5.12.09

PRUNIER CAVIAR BY YVES SAINT LAURENT


MAISON PRUNIER OF PARIS HAVE RECENTLY RELEASED A LIMITED EDITION CAVIAR CALLED LOVE 2010 BY YVES SAINT LAURENT. THE NAME IS DERIVED FROM THE SEASONS GREETINGS SENT BY SAINT LAURENT TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE FORM OF PAINTINGS, EACH BASED ON THE THEME OF LOVE. THE CAVIAR USED IS OF THE SAINT-JAMES VARIETY INTRODUCED IN 1932 FOR THE OPENING OF THE PRUNIER RESTAURANT ON ST. JAMES IN LONDON. THE PRICE OF THE 125g CONTAINER IS £300, AND IS AVAILABLE IN A LIMITED EDITION THROUGH FEBRUARY 2010 AT HARRODS, LONDON.

JOHN GALLIANO CREATES CHRISTMAS TREE FOR CLARIDGE'S HOTEL, LONDON





JOHN GALLIANO, THE CELEBRATED ICONIC LUXURY FASHION DESIGNER AND DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN DIOR, IS MORE ACCUSTOMED TO DESIGNING STUNNING HAUTE COUTURE GOWNS AND ACCESSORIES . BUT THIS CHRISTMAS, FOR EH FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER, HE HAS TURNED HIS TALENTS TO CREATING A DESIGNER CHRISTMAS TREE, CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FIRST-EVER TO COMPLETE WITH A 'BLUE LEOPARD'. THE DIOR CHRISTMAS TREE, A GRAND 20ft HIGH CREATION IN PAPIER-MACHE, PAPER AND POLYSTYRENE, WAS ERECTED RECENTLY IN CLARIDGE'S HOTEL IN LONDON. THE TREE, WHICH TAKES INSPIRATION FROM ICY SNOW SCENES, MIXED WITH A TROPICAL TWIST, DOMINATES THE LOBBY. IT IS PAINTED IN WHITE AND METALLIC BLUE AND PERCHED AMONG ITS BRANCHES ARE A HANDMADE LEOPARD, SEVERAL PARROTS AND A DRAGONFLY. "I AM THRILLED THAT DIOR IS COLLABORATING WITH CLARIDGE'S THIS CHRISTMAS', SAID JOHN GALLIANO. "I LOVE TO VISIT CLARIDGE'S WHEN I AM IN LONDON, PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, AND HOPE TO BRING A TWIST TO THE TRADITIONAL TREE. I WANT TO COMBINE THE FESTIVE WITH THE INNOVATIVE, THE SPIRIT OF DIOR WITH THE BEAUTY OF CLARIDGE'S, AND CREATE SOMETHING SPECTACULAR THAT WILL INSPIRE THE PERFECT START TO THE SEASON." THE DIOR CHRISTMAS TREE WILL REMAIN ON DISPLAY UNTIL TWELFTH NIGHT, 6.JANUARY.2010.

ICONIC SOVIET-ERA STATUE BY VERA MUKHINA IS BACK ON VIEW


A GIGANTIC SCULPTURE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST ADMIRED EXAMPLES OF THE ONCE PROUD SOVIET SOCIALIST REALISM IS BACK ON VIEW IN MOSCOW AFTER SIX YEARS OF EXTENSIVE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION. THE STAINLESS-STEEL SCULPTURE, CALLED 'WORKER AND COLLECTIVE FARM WOMAN', WAS UNVEILED FRIDAY IN A DAZZLING NIGHTTIME CEREMONY WITH FIREWORKS ATTENDED BY THOUSANDS. THE 25.5 METER (80 FOOT) SCULPTURE DEPICTS THE TWO FIGURES STRIDING FORWARD PURPOSEFULLY, THEIR RAISED ARMS HOLDING A HAMMER AND A SICKLE TO REPLICATE THE ICONIC COMMUNIST SYMBOL. THE WORKER'S SASH AND THE WOMAN'S SKIRT FLOAT BEHIND THEM, AS IF THEY WERE MOVING AT HIGH SPEED. THE 72 YEAR OLD SCULPTURE BY VERA MUKHINA STANDS ON A NEW 34.5 METER (112 FOOT) PEDESTAL, WHICH IS TO HOUSE A MUSEUM, AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE ALL-RUSSIA EXHIBITION CENTER, ITSELF A RENOWNED COLLECTION OF STALIN-ERA BUILDINGS.

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNEX IN NEW YORK CITY TO CLOSE IN JANUARY


THE YEAR OLD NEW YORK CITY ANNEX TO CLEVELAND'S ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM WILL CLOSE 3.JANUARY. 2010. THE NEWS RELEASE ISSUED THURSDAY BY S2BN ENTERTAINMENT, A PARTNER IN THE VENTURE, GAVE NO REASON FOR THE SUDDEN CLOSER. MUSEUM CEO TERRY STEWART TELLS THE PLAIN DEALER NEWSPAPER IN CLEVELAND THE DECISION WAS MADE BY CORPORATE PARTNERS WHO HAD BACKED THE $10 MILLION ANNEX IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN. BACKERS HAD HOPED TO ATTRACT UP TO A HALF-MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY BUT HAVE NOT SAID WHAT ATTENDANCE WAS. THE COLLECTION DISPLAYED AT THE ANNEX INCLUDES BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S 1957 CHEVY AND SEVERAL OBJECTS BELONGING TO JOHN LENNON. THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME SAYS SOME OF THE ARTIFACTS COULD BECOME PART OF A TRAVELING SHOW WHILE OTHERS WILL EITHER BE INCORPORATED INTO THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OR BE PUT INTO STORAGE FOR DISPLAY AT A LATER DATE.

4.12.09

QUEEN ELIZABETH OPENS OXFORD UNIVERSITY'S ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM



QUEEN ELIZABETH II OFFICIALLY OPENED THE ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM IN OXFORD RECENTLY, AFTER ITS £61 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT. THE MUSEUM, WHICH IS RUN BY THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD AND IS THE OLDEST MUSEUM IN BRITAIN, WAS CLOSED FOR A YEAR DURING THE REFURBISHMENT. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ARCHITECT RICK MATHER, A FURTHER 39 GALLERIES HAVE BEEN ADDED, ALONG WITH THE FIRST ROOF-TOP CAFE IN OXFORD. THE PROJECT, WHICH REPLACED THE WHOLE BUILDING APART FROM THE GRADE I LISTED COCKERELL BUILDING, RECEIVED A £15 MILLION GRANT FROM THE HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND. THE MUSEUM REOPENED ITS DOORS ON 7.NEVEMBER.2009, IN ADVANCE OF THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY BY THE QUEEN. THE QUESTS AT THE REOPENING INCLUDED PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN NAWAF AL-SAUD, THE SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, LORD PATTEN, GREETED THE QUEEN ON HER ARRIVAL. HE SAID: 'IT IS QUITE LITERALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN THE MUSEUM'S HISTORY SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1683.IT IS A SPECTACULAR RENOVATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF WHAT IS REALLY THE WORLD'S GREATEST UNIVERSITY MUSEUM." THE QUEEN COMBINED HER VISIT TO THE MUSEUM WITH CELEBRATIONS AT BRASENOSE COLLEGE MARKING ITS 500th ANNIVERSARY.

RARE PICASSO ETCHINGS FOUND IN SPANISH LIBRARY


THIRTEEN ETCHINGS BY PABLO PICASSO HAVE COME TO LIGHT AFTER A SPANISH PROFESSOR DISCOVERED THEM JAMMED INTO THE PAGES OF A BOOK OWNED BY THE SPANISH ARTIST'S LOVER AND MUSE, DORA MAAR. THE AQUATINTS WERE FOUND BY CHANCE EARLIER THIS TEAR WHEN PROFESSOR ANDRES SORIA BEGAN LEAFING THROUGH THE PAGES OF AN ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF A BOOK OF POEMS BY THE SPANISH POET LUIS DE GONGORA, WHICH WAS BOUGHT BY SPAIN'S NATIONAL LIBRARY A DECADE AGO. THE BOOK, WHICH WAS A HOMAGE TO ONE OF PICASSO'S FAVORITE POETS, WAS MEANT TO HAVE BEEN ILLUSTRATED BY ANOTHER ARTIST, IGNACIO GONZALEZ DE LA SERNA. BUT IT SEEMS THAT PICASSO WAS SO DISGUSTED WITH GONZALEZ DE LA SERNA'S WORK THAT HE TORE THE ILLUSTRATIONS OUT AND INSERTED ARTIST'S PROOFS OF HIS OWN WORK. HE EVEN DREW A MASK ACROSS GONZALEZ DE LA SERNA'S NAME IN THE FRONT OF THE BOOK. THE AQUATINTS REMAINED INSIDE THE BOOK THAT PICASSO GAVE TO MAAR, THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHER AND PAINTER WITH WHOM HE HAD A TEMPESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP IN THE 1930s AND 1940s. THE BOOK BEARS PICASSO'S OWN PARTICULAR DEDICATION TO HIS LOVER, WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN INTERTWINED WITH THAT OF GONGORA. PROF SORIA SAID IT LOOKED AS THOUGH PICASSO HAD DELIBERATELY ADAPTED THE BOOK TO MAKE IT A PRESENT FOR MAAR. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN AMAZED TO FIND PICASSO'S OWN ETCHINGS IN THE BOOK. "IT WAS A VERY EXCITING MOMENT", HE SAID. MOST OF THE ETCHINGS WERE REPRODUCED LATER IN PICASSO'S OWN PERSONAL HOMAGE TO GONGORA, A LIMITED EDITION LIVRE D'ARTISTE HE PUBLISHED IN 1948 IN WHICH HE WROTE OUT OF HAND 20 OF GONGORA'S 16th CENTURY POEMS, HAD THEM TRANSFERRED TO COPPER PLATES AND THEN EMBELLISHED THE MARGINS. THE PROJECT TOOK PICASSO ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE. SORIA, A LITERATURE SPECIALIST, SAID HE WAS WAITING FOR ART HISTORIANS AND PICASSO EXPERTS TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE FIND, WHICH REMAINED SECRET UNTIL RECENTLY.

3.12.09

}{ SUGAR BABY LOVE }{

OBAMA'S DECORATE WHITE HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS SEASON



FOR MOST PEOPLE, A SINGLE CHRISTMAS TREE, A FEW STRANDS OF LIGHTS AND SOME HOLIDAY BAUBLES AND BANGLES ARE ENOUGH. IF YOU'RE THE FIRST FAMILY, HOWEVER, DECKING THE WHITE HOUSE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY WAS ALWAYS GOING TO REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE WORK, 3,400 MAN HOURS TO BE EXACT. THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE ARE CELEBRATING THE FESTIVE SEASON WITH RECYCLED ORNAMENTS, NATURAL MATERIALS, AND OF COURSE A GINGERBREAD WHITE HOUSE. THE 390lb WORK OF CULINARY ART IS COVERED IN WHITE CHOCOLATE AND HAS A MARZIPAN REPLICA OF THE FAMILY DOG, BO. 'REFLECT, REJOICE, RENEW' IS THE THEME FOR THE OBAMA'S FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. SHOWING OFF THE STUNNING DECORATIONS RECENTLY, MRS OBAMA SAID THE THEME WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE HER FAMILY SPENDS THE HOLIDAYS REFLECTING ON ITS BLESSINGS, REJOICING IN THE COMPANY OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND RENEWING THEIR COMMITMENTS TO EACH OTHER AND CAUSES THEY BELIEVE IN. "I WANTED TO CONTINUE THAT PART OF THE TRADITION DURING OUR FIRST HOLIDAY SEASON AT THE WHITE HOUSE", SHE SAID AT AN EVENT WHERE SHE ALSO THANKED MORE THAN 90 VOLUNTEERS FROM 24 STATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE TRANSFORMATION. INSPIRATION FOR THE DECORATIONS CAME FROM THE HOUSE ITSELF, WITH MRS OBAMA CHOOSING TRADITIONAL DECORATIONS TO REFLECT THE ARCHITECTURE AND COLOUR SCHEME OF EACH ROOM OF THE GEORGIAN-STYLE MANSION. NATURAL MATERIALS SUCH AS MAGNOLIA, HYDRANGEA, HONEYSUCKLE VINE AND PEPPER BERRIES DECORATE TREES AND WREATHS IN ROOMS ON THE STATE FLOOR, ALONG WITH DRIED ROOT MATERIALS FROM HER VEGETABLE GARDEN ON THE SOUTH LAWN. THE CENTERPIECE IS IN THE BLUE ROOM: AN 18ft DOUGLAS FIR THAT IS DECORATED WITH HUGE GOLD RIBBONS AND BOWS AND MORE THAN 650 ORNAMENTS FROM PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS, AND IS LIT WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND LED LIGHTS. TWO 15ft FRASER FIR TREES WERE PLACED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MAIN DOORWAY INTO THE BLUE ROOM AND DECORATED WITH REFLECTIVE SHIMMERING GLASS BALLS, CLARET COLOURED BEADED GLASS BRANCHES, RED BOWS, GOLD PINE CONES AND OTHER TRIMMINGS. ANOTHER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PART OF CHRISTMAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE IS THE GINGERBREAD REPLICA OF THE STATELY MANSION. IT TOOK SIX WEEKS FOR EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF BILL YOSSES AND HIS STAFF TO CREATE THE WHITE CHOCOLATE-COVERED GINGERBREAD HOUSE, AS SEEN FROM THE SOUTH PORTICO, WITH GREEN ROYAL ICING WREATHS ADORNING ITS WINDOWS. TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE THIS YEAR ARE MRS OBAMA'S GARDEN, COMPLETE WITH MARZIPAN VEGETABLES, AND A CUTOUT THAT GIVES VIEWERS A LOOK INSIDE THE GINGERBREAD STATE DINING ROOM, WITH A LIT CHANDELIER AND FURNITURE MADE OF DARK CHOCOLATE. MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A TOTAL OF 28 HOLIDAY PARTIES AND OPEN HOUSE THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SCHEDULED THIS MONTH.

INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS SACRED SPAIN: ART AND BELIEF IN THE SPANISH WORLD


EL GRECO'S VISION OF THE VEIL OF VERONICA HANGS NEAR A GOLDEN CROWN WITH 447 EMERALDS. JUST A FEW STEPS AWAY, A RECUMBENT SCULPTURE OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST RESTS BEFORE ITS RETURN TO A SPANISH HERMITAGE IN TIME FOR HOLY WEEK. 'SACRED SPAIN: ART AND BELIEF IN THE SPANISH WORLD' AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART IS DRAWING VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD FOR THE UNPRECEDENTED EXHIBITION OF 71 PIECES FROM 45 LENDERS, MANY OF THEM PRIVATE, IN SPAIN, MEXICO, PERU AND OTHER COUNTRIES. MADRID'S PRADO HAS LOANED FIVE WORKS ALONE. THE FREE EXHIBITION, WHICH CONTINUES THROUGH 3.JANUARY, HAS THRILLED EXPERTS AND OTHER VISITORS ALIKE. FIRST CONCEIVED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO AND MORE THAN THREE YEARS IN DEVELOPMENT, THE EXHIBIT WON'T TRAVEL BEYOND INDIANAPOLIS. MANY PIECES MUST RETURN HOME TO CONVENTS AND PARISHES IN TIME FOR LENTEN OBSERVATIONS TAT BEGIN 17.FEB.2010. OTHERS RARELY GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY AT ALL. A PRIVATE COLLECTOR LOANED THE GOLDEN CROWN OF THE ANDES, ORIGINALLY CAST THREE TO FOUR CENTURIES AGO TO ADORN A STATUE OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN A COLOMBIAN CATHEDRAL. IT'S REPUTED TO BE THE OLDEST AND LARGEST COLLECTION OF EMERALDS IN THE WORLD. THE EXHIBITION DISPLAYS WORKS FROM ONE REGION NEXT TO ANOTHER. IN SOME CASES, THE WORK WAS CREATED IN EUROPE AND SENT TO GROW THE CHURCH IN THE NEW WORLD. IN OTHER CASES, LATIN AMERICAN ART TRAVELED TO SPAIN. THE STUNNING EXHIBITION IS BEING PRESENTED FREE OF CHARGE THROUGH A $1 MILLION GRANT FROM THE INDIANAPOLIS-BASED ALLEN WHITEHALL CLOWES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.imamuseum.org/exhibitions/sacred-spain

CHRISTIE'S, HONG KONG, SELLS VIVID PINK DIAMOND FOR $10.8 MILLION


THE VIVID PINK, A FIVE CARAT POTENTIALLY FLAWLESS PINK DIAMOND, GARNERED $10.8 MILLION, OR A RECORD $2.1 MILLION PER CARAT, AT AUCTION THIS WEEK AT CHRISTIE'S HONK KONG. THE LARGEST FANCY VIVID PINK DIAMOND EVER OFFERED FOR SALE AT AUCTION WAS THE TOP LOT AT CHRISTIE'S FALL 2009 SALE OF MAGNIFICENT JEWELS, WHICH ENDED LAST NIGHT AND FETCHED A TOTAL OF $48 MILLION WITH 89% SOLD BY LOT AND 92% SOLD BY VALUE. 'THE VIVID PINK WAS THE GLITTERING STAR OF CHRISTIE'S HONG KONG, WHERE RECORD PRICES WERE ACHIEVED ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. $2.1 MILLION PER CARAT IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST PRICE ACHIEVED FOR ANY DIAMOND WORLDWIDE', SAID A SPOKESPERSON FOR CHRISTIE'S THE STUNNING GEM, SET BY LONDON-BASED LUXURY JEWELER GRAFF DIAMONDS, WAS SOLD TO AN UNIDENTIFIED ASIAN BUYER. TEH PREVIOUS PER-CARAT RECORD FOR A DIAMOND WAS SET AT SOTHEBY'S IN GENEVA ON 12.MAY, WHEN HONG KONG BILLIONAIRE REAL INVESTOR JOSEPH LAU SCOOPED UP A 7.03 CARAT INTERNALLY FLAWLESS FANCY VIVID BLUE THAT HE NAMED THE STAR OF JOSEPHINE FOR $9.48 MILLION.

2.12.09

GRAND MARNIER 2009 IRRESISTIBLE


ICONIC FRENCH TRIPLE SEC LIQUEUR GRAND MARNIER IS CELEBRATING THE UPCOMING WINTER HOLIDAY SEASON IN HONG KONG WITH A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION OF ITS CORDON ROUGE CALLED IRRESISTIBLE. ADORNED WITH VIVID RED LACQUER, IT IS THE 7th IN AN ANNUAL SERIES RELEASED BY GRAND MARNIER SINCE 2003. THIS YEAR'S THEME CELEBRATES A 'PLAYFULLY INDULGENT' HOLIDAY SEASON WITH ELEGANCE AND A SLIGHTLY UNORTHODOX, YET REFINED ADVENTURE FOR THE TASTE BUDS. GRAND MARNIER HAS BEEN THE LEADING FRENCH LIQUEUR IN EXPORT SALES FOR OVER 25 YEARS, AND IS THE THIRD HIGHEST SELLING LIQUEUR BRAND WORLDWIDE. THE 2009 GRAND MARNIER IRRESISTIBLE IS LIMITED TO 300 BOTTLES IN HONG KONG, AND SELECT HIGH-END BARS AND SPECIALTY OUTLETS FOR A RETAIL PRICE OF HKD308.

V&A OPENS NEW MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE GALLERIES


THE V&A's NEW MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE GALLERIES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY OPENED, HOUSING ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF TREASURES FROM THE PERIOD, INCLUDING THE BECKET CASKET, GOTHIC ALTARPIECES AND THE NOTEBOOK OF LEONARDO DA VINCI. THERE IS ALSO AN OUTSTANDING COLLECTION OF RENAISSANCE SCULPTURE BY ITALIAN MASTERS SUCH AS DONATELLO AND GIAMBOLOGNA. TEN GALLERIES, OCCUPYING AN ENTIRE WING OF THE MUSEUM, WILL FOR THE FIRST TIME PRESENT THE COLLECTIONS IN CONTINUOUS DISPLAYS TO TELL THE STORY OF EUROPEAN ART AND DESIGN FROM THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO THE END OF THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD. THE V&A IS RE-DISPLAYING MORE THAN 1,800 OBJECTS FROM THE PERIODS AD300 TO 1600. THE £30 MILLION MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE GALLERIES ARE THE BIGGEST PROJECT THE V&A HAS UNDERTAKEN SINCE THE BRITISH GALLERIES OPENED IN 2001, THEIR OPENING MARKS THE END OF THE FIRST PHASE OF THE V&A FUTURE PLANS. ARCHITECTS MUMA HAVE DESIGNED THE NEW GALLERIES, RECONFIGURING EXISTING MUSEUM SPACES AND CONSTRUCTING A NEW DAY-LIT GALLERY FROM A PREVIOUSLY UNUSED AREA, USING NINE METER LONG GLASS BEAMS TO CONNECT THE FACADES. THE V&A IS CREATING BEAUTIFUL ANS INNOVATIVE NEW DISPLAYS WHICH PLACE OBJECTS WITHIN THEIR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT. IN THE GALLERY OF RELIGIOUS ARTWORKS, LIGHT WILL FILTER THROUGH TRANSLUCENT ONYX WINDOW SCREENS, SUGGESTING THE USE OF SUCH WINDOWS IN MEDIEVAL CHURCHES. DRAMATIC SCULPTURES BY GIANBOLOGNA AND OTHERS WILL STAND IN THE GALLERY EXPLORING THE RENAISSANCE CITY, NEXT TO TREES AND WATER EVOKING A COURTYARD AND GARDEN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.vam.ac.uk

1.12.09

BONHAMS TO SELL WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST PEARL


BONHAMS & BUTTERFIELDS, LOS ANGELES, WILL BE AUCTIONING OFF WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE THE WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST DOCUMENTED PEARL, A FIVE-POUND GEM FOUND OFF THE COAST OF THE PHILIPPINES THAT HAS BEEN DUBBED THE 'PALAWAN PRINCESS'. THE NATURAL NON-NACREOUS PEARL WAS FOUND IN SALTWATER NEAR THE PHILIPPINES' PALAWAN ISLAND AND 'BEARS AN UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE TO A HUMAN BRAIN', THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID IN A RECENT STATEMENT. BOTH RARE AND IMMENSE, THE GEM IS THOUGHT TO BE SURPASSED IN SIZE ONLY BY THE 14-POUND 'PEARL OF ALLAH', AN APPROXIMATELY 31,893.5 CARAT PEARL THAT WAS ALSO FOUND OFF THE COASTAL WATERS OF THE PHILIPPINES. THE APPROXIMATELY 11,339 CARAT PALAWAN PRINCESS IS A BLISTER PEARL MEASURING SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE LOWER HALF OF ITS ORIGINAL GIANT CLAM SHELL, WHICH SHOWS THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT WHERE THE PEARL FORMED. THE PEARL, WHICH WILL BE ON THE AUCTION BLOCK AT BONHAMS & BUTTERFIELDS' 6.DECEMBER HOLIDAY AUCTION OF NATURAL HISTORY IN LOS ANGELES, IS VALUED AT $300,000 TO $400,000

LOUIS VUITTON CRUISE 2010 SHINE BRACELET



THE NEW SHINE BRACELETS FROM LOUIS VUITTON ARE ONE OF THE KEY ACCESSORIES OF THE LOUIS VUITTON CRUISE 2010 COLLECTION. THE BRACELETS ARE CRAFTED FROM GLOSSY LACQUERED WOOD, WITH INSET ROPE DETAILS AND GOLDEN BRASS NAIL-HEADS WHICH ACCENTUATES THE NAUTICAL SPIRIT OF THE COLLECTION. INSIDE EACH BRACELET IS AN ENGRAVING OF 'CRUISE 2010' TO MARK THE COLLECTION SEASON. THE LOUIS VUITTON SHINE BRACELET COMES IN TWO NAUTICAL COLOURS, INDIGO BLUE AND RED, AND ARE AVAILABLE AT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE FOR $435
stores for $435.

RARE CHINESE VASE MISTAKENLY VALUED AT £375 SELLS AT AUCTION FOR £228,000


A STUNNING COLOURFUL VASE MISTAKENLY VALUED AT JUST £375, BROKE AN AUCTION HOUSE RECORD WHEN IT SOLD FOR A STAGGERING £228,000. THE OWNER SAID THE TINY VASE HAD BEEN IN HER FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS, AND NOBODY THOUGHT IT WAS OF ANY VALUE. BUT THE ANONYMOUS WOMAN FROM CHESTER IS NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS AFTER IT EMERGED THAT IT WAS A RARE 18th CENTURY CHINESE IMPERIAL GILT BRONZE AND CLOISONNE VASE, CRAFTED IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY IN THE STYLE OF MING, BUT MORE THAN A CENTURY AFTER THE DYNASTY ENDED. THE SELLER APPROACHED AUCTION HOUSE BYRNE'S, IN SALTNEY, FLINTSHIRE, NORTH WALES, AFTER A ANTIQUES DEALER EXPRESSED A KEEN INTEREST IN THE STUNNING PIECE. AUCTIONEER ADRIAN BYRNE SAID: 'HE SEEMED SO KEEN THAT SHE WONDERED IF SHE WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING, AND DECIDED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY USEFUL TO HER AT THE TIME, SHE WOULD NOT SELL IT THERE AND THEN. FORTUNATELY, SHE DECIDED TO SEEK A SECOND OPINION AND BROUGHT IT TO US. THE VASE BROKE THE AUCTION HOUSE'S RECORD FOR A SALE, WHEN THE HAMMER FELL AT £228,000. 'ON SALE DAY THERE WERE INTERNET BIDDERS FROM CHINA, TAIWAN AND HONG KONG AND 14 PHONE BIDDERS', SAID BYRNE. ;THEY WERE FROM NEW ZEALAND, BELGIUM, PARIS AND LONDON. WE HAD TO DRAFT PEOPLE TO HANDLE THE CALLS. WHEN I SPOKE TO HER A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE SALE SHE SAID IT HADN'T REALLY SUNK IN YET BUT SHE IS DETERMINED TO KEEP HER FEET ON THE GROUND, ALTHOUGH SHE WILL CERTAINLY BE HAVING A LARGER CHRISTMAS TREE THIS YEAR.' THE VASE WAS PURCHASE BY A LONDON DEALER BIDDING ON THE TELEPHONE WHO ACQUIRED IT FOR A COLLECTOR CLIENT.

SOTHEBY'S 'ROMANOV HEIRLOOMS' SALE TOTALS £7,073,300


FROM A BUSY SALEROOM OPENED TO CAPACITY, WITH TWO BANKS OF 60 PHONE LINES RESERVED TO EXECUTE BIDS ON BEHALF OF POTENTIAL BUYERS, CLIENTS ENTHUSIASTICALLY COMPETED TO ACQUIRE A PIECE OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HISTORY IN SOTHEBY'S, LONDON, SALE OF 'ROMANOV HEIRLOOMS: THE LOST INHERITANCE OF GRAND DUCHESS MARIA PAVLOVNA'. THE AUCTION, WHICH SAW EVERY LOT CONTESTED BY SEVERAL BIDDERS, EXCEEDED ALL PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS (estimate: £600,000-900,000) AND BROUGHT THE OUTSTANDING TOTAL OF £7,073,300. WITH EVERY LOT SOLD, THE AUCTION ACHIEVED THE STATUS OF A 'WHITE GLOVE SALE' AND ALL BUT ONE OF THE LOTS OFFERED FOR THE SUMS IN EXCESS OF THEIR PRE-SALE HIGH ESTIMATES, WITH NEW AUCTION RECORDS BEING ESTABLISHED FOR A FABERGE CIGARETTE CASE AND A PAIR OF FABERGE CUFF-LINKS. COMMENTING ON THE REMARKABLE RESULTS ACHIEVED, A SOTHEBY'S SPOKESPERSON SAID: 'THE EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS OF THE EVENING'S SALE, WHICH WAS RECORD BREAKING IN MANY WAYS, ARE TRIBUTES TO THE EXQUISITE QUALITY, OUTSTANDING PROVENANCE AND ROMANTIC STORY BEHIND THIS REMARKABLE COLLECTION, WHICH HAD BEEN LOST TO POSTERITY FOR ALMOST 90 YEARS UNTIL ITS REDISCOVERY IN SWEDEN EARLIER THIS YEAR.'

THE EXTRAORDINARY PACE AND TONE OF THE AUCTION WAS SET THE MOMENT THE AUCTIONEER OPENED THE BIDDING ON LOT ONE, A SILVER CIGARETTE CASE BEARING AN ENAMELED PORTRAIT OF EMPEROR ALEXANDER II. THE CIGARETTE CASE ATTRACTED SPIRITED BIDDING FROM SEVERAL CLIENTS, QUICKLY DRIVING THE FINAL PRICE PAID TO £46,850, ALMOST TEN TIMES THE HIGH ESTIMATE FOR THE AMAZING PIECE. THE INSTANT BIDDING OPENED FOR LOT TWO, A SILVER AND ENAMEL CIGARETTE CASE FEATURING A PHOTOGRAPH OF GRAND DUCHESS MARIA PAVLOVNA, A CLIENT DOUBLED THE BID TO £20,000, THE CASE FINALLY SOLD FOR £27,500, ALMOST SIX TIMES ITS HIGH ESTIMATE. THE TOP SELLING LOT IN THE SALE WAS A 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY FABERGE IMPERIAL JEWELED FOUR-COLOURED CIGARETTE CASE. WHEN THE CASE SOLD TO A BIDDER IN THE ROOM FOR £612,250, OVER 12 TIMES ITS ESTIMATE, IT ESTABLISHED A NEW AUCTION RECORD FOR A FABERGE CIGARETTE CASE (THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS £433,600, WHICH WAS SET AT SOTHEBY'S IN NOVEMBER 2006). THE TOP SELLING LOT AMONG THE CUFF-LINKS IN THE SALE WAS THE 10th ANNIVERSARY PAIR OF FABERGE JEWELED GOLD CUFF-LINKS, BY FABERGE WORK-MASTER AUGUST HOLMSTROM, SOLD FOR £103,250, MORE THAN 20 TIMES THE HIGH ESTIMATE, SETTING A NEW AUCTION RECORD FOR A PAIR OF CUFF-LINKS (THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS £54,500 AT SOTHEBY'S IN JUNE 2008).

30.11.09

RHODE ISLAND MUSEUMS CONSIDER RELOCATING ANCIENT SARCOPHAGUS


GINA BORROMEO IS WELL VERSED IN ANCIENT ARTIFACTS, BUT ONE RECENT QUESTION FROM A MUSEUM CURATOR CAUGHT HER OFF GUARD: 'DO YOU WANT A SARCOPHAGUS?' AND NOT JUST ANY SARCOPHAGUS. THIS WAS A WHITE COFFIN WITH MARBLE DATING AS FAR BACK AS THE 2nd CENTURY THAT DEPICTED FOLLOWERS OF THE GREEK WINE GOD DIONYSUS. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK FROM EUROPE BY A WEALTHY RHODE ISLAND COUPLE WHO DONATED IT TO THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY AND PLANETARIUM IN 1904. FOR YEARS, THE COFFIN SAT UNCEREMONIOUSLY IN THE LOBBY OF THE BUILDING AT ROGER WILLIAMS PARK. NOW THE CITY-OPERATED MUSEUM WAS SUDDENLY WILLING TO PART WITH IT AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY, DECIDING ITS MISSION WAS SHIFTING MORE AND MORE TOWARD NATURAL HISTORY AND AWAY FROM ART. FOR BORROMEO, THE ANCIENT ART CURATOR FOR THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN MUSEUM OF ART, THE CHANCE TO ACQUIRE THE AMAZING PIECE, FOR FREE, WAS SOMETHING SHE COULDN'T PASS UP.
BUT THE DEAL HIT A SNAG WEDNESDAY LAST, THE DAY THE PIECE WAS TO BE TRANSFERRED BETWEEN MUSEUMS, WHEN PROVIDENCE OFFICIALS POSTPONED THE MOVE SO THEY COULD 'FURTHER REVIEW' THE AGREEMENT. BORROMEO SAID SHE WASN'T SURE WHAT THE CITY'S CONCERN WAS. THE DESIGN SCHOOL'S MUSEUM, RHODE ISLAND'S PRE-EMINENT MUSEUM, HAS SAID IT WANTS TO DISPLAY THE SARCOPHAGUS IN ITS NEW GREEK AND ROMAN ART GALLERIES WHICH ARE OPENING NEXT FALL. IT WOULD JOIN OTHER FUNERARY OBJECTS AND PARTIAL OR FULL SARCOPHAGI AT THE MUSEUM, INCLUDING ONE DATING FROM THE 2nd CENTURY THAT DEPICTS SCENES FROM THE TROJAN WAR. THE GIFT WOULD BE A DOSE OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE MUSEUM AFTER A TOUGH SUMMER, WHEN IT CLOSED FOR AUGUST AS A COST-CUTTING MEASURE. ALSO THAT MONTH, THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCED THE ABRUPT AND UNEXPLAINED RESIGNATION OF POPULAR MUSEUM DIRECTOR HOPE ALSWANG, DRAWING LOUD COMPLAINTS FROM MUSEUM TRUSTEES AND OTHER SUPPORTERS. IF AND WHEN RISD ACQUIRES THE COFFIN, THE PIECE WILL GET MORE ATTENTION TOWARD ITS PRESERVATION AND STUDENTS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO STUDY IT, EVEN AS EXPERTS TRY TO LEARN MORE OF THE STORY BEHIND IT.

29.11.09

GUCCI LAUNCHES 5th ANNUAL CHARITY CAMPAIGN SNOWMAN OF AFRICA


GUCCI HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS FIFTH ANNUAL CHARITY CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT UNICEF. IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS THE LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE HAS RAISED ALMOST $7 MILLION TO SUPPORTS UNICEF'S EFFORTS IN EDUCATION, HEALTH-CARE, PROTECTION AND CLEAN WATER. THIS YEAR'S STUNNING COLLECTION IS INSPIRED BY SNOWMAN IN AFRICA, THE SEQUEL TO THE BEST-SELLING CHILDREN'S BOOK SNOWMAN IN PARADISE. GUCCI WILL ALSO SELL THE BOOKS ALONGSIDE ITS LIMITED EDITION CHARITY ACCESSORIES COLLECTION IN ITS BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE AND ONLINE. 100% OF THE BOOK'S RETAIL PRICE, AND 25% OF THE BAG SALES, WILL BENEFIT UNICEF. THE ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE INCLUDE THE LARGE JOY BAG, AND THE SMALLER COIN PURSE AND WALLET. AS THE NAME OF THE COLLECTION SUGGESTS, THE BAG'S FEATURE AN APPLIQUED SNOWMAN STANDING IN A FIELD OF AFRICAN GRASSES AND WRAPPED BY A NATIVE SNAKE. THE SNOWMAN IN AFRICA COLLECTION WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 31.DECEMBER.

BENTLEY RENOVATES ROUTEMASTER LONDON DOUBLE DECKER BUS FOR CHARITY


THE HOLIDAY SEASON BRINGS OUT THE CHARITABLE AND GENEROUS SPIRIT IN ALL OF US. BENTLEY ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN OVERCOME BY THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT AND SHOWED ITS CHARITABLE SIDE WHEN IT HANDED OVER A LUXURIOUSLY RENOVATED LONDON ROUTEMASTER DOUBLE-DECKER BUS TO THE HOSPICE ST LUKE'S AT ITS CREW HEADQUARTERS. THE HOSPICE ACQUIRED THE BUS IN APRIL AND HAD REQUESTED BENTLEY FOR HELP WITH ITS RENOVATIONS. BENTLEY IMMEDIATELY AGREED AND SET UP TO GIVE THE BUS A WHOLE NEW MAKEOVER. THE PROJECT WAS NO EASY TASK AND REQUIRED THE EFFORTS OF 59 WORKERS AND TOOK AROUND 2,000 HOURS TO COMPLETE. BENTLEY USED HAND STITCHED LEATHER WITH THE ST LUKE'S AND BENTLEY LOGOS WHILE CRAFTSMEN FROM THE FIRM'S WOODSHOP, TOOL ROOM AND MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENTS DEVELOPED CUSTOM-MADE WORK SURFACES, RAILS, KITCHEN UNIT AND SHELVES. THE BUS WILL BE USED BY THE ST LUKE HOSPICE AS A TRAVELING SHOP FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AS WELL AS AN EDUCATION AND AWARENESS BASE TO VISIT SCHOOLS AND OTHER EVENTS.


HEATHER JAMES FINE ART PRESENTS MAJOR PICASSO EXHIBITION


HEATHER JAMES FINE ART IN PALM DESERT, CA, HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AMONG US AND INTERNATIONAL ART COLLECTORS AS ONE OF THE NATION'S PREMIER GALLERIES WITH SHOWS BY MONET, RAUSCHENBERG AND DIVERSE, UP AND COMING YOUNG ARTISTS. RECENTLY IT ANNOUNCED A NEW WORLD-CLASS PICASSO EXHIBITION THAT WILL SURVEY THE MASTER'S PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND SCULPTURES FROM SEVERAL OF HIS MAJOR PERIODS, INCLUDING CUBISM, AND WILL HIGHLIGHT AN IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTION OF 80 PIECES OF PICASSO'S CERAMICS. THE STUNNING WORKS WILL APPEAL TO A WIDE RANGE OF COLLECTORS WITH PRICES FROM $5000 TO $25 MILLION. THE SHOW WILL RUN THROUGH TO 14.MARCH.2010. 'PICASSO WAS AN ARTIST THAT INFLUENCED MULTIPLE GENERATIONS', SAYS CHIP TOM, CURATOR FOR THE HEATHER JAMES FINE ARTS. 'THAT'S DUE NOT ONLY TO HIS BRILLIANCE, BUT ALSO TO HOW LONG HE LIVED AND WORKED. HE WAS AN ARTIST WHO WAS PERSONALLY PUSHING HIS OWN ART TO NEW LEVELS EVERYDAY, EXPERIMENTING WITH DIVERSE GENRES AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES, CHALLENGING HIMSELF TO CREATE IN MANY DIFFERENT MEDIUMS.'
PICASSO, WHO DIED IN 1973 AT THE AGE OF 92, CREATED THOUSANDS OF UNIQUE CERAMICS DURING HIS LIFETIME, MANY MADE IN LIMITED EDITIONS AT THE MADOURA POTTERY FACTORY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. THE CERAMICS, LIKE ALL OF HIS WORK, REFLECT THE ARTIST'S PASSION FOR MYTHOLOGY AND WOMEN. 'THESE PIECES ARE VERY AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL AND TIMES REFLECT PICASSO'S VERY SEXUAL NATURE', SAYS THE OWNER OF THE COLLECTION. 'HE WAS A PROLIFIC PRINT MAKER AND HE SAW THE CLAY AS AN EXTENSION OF HIS ETCHINGS AND PAINTINGS. HE WOULD FIND OBJECTS AND PRESS THEM INTO THE CLAY, HE WOULD ETCH IMAGES INTO THE WET CLAY AND HE WOULD PAINT THE PIECES BEFORE THEY WERE FIRED IN THE KILN. PICASSO MADE THE CERAMICS SO PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD HIS PAINTINGS COULD ENJOY AND BUY HIS ART.' ACCORDING TO THE COLLECTOR, THE STANDOUT PIECE OF THE EXHIBIT, AND IN PICASSO'S CERAMIC UNIVERSE' IS A GRAND WHITE VASE WITH FOUR PANELS THAT PICASSO DESIGNED AND SUPERVISED THE MAKING OF HIMSELF. FROM AN EDITION OF 25, THE VASE REVEALS ICONIC IMAGERY THAT HE LOVED AND REPEATED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFETIME, WITH A DIFFERENT IMAGE ETCHED ON EACH OF ITS FOUR SIDES; A POWERFUL SMILING SUN, A HUMAN FACE, AND WOMAN FRONT AND BACK - HER SEX AND BELLY BUTTON ON THE FRONT, HER BUTTOCKS ON THE BACKSIDE. PICASSO TRULY LOVED TO DO THE CERAMICS BECAUSE THEY GAVE PEOPLE A TACTILE EXPERIENCE, NOT LIKE PAINTINGS.