES TO PUBLIC VOTE FOR ITS FATE

A LONDON COUNCIL IS OFFERING ITS RESIDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHETHER A BANKSY MURAL SHOULD STAY OR GO. THE ART WORK, DEPICTING A PUNK LEAFING THROUGH INSTRUCTIONS BESIDE A BOX LABELED 'IEAK', APPEARED IN SUTTON, SOUTH WEST LONDON, ABOUT TEN DAYS AGO. A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WORK ON BANKSY'S WEBSITE CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW IMAGE WAS INDEED THE ARTIST'S WORK. SINCE INVITING PEOPLE TO EMAIL IN LAST THURSDAY, THE COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 EMAILS, WITH 85% RULING THAT THE GRAFFITI-ARTWORK SHOULD STAY. COLIN HALL. EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT ON SUTTON COUNCIL, SAID THAT THE PIECE "CAUGHT THE IMAGINATION", AND THAT THE DECISION TO RETAIN OR REMOVE IT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC ONE. "WE DON'T TOLERATE GRAFFITI IN SUTTON, AND HAVE A PAIR OF DEDICATED TEAMS WHO GO OUT DAILY TO REMOVE IT. BUT WE'RE WELL AWARE THAT MANY PEOPLE SEE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MINDLESS TAGGING AND A WORK SUCH AS THIS." THE MOVE COMES AFTER A DIFFERENT LONDON AUTHORITY WAS CRITICIZED LAST MONTH FOR REMOVING A SKETCH BY BANKSY, WHOSE WORKS HAVE SOLD FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS. OFFICIALS FROM HACKNEY COUNCIL PAINTED OVER A CARTOON THAT HAD BEN LEFT UNTOUCHED ON THE SIDE OF A BLOCK OF FLATS IN STOKE NEWINGTON, EAST LONDON, FOR EIGHT YEARS, LEAVING THE BUILDING'S OWNER 'DEVASTATED'. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME A DECISION OVER WHETHER TO RETAIN A PIECE OF BANKSY'S ARTWORK HAS BEEN PUT TO THE PUBLIC. BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL SET UP AN ONLINE POLL IS 2005, ASKING VOTERS WHETHER A PIECE APPEARING ON A COUNCIL-OWNED BUILDING SHOULD BE REMOVED, WITH 93% SAYING IT SHOULD BE KEPT. THE COUNCIL IN BRISTOL, WHERE THE ARTIST IS BELIEVED TO LIVE, IS PLANNING TO PERMANENTLY DEVOTE A SECTION OF ITS WEBSITE TO BANKSY 'GRAFFITI' LATER THIS YEAR, GIVING THE PUBLIC THE CHANCE TO VOTE BEFORE MURALS ON BUILDINGS, WALLS AND FENCES ARE REMOVED. RESIDENTS OF SUTTON HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH TO REGISTER THEIR VIEWS.

DALMORE DISTILLERY RELEASES A LIMITED EDITION £10,000 WHISKEY

DALMORE DISTILLERY HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF ONE OF ITS MOST PRIZED WHISKEYS, THE SIRIUS, WITH AN AMAZING PRICE OF £10,000 PER BOTTLE.SIRIUS WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF PRIVATE BUYERS AND THROUGH SMALL QUANTITY OF WORLD DUTY FREE (WDF) BOUTIQUES. THE DALMORE'S 1951 SIRIUS VINTAGE IS A SINGLE-CASK, SINGLE MALT WHISKEY, WITH A CASK STRENGTH OF 45%. "THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR HIGH-END LUXURY PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE AN INVESTMENT VALUE IS BUOYANT, AND THE FINEST WHISKEYS ARE PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY DOMINANT ROLE IN THIS SECTOR", SAYS THE DALMORE'S BRAND DIRECTOR, DAVID ROBERTSON. SIRIUS WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE FLAGSHIP WDF SHOP AT HEATHROW TERMINAL 5, ONLY 12 DECANTERS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
DALMORE IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHER HIGHLAND OF ALNESS, WHICH LIES ON THE CROMARTY DALMORE AND CLOSE TO THE FAMOUS BLACK ISLE. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1839 AND IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY WHYTE & MACKAY, A BRANCH OF UNITED SPIRITS. DALMORE IS TRANSLATED AS "BIG MEADOW" FROM GAELIC AND THIS REFERS TO THE FERTILE FARMLAND THAT IS LOCATED IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE DISTILLERY HAS A CURRENT PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILLION LITERS PER YEAR AND HAS SOME OF THE OLDEST STILLS IN SCOTLAND, ONE OF WHICH DATES BACK TO 1874.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART TO PRESENT RENOIR IN THE 20th CENTURY

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA) WILL BE PRESENTING 'RENOIR IN THE 20th CENTURY', AN EXHIBITION FOCUSING ON THE LAST THREE DECADES OF PIERRE- AUGUSTE RENOIR'S CAREER, UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1919. THE EXHIBITION PRESENTS APPROXIMATELY 80 PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, AND DRAWINGS BY RENOIR, INTERSPERSED WITH SELECT WORKS BY PABLO PICASSO, HENRI MATISSE, ARISTIDE MAILLOL AND PIERRE BONNARD, TO ILLUSTRATE THE DEVELOPING AVANT GARDE'S DEBT TO THE OLDER MASTER. THE SHOW OFFERS AN UNPRECEDENTED LOOK AT RENOIR THROUGH THE LENS OF MODERNISM, BRIDGING THE PERCEIVED DIVIDE BETWEEN THE ART OF THE LATE 19th CENTURY AND THE EARLY 20th CENTURIES, THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON VIEW FROM 14.FEBRUARY THROUGH 9.MAY.2010.
DURING THE LAST THIRTY YEARS OF HIS CAREER, RENOIR MOVED ON FROM IMPRESSIONISM TO AN ART AIMING TO BE DECORATIVE, CONTINUE THE GREAT TRADITION OF EUROPEAN PAINTING, AND BE MODERN, ALL AT ONCE. THE RESULTING PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES BECAME AN ENDURING SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO A GENERATION OF YOUNGER ARTISTS WHO WERE FEELING THEIR WAY INTO MODERNISM IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.lacma.org

THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM PRESENTS VAN GOGH'S LETTERS: THE ARTIST SPEAKS

FROM 9.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 3.JANUARY.2010 THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM'S RIETVELD BUILDING WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE LETTERS OF VINCENT VAN GOGH. IN THE EXHIBITION 'VAN GOGH'S LETTERS: THE ARTIST SPEAKS', SOME 120 ORIGINAL LETTERS WILL BE EXHIBITED ALONGSIDE THE WORKS THAT VAN GOGH WAS WRITING ABOUT. THE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ARE SELDOM OR NEVER ON SHOW TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THEIR EXTREME FRAGILITY AND SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF MORE THAN 340 WORKS, FROM THE RICH COLLECTION OF THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM, INCLUDING PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, LETTERS AND LETTER SKETCHES OFFERS A MULTIFACETED AND PENETRATING VIEW OF VAN GOGH AS A LETTER WRITER AND AS ARTIST. ESPECIALLY FOR THIS EXHIBITION THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM HAS BEN GRANTED THE EXCLUSIVE LOAN OF THREE SPECIAL LETTERS FROM VAN GOGH TO THE ARTIST EMILE BERNARD (1868-1941) FROM THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM, NEW YORK. THE EXHIBITION IS BEING STAGED BY THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM TO MARK THE LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL EDITION OF THE COMPLETE CORRESPONDENCE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH. THIS SCHOLARLY EDITION, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED BOTH IN BOOK AND DIGITALLY, IS THE CULMINATION OF 15 YEARS OF RESEARCH INTO THE LETTERS AT THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM AND THE HUYGENS INSTITUTE OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.
"THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR PALS, WHO IMAGINE THAT WORDS ARE NOTHING. ON THE CONTRARY, DON'T YOU THINK, IT'S AS INTERESTING AND AS DIFFICULT TO SAY A THING AS TO PAINT A THING" -- VINCENT VAN GOGH TO EMILE BERNARD, 19.APRIL.1888.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www3.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/

NEUES MUSEUM RECEIVES 3,300 YEAR OLD BUST OF NEFERTITI

A FAMOUS 3,300 YEAR OLD BUST OF THE EGYPTIAN QUEEN NEFERTITI HAS BEEN MOVED TO ITS NEW PERMANENT HOME AT BERLIN'S RESTORED NEUES MUSEUM. THE CITY'S MUSEUM AUTHORITY SAID IN A RECENT STATEMENT THAT OFFICIALS MOVED NEFERTITI 'WITH THE GREATEST CARE' ON SUNDAY FROM THE ADJACENT ALTES MUSEUM, HER TEMPORARY HOME IN RECENT YEARS. THE PLASTER AND LIMESTONE BUST WILL GO ON VIEW TO THE PUBLIC 17.OCTOBER WHEN THE NEUS MUSEUM REOPENS. THE BUILDING HAS BEEN RESTORED PAINSTAKINGLY AFTER LYING UNUSED SINCE WORLD WAR II, WHEN BOMB DAMAGE RUINED MUCH OF IT. NEFERTITI FIRST WENT ON SHOW AT THE NEUES MUSEUM, ONE OF FIVE BUILDINGS THAT MAKES UP BERLIN'S NEOCLASSICAL MUSEUM ISLAND, BEFORE THE WAR. NEFERTITI WAS THE GREAT ROYAL WIFE OF THE EGYPTIAN PHARAOH AKHENATEN. NEFERTITI AND HER HUSBAND WERE KNOWN FOR CHANGING EGYPT'S RELIGION FROM A POLYTHEISTIC RELIGION TO A HENOTHEISTIC RELIGION. THEY REVERED ONLY ONE GOD, ATEN, THE SUN DISC. SHE WAS MADE FAMOUS BY HER BUST, NOW IN THE ALTES MUSEUM. THE BUST IS ONE OF THE MOST COPIED WORKS OF ANCIENT EGYPT. IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SCULPTOR THUTMOSE, AND IT WAS FOUND IN HIS WORKSHOP. THE BUST ITSELF IS NOTABLE FOR EXEMPLIFYING THE UNDERSTANDING ANCIENT EGYPTIANS HAD REGARDING REALISTIC FACIAL PROPORTIONS. SOME SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT THE NEFERTITI RULED BRIEFLY AFTER HER HUSBAND'S DEATH AND BEFORE THE ACCESSION OF TUTANKHAMEN, ALTHOUGH THIS IDENTIFICATION IS A MATTER OF ONGOING DEBATE.

MCDONALD'S TO OPEN NEXT TO THE LOUVRE AT THE CARROUSEL DE LOUVRE

FRENCH CULTURE AND AMERICAN CONVENIENCE WILL COME TOGETHER IN DECEMBER, THANKS TO PLANS BY MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT CHAIN TO OPEN IN THE SHADOW OF THE LOUVRE. MCDONALD'S IS DELIGHTED AT THE PROSPECT OF FEEDING THE MASS OF HUNGRY CULTURE VULTURES. BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THE MIXING OF HIGH ART AND FAST FOOD. THE MCDONALD'S WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE FOOD COURT OF THE UNDERGROUND MALL ADJOINING THE MUSEUM, KNOWN AS THE CARROUSEL DE LOUVRE, AS THE FAST FOOD CHAIN FETES ITS 30th ANNIVERSARY IN FRANCE, MCDONALD'S FRANCE SAID IN A RECENT PRESS RELEASE. THE PAIRING COULD SERVE THE INTERESTS OF BOTH. THE LOUVRE IS THE WORLD'S MOST VISITED MUSEUM; FRANCE IS MCDONALD'S TOP MARKET OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. THE LOUVRE REFUSED COMMENT ON THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF ITS NEW NEIGHBOR. SPOKESWOMAN AGGY LEROLLE SAID ONLY THAT IT IS NOT UP TO THE MUSEUM VETO TO MCDONALD'S ARRIVAL SINCE THE CAROUSEL IS RUN BY A PRIVATE COMPANY RATHER THAN A STATE-RUN MUSEUM. HOWEVER, SOME FRENCH ARE INDIGENT ABOUT MIXING FRENCH FRIES AND ART TREASURES IN THE BACKYARD OF THE FORMER PALACE OF THE SUN KING, LOUIS XIV. THE WEBSITE louvrepourtous.fr, WHICH IS AIMED AT KEEPING MUSEUM VISITORS INFORMED, IS AMONG THOSE WHOSE HACKLES HAVE BEEN RAISED AT THE COMING OF MCDONALD'S, EVEN IN A FOOD COURT WHERE A VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS OFFERING CUISINES OF THE WORLD ARE PRESENT. "RENDEZVOUS IN DECEMBER FOR A MONA LISA EXTRA VALUE MENU", IT WROTE, CONTENDING THAT THE LOUVRE COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE, PUT ITS FOOT DOWN AT THE PROSPECT OF MCDONALD'S MOVING SO CLOSE. SOME SAW MCDONALD'S TASTE FOR ART COMING LONG AGO. IN JANUARY 2007, THE CULTURE WING OF THE LARGE CFDT UNION DECRIED WHAT IT SAID WAS THE "DISNEYLANDIZATION" OF FRENCH CULTURE, CLAIMING THE STATE IS LOOKING TO TURN MUSEUMS INTO MONEY MAKING THEME PARKS. IT CITED PLAN FOR THE SO-CALLED DESERT LOUVRE, TO OPEN IN 2013 IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND THE ARRIVAL OF A STARBUCKS COFFEE HOUSE NEAR THE LOUVRE. MCDONALD'S SAYS THAT THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATE SET FOR ITS OPENING AT THE CARROUSEL DU LOUVRE.

LOUIS VUITTON BUNNY EARS HAIRBAND FOR FALL/WINTER 2009 COLLECTION

LOUIS VUITTON'S FALL/WINTER 2009 COLLECTION FEATURES A NUMBER OF STRIKING ACCESSORIES, BUT THE 'BUNNY EARS' ARE DEFINITELY THE MOST MEMORABLE. IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE CONCEPTION OF THE BUNNY EARS, MARC JACOB EXPLAINED IT RECENTLY IN A VIDEO OF THE MAKING OF THE FALL 2009 CAMPAIGN WITH MADONNA. JACOBS SAID: "THERE'S A GIRL WHO WORKS FOR US, LUCY, SHE'S ON THE DESIGN TEAM, AND ADRIAN, ONE OF THE BOYS, WAS TYING A LITTLE BIT OF FABRIC AROUND AND IT REMINDED ME OF A BUNNY. WE WERE THINKING OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE CAN-CAN DANCERS, AND I SAW THIS PIECE OF FABRIC WRAPPED AROUND LUCY'S HEAD AND SAID 'BUNNY EARS, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO FINISH THIS LOOK.' SO WE MADE ALL THESE RADZIMIR BUNNY EARS AND THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED. I LIKE THE KIND OF PLAYBOY, FRENCH COQUETTE ASPECT OF IT." NOW THAT WE ALL KNOW THE BACK-STORY, ONE MAY THINK THAT THE RUNWAY VERSION OF THE BUNNY EARS WERE A BIT TOO BIG AND WAY OUT THERE. WELL, FOR THE RETAIL VERSION, THE BUNNY EARS HAVE BEEN TONED DOWN, WHICH MADE IT MORE WEARABLE BUT STILL HAS THE 80s SPIRIT. THE STYLISH AND UNIQUE ACCESSORY ADDS A WHIMSICAL TOUCH OF PLAYFUL GLAMOR ON ANY SPECIAL OCCASION. THE BUNNY HAIRBAND IS MADE FROM 100% SILK WITH FRINGES FINISHING IN SILK TAFFETA. IT ALSO HAS A GOLDEN METALLIC RIVET WITH LOUIS VUITTON ENGRAVING. ITS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE FOR $400.

BOND NO.9 PERFUME TO COMMEMORATE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF NEW YORK BOUTIQUE

BOND NO.9 HAS ALWAYS MESMERIZED THE SENSES WITH THEIR UNIQUE COLLECTION OF FRAGRANCES. TO COMMEMORATE THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR NEW YORK FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE, BOND NO.9 IS SET TO UNVEIL THEIR NEWEST SIGNATURE SCENT, BOND NO.9 PERFUME OUD, NOT FOR A NEW YORK NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT FOR THE NOHO ADDRESS. THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL PERFUME WILL MAKE ITS DEBUT IN NOVEMBER. A SEDUCTIVE SCENT, IT HAS BEEN RENDERED AS 30% CONCENTRATION PURE PERFUME. A SENSUAL AROMA ARISES FROM A MIX OF EAST AND WEST INGREDIENTS. THE SCINTILLATING FRAGRANCE IS HOUSED IN A MAGICAL GOLD LASER-ETCHED BOND NO.9 PERFUME BOTTLE. SURE TO TANTALIZE YOU WITH ITS POWERFUL SCENT, THIS SPECIAL FRAGRANCE IS DEFINITELY A CLASS APART.