ASHES OF LAST TITANIC SURVIVOR SCATTERED AT SEA

THE ASHES OF THE LAST SURVIVOR OF THE TITANIC WERE SCATTERED RECENTLY IN THE WATERS WHERE THE ILL-FATED SHIP SET SAIL. MILLVINA DEAN, WHO WAS NINE WEEKS OLD WHEN THE LINER SANK AFTER HITTING AN ICEBERG, DIED ON 31.MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE DISASTER IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 15.APRIL.1912, RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF 1,517 PEOPLE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, LARGELY DUE TO A LACK OF LIFEBOATS. "WE HAD HER FOR 97 YEARS AND WE FEEL LUCKY FOR THAT. WE WOULD HAVE HAD HER FOR ANOTHER 97 YEARS, IF WE COULD HAVE. IT WAS A VERY MOVING CEREMONY AND THE SUN SHONE ON HER RIGHT AT THE END", A FAMILY FRIEND WAS QUOTED AS AFTER THE SERVICE. "SHE WAS A LOVELY LADY AND ANYONE WHO MET HER WOULD SAY EXACTLY THE SAME." THE SIMPLE CEREMONY FOLLOWED A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ST MARY'S CHURCH, COPYTHORNE, HAMPSHIRE, WHERE DEAN WAS CHRISTENED AND WHERE HER FUNERAL WAS HELD EARLIER THIS YEAR. AROUND 150 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH TITANIC SOCIETY AND FRIENDS OF DEAN, GATHERED THERE TO PAY THEIR LAST RESPECTS. DEAN, THE LATE PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH TITANIC SOCIETY, WAS GIVEN A QUIET FAMILY ONLY FUNERAL IN JUNE. ELIZABETH GLADYS DEAN, KNOWN TO FRIENDS AS MILLVINA, WAS BORN ON 2.FEBRUARY.1912 AND BOARDED THE DOOMED SHIP WITH HER PARENTS BERTRAM FRANK AND GEORGETTE EVA AND HER ELDER BROTHER BERTRAM. THE FAMILY, WHO WERE THIRD-CLASS PASSENGERS, WERE EMIGRATING TO WICHITA, KANSAS, WHERE HER FATHER HAD HOPED TO OPEN A TOBACCONIST SHOP. WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED, HER FATHER FELT THE SHIP SHUDDER AND QUICKLY TOLD HIS FAMILY TO GO ON DECK. DEAN, HER MOTHER AND BROTHER WERE AMONG THE FIRST STEERAGE PASSENGERS TO ESCAPE THE SINKING LINER BUT HER FATHER WAS UNABLE TO GET ON A LIFEBOAT AND PERISHED IN THE DISASTER. THE FAMILY RETURNED TO SOUTHAMPTON, WHERE DEAN WENT ON TO SPEND MOST OF HER LIFE.

LAMBORGHINI INSPIRED CHRISTMAS 2009 GIFT COLLECTION

LAMBORGHINI HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED ITS LIMITED CHRISTMAS GIFTS 2009 COLLECTION THAT IS SURE TO PLEASE EVERY LAMBORGHINI FAN. THE STUNNING GIFT-BOX CANDLES AND CERAMIC BAUBLES HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY LAMBORGHINI'S GALLARDO LP 550-2 VALENTINO BALNONI. THE COLOUR SCHEME OF THIS UNIQUE COLLECTION HAS ALSO BEEN INSPIRED BY THE LIMITED EDITION GALLARDO, BLUE CAELUM AND WHITE MONOCERUS (WHICH ARE TWO OF THE EIGHT COLOURS THAT THIS BEAUTY IS AVAILABLE IN). BESIDES BEAUTIFUL CANDLES AND CERAMIC BAUBLES, THIS GALLARDO INSPIRED COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES 2010 WALL AND DESK CALENDERS, WINTER CLOTHING AND T-SHIRTS. A COLLECTION FOR EVERY CAR ENTHUSIAST AND LAMBORGHINI LOVER, IT IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM ALL LAMBORGHINI DEALERSHIPS WORLDWIDE AS WELL AS ONLINE AT Lamborghini.com.

MINT MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS THE ART OF AFFLUENCE: HAUTE COUTURE AND LUXURY FASHIONS 1947-2007

IMPRESSIVE WORKS OF WEARABLE ART WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN THE SPECIAL EXHIBITION 'THE ART OF AFFLUENCE: HAUTE COUTURE AND LUXURY FASHIONS 1947-2007', ON VIEW AT THE MINT MUSEUM OF ART, CHARLOTTE, NC. THIS EXHIBITION PRESENTS SELECTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM'S EXTENSIVE HOLDINGS OF HAUTE COUTURE AND LUXURY GARMENTS THAT REFLECT 60 YEARS OF CREATIVITY BY TOP EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN FASHION DESIGNERS. THE ART OF AFFLUENCE WILL RUN THROUGH 2010. THE ART OF AFFLUENCE FEATURES GARMENTS AND ACCESSORIES BY RENOWNED DESIGNERS INCLUDING CHANEL, DE LA RENTA, DIOR, GIVENCHY, SAINT LAURENT, VALENTINO AND VERSACE, AMONG OTHERS. HAUTE COUTURE REFERS TO ONE OF A KIND, CUSTOM-MADE GARMENTS AND IS USED BY FASHION FIRMS AROUND THE WORLD TO DESCRIBE THEIR HIGH-END LINES. DUE TO THEIR EXCLUSIVITY AND EXPERT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, THESE GARMENTS CAN COST UPWARDS OF $30,000 PER ITEM AND ARE CHARACTERIZED BY FLAIR, TASTE, FINE MATERIALS AND DISTINCTIVE QUALITY. ADDITIONALLY, MOST OF EVERY HAUTE COUTURE HOUSE CREATES A LUXURY PRET-A-PORTER, OR READY TO WEAR COLLECTION, WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS LUXURY CLOTHING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mintmuseum.org.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE BUYS £3.76 MILLION NEW YORK TOWNHOUSE

HARRY POTTER STAR DANIEL RADCLIFFE HAS EXTENDED HIS PROPERTY PORTFOLIO AFTER BUYING A STUNNING HISTORIC TOWNHOUSE IN NEW YORK WORTH NEARLY £4 MILLION. THE 20 YEAR OLD ACTOR HAS SPENT £3.76 MILLION ON A BUILDING ON WEST 12th STREET THAT WAS BUILT BY A SEA CAPTAIN FOR ONE OF HIS BELOVED DAUGHTERS IN 1847. IT MEANS HE NOW OWNS A £10 MILLION PROPERTY EMPIRE IN THE BIG APPLE AS WELL AS A FLAT IN FULHAM, WEST LONDON. WITH FIVE BEDROOMS, RADCLIFFE'S NEW TOWNHOUSE MEASURES 3,000 SQUARE FEET AND INCLUDES AN AMAZING 39 FOOT LONG GARDEN. A SOTHEBY'S BROCHURE SAID: "THE PROPERTY IS ON ONE OF NEW YORK'S MOST PICTURESQUE TREE-LINED LANDMARK COBBLESTONE BLOCKS." RADCLIFFE'S FIRST NEW YORK PURCHASE WAS TWO YEARS AGO, A £3.2 MILLION FIFTH-FLOOR APARTMENT IN THE SOHO DISTRICT OF THE CITY. A FEW MONTHS LATER, HE PAID JUST OVER £3 MILLION FOR A THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH VIEWS ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER. RADCLIFFE, WHO IS ABOUT TO OPEN IN A ROLE ON BROADWAY IN 'HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING', IS SHREWD WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY. RUMORED TO HAVE A FORTUNE OF AROUND £20 MILLION, RADCLIFFE ONCE SAID: "THE THINGS I LIKE BUYING ARE THINGS THAT COST ABOUT £7." TOGETHER WITH HIS HARRY POTTER CO-STARS RUPERT GRINT AND EMMA WATSON, HE RECEIVED PERSONAL TUTORING FROM COUTTS BANK WHEN HE TURNED 18 ON HOW BEST TO INVEST HIS EARNINGS.

MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS PRESENTS THE LOUVRE AND THE MASTERPIECE

THIS OCTOBER THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS (MIA) PRESENTS 'THE LOUVRE AND THE MASTERPIECE' WHICH WILL EXPLORE HOW THE DEFINITION OF A 'MASTERPIECE', AS WELL AS TASTE AND CONNOISSEURSHIP, HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME. THE EXHIBITION, PRESENTED BY U.S. BANK, WILL FEATURE 62 WORKS OF ART DRAWN FROM ALL EIGHT OF THE MUSEE DU LOUVRE'S COLLECTION AREA, SPANNING 4,000 YEARS. PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, DECORATIVE ARTS AND DRAWINGS WILL REFLECT THREE MAJOR THEMES: THE CHANGING HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL DEFINITIONS OF A MASTERPIECE; AUTHENTICITY AND CONNOISSEURSHIP; AND THE EVOLUTION OF TASTE AND SCHOLARSHIP. 'THE LOUVRE AND THE MASTERPIECE' WILL BE ON VIEW IN MINNEAPOLIS FROM 18.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 10.JANUARY.2010. "WE ARE THRILLED TO PRESENT SUCH A MAGNIFICENT GROUP OF WORKS FROM THE LOUVRE'S COLLECTIONS TO MINNESOTA FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE WHAT MAKES A WORK OF ART A MASTERPIECE", SAID KAYWIN FELDMAN, DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.artsmia.org/

CHRISTIE'S SELL 32.01 ANNENBERG DIAMOND FOR $7.7 MILLION

A SQUARE, 32.01 CARAT EMERALD-CUT DIAMOND THAT BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPIST LEONORE ANNENBERG BOUGHT FOR HER 90th BIRTHDAY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR $7.7 MILLION AT A NEW YORK CITY AUCTION. ABOUT THE SIZE OF A WALNUT, THE FLAWLESS DIAMOND SITS ON A RING, FLANKED ON BOTH SIDES BY SMALLER PEAR-SHAPED DIAMONDS. IT WAS DESIGNED BY MANHATTAN JEWELER DAVID WEBB. CHRISTIE'S HAD ESTIMATED IT WOULD SELL FOR $3 TI $5 MILLION. THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR A 30 CARAT SQUARE CUT DIAMOND WAS $3.1 MILLION. THE BUYER OF THE STUNNING DIAMOND WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED. ANNENBERG DIED IN MARCH AT THE AGE OF 91. SHE WAS THE US CHIEF OF PROTOCOL IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, HER HUSBAND WAS BILLIONAIRE PUBLISHER WALTER ANNENBERG WHO DIED IN 2002.

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL DANCES WITH STRICTLY COME DANCING JUDGE

CRAIG REVEL HARWOOD, THE 'STRICTLY COME DANCING' JUDGE, HAD THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL MOVING LIKE A BALLROOM DIVA WHEN HER GAVE HER AN IMPROMPTU CHA CHA CHA LESSON. THE MULTI-TALENTED CHOREOGRAPHER ENCOURAGED THE DUCHESS TO WIGGLE HER HIPS AND MOVE HER FEET TO A LATIN DANCE TRACK WHEN THE PAIR VISITED A LONDON SCHOOL ON WORLD OSTEOPOROSIS DAY. THE DUCHESS AND THE CELEBRITY DANCE INSTRUCTOR HELD HANDS AND SHIMMIED IN THE HALL OF ST CLEMENT DANES PRIMARY SCHOOL WHICH IS TAKING PART IN THE NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS SOCIETY (NOS) PROJECT. THE SCHOOL IS ONE OF SIX ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT IS RECEIVING A VISIT FROM REVEL NORWOOD AFTER WINNING A COMPETITION WHERE THEY HAD TO PROVE THEIR 'BONE HEALTH' CREDENTIALS. THE DUCHESS, WHO IS THE NOS's PRESIDENT, WATCHED THE CELEBRITY JUDGE PUT A GROUP OF AROUND 20 NINE YEAR OLDS THROUGH THEIR PACES. THE YOUNGSTERS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO DANCE TO HELP STRENGTHEN THEIR BONES AND KEEP THEM ACTIVE. THE 44 YEAR OLD CHOREOGRAPHER LIVED UP TO HIS STRAIGHT TALKING REPUTATION WHEN HE TOLD THE SCHOOL CHILDREN 'TIMING IS ESSENTIAL, YOU'RE ALL AHEAD OF THE BEAT', BUT ENDED BY PRAISING THEM AS 'FANTASTIC'. HE THEN TURNED TO THE DUCHESS AND TOOK HER HANDS AS SCHOOL GOVERNORS AND SENIOR NOS STAFF WATCHED LAUGHING. AS THE PAIR MOVED BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS THE CHOREOGRAPHER TOLD THE DUCHESS, 'NOW A LITTLE BIT OF HIP ACTION' AS SHE BEGAN TO SWAY HE GAVE HER SOME ENCOURAGEMENT SAYING, 'THAT'S FANTASTIC'. LATER THE STRICTLY COME DANCING JUDGE, WHO IS AN NOS PATRON, SAID: "I'D GIVE HER 10. SHE KEPT RHYTHM, HER TIMING WAS EXCELLENT, HER FOOTWORK WAS EXCELLENT. SHE HAS THE PERSONALITY FOR IT."

THE FRICK ART & HISTORICAL CENTER PRESENTS 'THE LAST GLEANINGS'

BEGINNING 20.OCTOBER, 'THE LAST GLEANINGS' BY ACCLAIMED 19th CENTURY FRENCH PAINTER JULES-ADOLPHE BRETON (1827-1906) WILL BE INSTALLED OVER THE MANTEL IN THE DINING ROOM AT CLAYTON, THE RESTORED HOME OF THE HENRY CLAY FRICK FAMILY AT THE FRICK ART & HISTORICAL CENTER IN PITTSBURGH'S HISTORIC EAST END. THANKS TO A SIX MONTH LOAN FROM THE HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTION AND BOTANICAL GARDENS IN SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA, VISITORS TO THE FRICK WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW THE PAINTING AS IT WAS DISPLAYED AT CLAYTON DURING THE YEARS 1895-1903. THE CURRENT FRICK EXHIBITION OF 'THE LAST GLEANINGS' MARKS THE THIRD TIME THE PAINTING HAS TRAVELED TO PITTSBURGH IN ITS HISTORY. THE PAINTING WAS INCLUDED IN THE 1997 FRICK ORGANIZED EXHIBITION 'COLLECTING IN THE GILDED AGE: ART PATRONAGE IN PITTSBURGH, 1890-1910'

THE NATIONAL GALLERY PRESENTS 'THE SACRED MADE REAL'

CREATED TO SHOCK THE SENSES AND STIR THE SOUL . . . 'THE SACRED MADE REAL' PRESENTS A LANDMARK REAPPRAISAL OF RELIGIOUS ART FROM THE SPANISH GOLDEN AGE. PAINTINGS INCLUDING MASTERPIECES BY DIEGO VELAZQUEZ AND FRANCISCO DE ZURBARAN ARE DISPLAYED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ALONGSIDE SPAIN'S REMARKABLE 'POLYCHROME' SCULPTURES. WHILE THE RELIGIOUS PAINTINGS OF VELAZQUEZ AND ZURBARAN ARE RELATIVELY WELL KNOWN, THE POLYCHROME SCULPTURES WHICH ALSO EMERGED FROM 17th CENTURY SPAIN HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SUBJECTS OF A MAJOR EXHIBITION. STILL PASSIONATELY VENERATED IN MONASTERIES, CHURCHES AND PROCESSIONS ACROSS THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, VERY FEW OF THESE SCULPTURES HAVE EVER BEEN EXHIBITED OVERSEAS. ON VIEW 21.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 24.JANUARY.2010 AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY IN LONDON.
DURING THE SPANISH COUNTER-REFORMATION, RELIGIOUS PATRONS, PARTICULARLY THE DOMINICAN, CARTHUSIAN AND FRANCISCAN ORDERS, CHALLENGED PAINTERS AND SCULPTURES TO BRING THE SACRED TO LIFE, TO INSPIRE BOTH CHRISTIAN DEVOTION AND THE EMULATION OF THE SAINTS. THIS EXHIBITION BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF THE FINEST DEPICTIONS OF KEY CHRISTIAN THEMES INCLUDING THE PASSION OF CHRIST, THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND THE PORTRAYAL OF SAINTS, NOTABLY PEDRO DE MENA'S AUSTERE RENDITION OF SAINT FRANCIS STANDING IN MEDITATION, WHICH HAS NEVER BEFORE LEFT THE SACRISTY OF TOLEDO CATHEDRAL. BY INSTALLING 16 POLYCHROME SCULPTURES AND 16 PAINTINGS SIDE BY SIDE, THE EXHIBITION AIMS TO SHOW THAT THE 'HYPER-REALISTIC" APPROACH OF PAINTERS SUCH AS VELAZQUEZ AND ZURBARAN WAS CLEARLY INFORMED BY THEIR FAMILIARITY, AND IN SOME CASES DIRECT INVOLVEMENT, THE SCULPTURE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nationalgallery.org.uk

JOHN HANCOCK TOWER PLANS $20 MILLION RENOVATION RETAIL SPACE

LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BOSTON'S HISTORIC JOHN HANCOCK TOWER WAS SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION FOR A BARGAIN-BASEMENT PRICE, ITS NEW OWNERS ARE PLANNING AN AMAZING $20 MILLION REHAB OF NEW ENGLAND'S TALLEST SKYSCRAPER. THE NEW LANDLORDS, NORMANDY REAL ESTATE PARTNERS AND FIVE MILE CAPITAL PARTNERS, HAVE CITY APPROVAL TO TRANSFORM NEARLY 90,000 SQUARE FEET OF UNUSED SPACE ON THE HIGH-RISE'S GROUND FLOOR AND LOWER LEVELS AT 200 CLARENDON STREET, INTO THREE RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND UNDERGROUND PARKING. UNDER NORMANDY'S PROPOSED PLANS, THE ICONIC EXTERIOR OF GLASS AND THE PLAZA WILL NOT CHANGE, BUT THE VACANT SPACE WILL BE FILLED WITH RESTAURANTS AND BOUTIQUES. THE LARGEST RESTAURANT AND RETAIL USE WILL BE LOCATED ALONG STUART STREET SIDE OF THE TOWER INCLUDING A TWO-LEVEL, 10,200 SQUARE FOOT EATERY. A SECOND CAFE AND SHOPS ARE PLANNED FOR THE ST JAMES STREET SIDE OF THE TOWER. THE PLAN CALLS FOR 1,960 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE FOR A SMALL RESTAURANT OR RETAIL TENANT WITH ANOTHER 8,800 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE ON THE LOWER LEVEL. IN MARCH, THE FIRMS PAID $660.6 MILLION FOR THE 60 STORY BUILDING, ABOUT HALF THE 41.3 BILLION PRICE TAG BROADWAY PARTNERS PAID FOR THE 1.7 MILLION SQUARE FOOT LANDMARK IN LATE 2006. THE SALE WAS A MAJOR DEFEAT FOR BROADWAY, WHICH DEFAULTED ON IT LOAN AND LOST MORE THAN $100 MILLION OF EQUITY IN THE PROPERTY. NEITHER LANDLORD WOULD COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RENOVATIONS.

CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES PRESENTS LOUIS XIV, THE MAN AND THE KING

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES DEVOTES A LARGE SCALE EXHIBITION TO LOUIS XIV. IT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 300 EXCEPTIONAL WORKS COMING FROM COLLECTIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND NEVER SHOWN TOGETHER BEFORE. PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES OBJETS D'ART, AND FURNITURE WILL BE EXHIBITED. THESE MASTERPIECES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN PRESENTED IN FRANCE SINCE THE DAYS OF THE 'ANCIEN REGIME', WILL ENABLE VISITORS TO GET TO KNOW THE FAMOUS MONARCH BETTER IN BOTH PERSONAL TASTES AND THROUGH HIS PUBLIC IMAGE. THE EXHIBITION 'LOUIS XIV, THE MAN AND THE KING' AT THE CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES WILL RUN FROM 20.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 7.FEBRUARY.2010.
THE CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES, WHICH HAS BEEN ON UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE LIST FOR 30 YEARS, IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ACHIEVEMENTS OF 18th CENTURY FRENCH ART. THE SITE BEGAN AS LOUIS XIIIs HUNTING LODGE BEFORE HIS SON LOUIS XIV TRANSFORMED AND EXPANDED IT, MOVING THE COURT AND GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE TO VERSAILLES IN 1682. EACH OF THE THREE KINGS WHO LIVED THERE UNTIL THE FRENCH REVOLUTION ADDED IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE IT MORE STUNNING AND BEAUTIFUL. IN 1661, LOUIS XIV COMMISSIONED ANDRE LE NOTRE WITH THE DESIGN AND LAYING OUT OF THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES WHICH, IN HIS VIEW, WERE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE CHATEAU. THE WORKS WERE UNDERTAKEN AT THE SAME TIME AS THOSE FOR THE PALACE AND TOOK 40 YEARS TO COMPLETE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM PRESENTS RARE BIRD OF FASHION: THE IRREVERENT IRIS APFEL

ANY WOMAN WHO HAS EVER WORN A PAIR OF JEANS HAS IRIS APFEL TO THANK. I THE 1940s, WHEN ONLY LUMBERJACKS AND FIELD HANDS WORE BLUE COTTON DENIM, A PERSISTENT YOUNG GIRL HOUNDED THE OWNER OF A WISCONSIN ARMY & NAVY STORE UNTIL HE FINALLY ORDERED HER A PAIR OF BOY SIZED DENIMS. HER INTENT: TO WEAR THEM WITH TURBAN AND LARGE HOOP EARRINGS. SUCH WAS AN EARLY MILESTONE IN THE CAREER OF A FASHION VISIONARY AND MUSE WHO QUITE POSSIBLY LAUNCHED A TREND IN WOMEN'S FASHION - JEANS - THAT NOW REPRESENTS A 10 BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY YEARLY IN THE US ALONE. ON EXHIBITION AT THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM, SALEM, FROM 17.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 7.FEBRUARY.2010.
'RARE BIRD OF FASHION: THE IRREVERENT IRIS APFEL' WILL FEATURE MORE THAN 80 DRAMATIC ENSEMBLES FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF LEGENDARY TASTE-MAKER AND STYLE ICON IRIS APFEL. KNOWN FOR HER ECLECTIC PERMUTATIONS OF DESIGNER CLOTHING AND EXOTIC BAUBLES, APFEL HAS INSPIRED BOLD DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CLOTHING AND DESIGN INDUSTRIES THROUGH HER SPIRITED IRREVERENCE AND PITCH-PERFECT TASTE. NOW IN HER 88th YEAR, SHE CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE VISUAL CULTURE WITH RADICAL JUXTAPOSITIONS OF FAR-FLUNG INFLUENCES. THESE SPECTACULAR AND UNEXPECTED WARDROBE COMBINATIONS ARE EXHIBITED WITH INVENTIVE STAGING AND PLAYFUL DISPLAYS THAT UNDERSCORE APFEL'S INEXHAUSTIBLE CREATIVE SPIRIT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.pem.org/

ARMANI DRESSES CHOCOLATE FOR HALLOWEEN

TRICK? OR DESIGNER TREAT? GIORGIO ARMANI HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A NEW GHOULISH LINE OF DELECTABLE CHOCOLATES FOR HALLOWEEN. AVAILABLE AT ARMANI/DOLCI BOUTIQUES BEGINNING THIS WEEK, THROUGH TO THE END OF OCTOBER. IN THE SPECIAL CHIC ORANGE BOX DESIGNED TO CONJURE THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY, TIED WITH A SILK RIBBON, THERE ARE ARTFULLY FILLED DARK AND MILK CHOCOLATE BONBONS FILLED WITH CREAMY FILLINGS OF GIANDUJA (CHOCOLATE AND NUTS), AND A SECRET FRIZZY INGREDIENT. "THE DARK CHOCOLATE PRALINE SWEETS ARE ENCLOSED IN A THIN COATING OF WHITE CHOCOLATE, CONJURING A TINY ETHEREAL GHOST", THE COMPANY SAID.

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MFA BOSTON PRESENTS THE SECRETS OF TOMB 10A: EGYPT 2000 BC

THEY SURVIVED TWO FIRES, THE ONSLAUGHT OF ROBBERS AND THE EFFECTS OF FOUR THOUSAND YEARS UNDERGROUND. NOW, THESE REMARKABLE MASTERWORKS FROM AN EGYPTIAN TOMB OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM (2040–1640 BC) WILL BE ON VIEW I A SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (MFA), BOSTON, FROM 18.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 16.MAY.2010. 'THE SECRETS OF TOMB 10A: EGYPT 2000 BC' SHOWCASES FUNERARY OBJECTS DISCOVERED IN DEIR EL-BERSHA, A NECROPOLIS IN CENTRAL EGYPT, BY THE JOINT HARVARD UNIVERSITY/MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS EXPEDITIONS IN 1915. IT INCLUDES THE FAMOUS PAINTED 'BERSHA COFFIN', THE MUMMIFIED HEAD OF ONE OF THE TOMB'S OCCUPANTS, AND HUNDREDS OF ITEMS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR A COMFORTABLE AFTERLIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT. THIS FIND REPRESENTS THE LARGEST MIDDLE KINGDOM BURIAL ASSEMBLAGE EVER DISCOVERED AND SHEDS LIGHT ON THE GRAND LIFESTYLE ENJOYED BY LOCAL GOVERNOR AND PRIEST DJEHUTYNAKHT AND HIS WIFE. THE CONVERSATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF MANY OF THE ITEMS, DAMAGED BY GRAVE ROBBERS, HAVE TAKEN ALMOST A CENTURY TO COMPLETE. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SINCE THEY WERE PLACED IN THE TOMB, THE ASSEMBLAGE WILL BE DISPLAYED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
'THE SECRETS OF TOMB 10A' EXAMINES THE MYSTERIES SURROUNDING THE DJEHUTYNAKHTS, THEIR LIFESTYLE, THE FATE OF THEIR POSSESSIONS AFTER THEY WERE BURIED, AND WHETHER THE MUMMIFIED HEAD IS MALE OR FEMALE. IT ALSO OFFERS AN ENGAGING INTRODUCTION TO EVOLVING FUNERARY PRACTICES IN EGYPT FROM THE 11th THROUGH THE 13th DYNASTIES AND PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO DAILY LIFE OF THE HIGH OFFICIALS OF THE TIME. FEATURED ARE MORE THAN 250 OBJECTS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN ON VIEW. THESE INCLUDE FOUR PAINTED COFFINS, CULT OBJECTS, VESSELS FOR FOOD AND DRINK, FURNITURE, JEWELRY, WALKING STICKS AND SEALED BEER JARS (ONE OF WHICH WILL BE OPENED AND EXAMINED), AS WELL AS THE LARGEST KNOWN COLLECTION OF WOODEN MODELS FROM THE MIDDLE KINGDOM REPRESENTING, IN MINIATURE FORM, A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND ITEMS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND ON THE COUPLE'S ESTATE. THIS IS TRULY A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME EXHIBITION
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mfa.org/

BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO PRESENT RARE PORTRAIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA

A PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PORTRAIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA AS A GLAMOROUS YOUNG WOMAN IS TO GO ON DISPLAY AT AN EXHIBITION IN LONDON. THE STUNNING PAINTING, COMMISSIONED IN 1843, SHOWS THE QUEEN WITH HER LONG BROWN HAIR LOOSE AROUND HER SHOULDERS, GAZING INTO THE DISTANCE. SHE WAS JUST 24 WHEN PAINTED BY THE GERMAN ARTIST FANZ XAVER WINTERHALTER AND HIS WORK WAS DESCRIBED AS HER HUSBAND PRINCE ALBERT'S "FAVORITE PICTURE". THE ARTWORK IS JUST ONE OF 400 PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND SCULPTURES WHICH WILL APPEAR IN AN EXHIBITION AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, SHOWING THE QUEEN'S ENTHUSIASM FOR ART. THE EXHIBITION, 'VICTORIA & ALBERT: ART AND LOVE', FOCUSES ON THE TIME BETWEEN HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE IN 1837 AND ALBERT'S DEATH IN 1861. ONE OF THE QUEEN'S JOURNALS SHOWS HER DELIGHT UPON ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE: "OH! TO FEEL I WAS, AND AM, LOVED BY SUCH AN ANGEL AS ALBERT WAS TOO GREAT A DELIGHT TO DESCRIBE! HE IS PERFECTION IN EVERY WAY - IN BEAUTY, IN EVERYTHING!" JONATHAN MARSDEN, CHIEF CURATOR FOR THE EXHIBITION, SAID THE COLLECTION SHOULD CHALLENGE THE IMAGE OF QUEEN VICTORIA AS A MELANCHOLY WIDOW WHO GRIEVED HER HUSBAND'S DEATH FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THIS EXHIBITION WILL OVERTURN THE POPULAR IMAGE OF QUEEN VICTORIA AND REVEAL AN ENERGETIC, PASSIONATE YOUNG WOMAN WHO DELIGHTED IN THE COMPANY OF ARTISTS, MUSICIANS AND PERFORMERS AND WHO IDOLIZED THE OPERA AND BALLET STARS OF THE TIME." "COMMISSIONING AND EXCHANGING ART WAS AT THE VERY HEART OF VICTORIA AND ALBERT'S RELATIONSHIP", HE ADDED

HARRODS MOVES INTO THE RETAIL GOLD BULLION MARKET

LONDON LUXURY GOODS DEPARTMENT STORE HARRODS, LONDON, IS MOVING INTO THE PRECIOUS METALS MARKET WITH THE LAUNCH OF A SERVICE TO SELL INVESTMENT-GRADE GOLD BULLION BARS AND COINS TO CUSTOMERS. THE MOVE COMES AS GOLD PRICES HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE ROOF. ON WEDNESDAY, THEY HIT ANOTHER RECORD HIGH OF $1158 AN OUNCE. BASED ON THURSDAY'S GOLD FIXING PRICE IN NEW YORK, A SINGLE GOLD BAR WOULD COST ABOUT $462,440. MALCOLM MCLEAN, GENERAL MANAGER OF HARRODS BANK, TOLD REUTERS THE COMPANY SAW A GAP IN THE MARKET FOR A WELL-KNOWN RETAILER TO ENTER THE INCREASINGLY HIGH-PROFILE GOLD MARKET. "WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN EVER INCREASING AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN THE GOLD MARKET, AND IN BUYING INVESTMENT GOLD", HE SAID. SINCE MONDAY, HARRODS HAS BEEN SELLING SWISS-SOURCED INVESTMENT GRADE BARS AND COINS, INCLUDING SOVEREIGNS, SOUTH AFRICAN KRUGERRANDS AND AMERICAN EAGLES, FROM THE HARRODS BANK PREMISES ON LONDON'S BROMPTON STREET. HARRODS WOULD NOT BE DRAWN ON THE SALES VOLUME SEEN BY THE STORE SO FAR, BUT MCLEAN SAID FEEDBACK FOR THE UNIQUE SERVICE HAD BEEN POSITIVE. "WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING TO THE HARRODS CUSTOMER, AND THE CUSTOMERS OF HARRODS BANK ITSELF", SAID MCLEAN. "BUT WE ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC." PRICES VARY ACCORDING TO THE SPOT PRICE OF GOLD, THE AMOUNT OF BULLION ORDERED, AND THE TYPE OF PRODUCT SELECTED. THE STORE OFFERS A SECURE SAFETY DEPOSIT SERVICE, WITH ITS SMALLEST BOX AVAILABLE FOR $411 A YEAR AND CAPABLE OF HOLDING THE LARGEST INVESTMENT PRODUCT HARRODS OFFERS, WHICH IS A 12.5kg BAR. "THE CUSTOMER CAN TAKE THE GOLD AWAY WITH THEM IF THEY WISH, OR THEY CAN ARRANGE FOR IT TO BE DELIVERED TO WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE", MCLEAN ADDED IN THE REUTERS INTERVIEW.