9.1.10

ASH STYMEST FOR METAL #17 ISSUE

ASH STYMEST FOR METAL #17 ISSUE from revista metal on Vimeo.

FORMER ROYAL YACHT TO BE DISPLAYED PERMANENTLY IN SCOTLAND


A RACE-WINNING YACHT FORMERLY OWNED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS TO BE PERMANENTLY DISPLAYED IS SCOTLAND. 'BLOODHOUND' WILL GO ON DISPLAY IN EDINBURGH BESIDE THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA. THE RACING YACHT, NOW MORE THAN 70 YEARS OLD, HAD A MAJOR REFIT IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE IT HAD FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR. THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA TRUST BOUGHT 'BLOODHOUND' RECENTLY AND IS EXPECTED TO UNVEIL IT TO THE PUBLIC IN APRIL. BUILT IN 1936 AT THE CAMPER AND NICHOLSONS YARD IN GOSPORT, HAMPSHIRE, 'BLOODHOUND' IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OCEAN-GOING RACING YACHTS. SHE WON SCORES OF RACES IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND AND CROSSED THE ATLANTIC TO COMPETE IN BERMUDA. THE ROYAL FAMILY BOUGHT IN 1962 AND PRINCE PHILIP SUCCESSFULLY COMPETED WITH HER AT THE COWES WEEK REGATTA AROUND THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 'BLOODHOUND' ALSO ACCOMPANIED BRITANNIA IN THE WESTERN ISLES ON ROYAL HOLIDAYS AND THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE PRINCESS ROYAL LEARNED TO SAIL ON HER BEFORE BEING SOLD IN 1969. 'BLOODHOUND' COMPETED AT VARIOUS POINTS IN HER HISTORY UNTIL 2001 BUT THEN FELL INTO 'CONSIDERABLE DISREPAIR'. CLASSIC YACHT RESTORER TONY MCGRAIL BOUGHT 'BLOODHOUND' IN 2003 AND REFURBISHED IT OVER THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF YEARS. CHAIRMAN OF THE ROYAL BRITANNIA TRUST, REAR ADMIRAL NEIL RANKIN, SAID: 'WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE ACQUIRED SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF BRITISH YACHTING HISTORY AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING 'BLOODHOUND' ALONGSIDE BRITANNIA ONCE MORE, FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHAT A WONDERFUL OCEAN-RACING YACHT SHE IS AND WHY SHE WAS SO FONDLY REGARDED BY ALL ASSOCIATED WITH HER ILLUSTRIOUS PAST.'

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY PRESENTS LADY JANE GREY EXHIBITION


LADY JANE GREY WAS NOMINAL QUEEN OF ENGLAND FOR JUST NINE DAYS IN 1553 AS PART OF AN UNSUCCESSFUL BID TO PREVENT THE ACCESSION OF THE CATHOLIC MARY TUDOR. A STUNNING NEW EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON, CHARTS THE POSTHUMOUS ICONOGRAPHY OF LADY JANE GREY AND EXPLORES HOW WORKS IN PRINT PROMOTED HER AS AN ARCHETYPAL PROTESTANT HEROINE AND MARTYR. IT IS NOT KNOWN FOR CERTAIN WHETHER A PORTRAIT OF LADY JANE GREY WAS PAINTED DURING HER LIFETIME. GIVEN THAT LADY JANE GREY CAME TO PROMINENCE ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD BEFORE HER DEATH (FROM JULY 1553 TO FEBRUARY 1554), THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY A SMALL WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IN WHICH A PORTRAIT FROM THE LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN PAINTED. THE REIGN AND EXECUTION OF THE 'NINE DAYS QUEEN' SEEMS NOT TO HAVE MADE A CONSIDERABLE IMPACT ON THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE DAY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE TURN OF THE 17th CENTURY THAT A CULTURE OF PRODUCING POSTHUMOUS PORTRAIT OF LADY JANE GREY DEVELOPED. THE EXHIBITION OF TWENTY PRINTS FROM THE ARCHIVE COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY INCLUDES DER PASSES'S INFLUENTIAL ENGRAVING FOR HENRY HOLLAND'S HEROOLOGIA, AND PRINTS OF SENTIMENTAL HISTORY PAINTINGS, POPULAR IN THE 19th CENTURY. A POSTHUMOUS PORTRAIT OF LADY JANE GREY, ACQUIRED BY THE GALLERY IN 2006, HANGS IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE DISPLAY.

LADY JANE DUDLEY (nee GREY) (1537-1554) WAS THE GRAND-DAUGHTER OF HENRY VIII's SISTER PRINCESS MARY, AND IN 1553 MARRIED LORD GUILDFORD DUDLEY, SON OF THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. UNDER NORTHUMBERLAND'S INFLUENCE EDWARD VI WILED HER THE CROWN. SHE WAS PROCLAIMED QUEEN AT HIS DEATH IN JULY 1553, AND REIGNED FOR AROUND NINE DAYS UNTIL IMPRISONED BY SUPPORTERS OF MARY TUDOR. SHE WAS EXECUTED AT THE AGE OF 16 IN THE AFTERMATH WYATT'S REBELLION.

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL MONUMENTAL GIACOMETTI SCULPTURE


SOTHEBY'S, LONDON, HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT AN IMPORTANT, MONUMENTAL ALBERTO GIACOMETTI SCULPTURE, L'HOMME QUI MARCHE I, WILL BE OFFERED AS PART OF ITS EVENING SALE OF IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART ON 3.FEBRUARY. THE WORK, CAST IN 1961, IS THE LARGEST GIACOMETTI 'WALKING MAN' TO HIT THE AUCTION BLOCK IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND THE FIRST LIFE-TIME CAST OF THE SUBJECT EVER TO BE OFFERED AT AUCTION. IT IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £12–18 MILLION ($19–29 MILLION). THE SCULPTURE ORIGINATED AS PART OF A PUBLIC PROJECT THE ARTIST WAS COMMISSIONED TO DO FOR THE CHASE MANHATTAN PLAZA IN NEW YORK. THE PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED AS THE FIRST MODERNIST OUTDOOR PROJECT IN THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT, AND GIACOMETTI WAS CHOSEN OVER ALEXANDER CALDER AND ISAMU NOGUCHI. GIACOMETTI EXECUTED SEVERAL FIGURES FOR THE PROJECT BEFORE HE DECIDED IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO COMPLETE AND ABANDONED IT. THE WALKING MAN WENT ON TO BECOME AN ICONIC FIGURE FOR HIM, THOUGH, AND HE CREATED SEVERAL VERSIONS, ONE OF WHICH WAS SHOWN AT THE VENICE BIENNALE IN 1962. THE SCULPTURE COMES FROM THE CORPORATE COLLECTION OF GERMANY'S COMMERZBANK, WHICH ACQUIRED IT IN ITS TAKEOVER OF DRESDNER BANK IN 2009. DRESDNER BANK ACQUIRED IT AROUND 1980. A HUNDRED OR SO ADDITIONAL WORKS FROM THE DRESDNER BANK COLLECTION WILL BE PERMANENTLY LOANED TO MUSEUMS IN FRANKFURT, DRESDEN, AND BERLIN. LAST NOVEMBER, ANOTHER GIACOMETTI CAME TO MARKET, AT SOTHEBY'S NEW YORK. L'HOMME QUI CHAVIRE (FALLING MAN), CONCEIVED IN 1950 AND CAST 1951, WAS THE IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART EVENING SALE'S TOP LOT, ATTRACTING SEVERAL ENTHUSIASTIC BIDDERS AND ULTIMATELY SELLING FOR $19,346,500, SOARING PST PRE-SALES ESTIMATES OF $8-12 MILLION. IT WAS THE ONLY CAST IN THE EDITION HAND-PAINTED BY GIACOMETTI. L'HOMME QUI MARCHE I WILL BE ON VIEW AT SOTHEBY'S NEW YORK GALLERIES 20-22.JANUARY.

8.1.10

VISCOUNT LINLEY DESIGNS LUXURY WHISKEY FOR MACALLAN


MACALLAN RECENTLY UNVEILED AN EXQUISITE ONE OF A KIND $90,000 WHISKEY CABINET HANDCRAFTED FROM ENGLISH BURR OAK, CREATED BY LUXURY FURNITURE MAKER VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY, WHO IS ALSO THE SON OF PRINCESS MARGARET, WHICH WAS PRODUCED SOLELY FOR HARRODS, LONDON, AND CONTAINS SIX BOTTLES OF RARE VINTAGE MACALLAN MALT WHISKEY FROM FAMED SPEYSIDE DISTILLERY: 1937, 1940, 1948, 1955, 1966 AND 1970. THE STUNNING UNIQUE CABINET ALSO INCLUDES SIX LINLEY CRYSTAL TUMBLERS AS WELL AS A CIGAR HUMIDOR.

ANYA HINDMARCH TO DESIGN FOR BARBOUR


LUXURY ACCESSORIES DESIGNER ANYA HINDMARCH, WHOSE CELEBRITY FOLLOWERS INCLUDE SCARLETT JOHANSSON, MADONNA AND CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO DESIGN A NEW COLLECTION OF JACKETS FOR THE ICONIC BRITISH OUTERWEAR COMPANY BARBOUR. 'IT WAS FASCINATING WORKING IN THEIR HISTORIC ARCHIVES, SEEING THE BARBOUR STORIES BEHIND SOME OF THE COATS FROM EXPLORERS, MILITARY MEN AND HEROINES', HINDMARCH TOLD VOGUE UK IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. 'WE HAVE RESPECTED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN BUT PLAYED WITH THE CUT, FIT AND DETAILS. IT HAS BEEN FUN TO ADD A LITTLE ANYA HINDMARCH STYLE TO SUCH AN ICONIC BRITISH BRAND.' THE CAPSULE COLLECTION OF FOUR PIECES WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS AUTUMN FROM THE DESIGNER'S STANDALONE BOUTIQUES AS WELL AS SELECTED BARBOUR RETAILERS WORLDWIDE. BARBOUR, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1894, HOLD ROYAL WARRANTS FROM HM QUEEN ELIZABETH II, HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, AND HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES.

THE SMITHSONIAN CELEBRATES ELVIS PRESLEY'S 75th BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY


ON THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S BIRTH, THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION IS SHOWCASING THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL'S UBIQUITOUS IMAGE THROUGH EXHIBITS OPENING 8.JANUARY IN WASHINGTON AND LOS ANGELES. 'ONE LIFE: ECHOES OF ELVIS' WILL BE ON VIEW AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IN WASHINGTON THROUGH AUGUST. THE ONE-ROOM EXHIBIT IS DEVOTED TO THE EVOLUTION AND INFLUENCE OF PRESLEY'S IMAGE AFTER HIS DEATH. THE EXHIBIT FEATURES PORTRAITS, IMAGES FROM GRACELAND, ELVIS MERCHANDISE AND A REMINDER THAT ELVIS' MANAGER PUT HIS FACE ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING THAT COULD BE MARKETED. THE COMMERCIAL IMAGES INCLUDE AN ELVIS-IMPRINTED LUNCH BOX, NUTCRACKER, ACTION FIGURE AND SNOW GLOBE. ORIGINAL ARTWORK FROM THE 1992 ELVIS STAMP DESIGN COMPETITION IS ON VIEW, ALONG WITH THE 1993 STAMP WITH PRESLEY'S LIKENESS THAT BECAME THE MOST POPULAR US POSTAL STAMP OF ALL TIME, WITH A PRINTING OF OVER 500 MILLION. A GOLD BUST OF ELVIS AS JULIUS CAESAR BY SCULPTOR ROBERT ARNESON ANCHORS ANOTHER WALL. A MUSEUM DOCENT RECENTLY DISCOVERED A SURPRISE IN THE SCULPTURE THAT HAD BEEN IN STORAGE AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S HIRSHHORN MUSEUM; A SMALL HEART WAS CARVED IN THE BACK. PRESLEY SAT FOR ONLY ONE PORTRAIT PAINTER. A PAINTING BY RALPH WOLFE COWAN, USUALLY ON DISPLAY IN THE GALLERY'S ENTERTAINMENT SECTION, IS THE EXHIBIT'S CENTRAL IMAGE. IT WAS COMPLETED FROM SKETCHES COWAN MADE IN 1969 WHILE CREATING ANOTHER PORTRAIT THAT HANGS IN GRACELAND. IN LOS ANGELES, THE GRAMMY MUSEUM IS OPENING THE SMITHSONIAN'S TRAVELING EXHIBIT, 'ELVIS AT 21: PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALFRED WERTHEIMER'. THE PHOTOJOURNALIST WAS HIRED TO SHOOT PROMOTIONAL IMAGES OF THE RECORDING ARTIST JUST BEFORE ELVIS MADE IT BIG. THE SHOW FEATURES 56 OF WERTHEIMER'S IMAGES FROM 1956 WILL TOUR THE COUNTRY THROUGH 2013 WITH STOPS THIS YEAR IN BOCA RATON, FLA., AND WINCHESTER, VA. IT WILL BE OPEN IN WASHINGTON ON 30.OCTOBER.2010.

WENDY RICHARD'S WARDROBE TO BE SOLD FOR CHARITY AT SELFRIDGES


THE RENOWNED LONDON DEPARTMENT STORE, SELFRIDGES, WILL RECREATE 'ARE YOU BEING SERVED?', IN A ONE-DAY CHARITY SALE OF THE WARDROBE OF THE LATE WENDY RICHARD MBE, THE ACTRESS WHO PLAYED MISS BRAHMS IN THE MUCH-LOVED BBC SITCOM. THE SALE, 'YOU ARE BEING SERVED AGAIN', WILL BE HELD AT SELFRIDGES, OXFORD STREET, LONDON, ON THE MORNING OF 18.JANUARY, IN AID OF THE LADY TAVERNERS, THE CHARITY WHICH PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS A CHANCE. WENDY'S SHOW-BUSINESS FRIENDS INCLUDING EX-EASTENDER, NATALIE CASSIDY, JUNE 'DOT COTTON' BROWN, AND NICHOLAS SMITH, WHO PLAYED MR RUMBOLD IN 'ARE YOU BEING SERVED?', WILL HELP TO SELL THE HUNDREDS OF DESIGNER OUTFITS, SHOES, HANDBAGS AND ACCESSORIES WENDY LOVED THROUGHOUT HER LIFE FROM DESIGNERS INCLUDING CHANEL, YSL AND GUCCI. SHE LOVED SHOPPING AND CONSIDERED SELFRIDGES AS 'HER CORNER SHOP'. SALLY SCOTT, SELFRIDGES' DIRECTOR OF MARKETING SAID: 'THERE ARE FEW TELEVISION SERIES THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AS 'ARE YOU BEING SERVED?'. WHILST SELFRIDGES MAY BE A LITTLE MORE MODERN THAN GRACE BROTHERS, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WELCOMING THE CHARACTERS, RE-CREATING THE SET AND RAISING MONIES FOR THE LADY TAVERNERS'. JOHN BURNS, WEDY RICHARD'S WIDOWER, SAID: 'IT WILL BE GREAT TO SEE WENDY'S BELONGINGS AT SELFRIDGES IN SUPPORT OF A CAUSE. I DECIDED THIS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY FOR WENDY TO HELP THE LADY TAVERNERS. WENDY CONSIDERED SELFRIDGES HER CORNER SHOP AND WOULD HAVE BEEN THRILLED WITH THE 'ARE YOU BEING SERVED?' THEME.' WENDY'S DRESS, SUITS AND JACKETS ARE A MIX OF SIZE 12 AND SIZE 14, AND HER SHOES ARE IN 5 AND 6.

7.1.10

CREED RELEASES NEW LIMITED EDITION FRAGRANCE CREED WINDSOR


LUXURY PERFUMER CREED OF PARIS, FOUNDED IN 1760, HAS DECIDED TO OFFER AN EXTREMELY LIMITED QUANTITY OF A SPECIAL COLOGNE CREATED FOR KING EDWARD VIII IN 1936 FOR HIS ASCENSION TO THE THRONE TO THE PUBLIC. NAMED WINDSOR, THE EXCLUSIVE SCENT IS MADE FROM INGREDIENTS GROWN IN GREAT BRITAIN, AND CAN BE SEEN AS A SORT OF OLFACTORY TOUR OF THE COLONIES EDWARD ONCE RULED DURING HIS BRIEF REIGN AS KING. AS SUBTLY ELEGANT AS AN ENGLISH SUIT, ITS TOP NOTES ARE BRITISH GIN, JAMAICAN LIME AND A TOUCH OF SCOTTISH HIGHLAND PINE; THE MIDDLE NOTE THE VARIETY OF NUITS DE YOUNG ROSES NOW KNOWN AS THE DUKE OF WINDSOR; AND THE BOTTOM NOTES BAHAMIAN ORANGE, CANADIAN CEDAR AND A DAB OF AUSTRALIAN EUCALYPTUS. WINDSOR IS PRESENTED IN A SHATTERPROOF 1.7oz LEATHER-WRAPPED BOTTLE NUMBERED BY LASER AND SIGNED BY SIXTH-GENERATION MASTER PERFUMER OLIVIER CREED. ONLY 350 BOTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR AN ESTIMATED $400.

LONDON JEWISH MUSEUM OF ART DISPLAYS RARE AND UNSEEN CHAGALL MASTERPIECE


BEN YURI, THE LONDON JEWISH MUSEUM OF ART KICK-STARTED THEIR SEARCH FOR A NEW 20,000sqft BUILDING IN THE HEART OF CENTRAL LONDON WITH AN EXHIBITION DEMONSTRATING THE WEALTH AND DEPTH OF THE BU COLLECTION, INCLUDING THE UNVEILING OF A RARE AND UNSEEN MASTERPIECE BY MARC CHAGALL. BEN URI WAS INVITED BY OSBORNE SAMUEL TO LAUNCH THEIR 2010 EXHIBITION PROGRAM AT THEIR GALLERY IN MAYFAIR BUT THE EXHIBITION AND CATALOG HAD TO CHANGE WITH THE ACQUISITION OF THE LOST MASTERPIECE. 'APOCALYPSE EN LILAS, CAPRICCIO' IS CHAGALL'S PRIVATE RESPONSE TO THE END OF THE WAR, THE HOLOCAUST AND HIS WIFE BELLA'S DEATH, MOST LIKELY PAINTED IN MARCH/APRIL 1945. THE WORK HAS NEVER BEEN RECORDED OUTSIDE THE ARCHIVES AND NEVER EXHIBITED OR PUBLISHED TILL NOW. IT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AS PART OF THE APOCALYPSE EXHIBITION 8-31.JANUARY.
CHAIRMAN DAVID GLASSER SAID: 'THIS PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN WORK IS CHAGALL'S DEEPLY PERSONAL EXPRESSION OF HORROR AND MOURNING FOR THE JEWISH CIVILIZATION ALMOST WIPED OUT BY THE NAZIS ALONGSIDE AND MERGED WITH GRIEF FOR HIS LATE WIFE BELLA WHO DIED 8 MONTHS EARLIER. THE NEWS OF THE MASS GENOCIDE POURING THROUGH THE MEDIA ON THE DEFEAT OF THE NAZIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE STIMULUS TO BRING CHAGALL BACK TO HIS EASEL AFTER 8 MONTHS OF MOURNING. IF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND LONDON IN GENERAL EVER NEEDED A REASON TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE CENTRAL LONDON BUILDING FOR ITS EXTRAORDINARY JEWISH MUSEUM OF ART WITH ITS EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTION THEN SURELY THIS CHAGALL IS SURELY IT.'

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY UNVEILS PORTRAIT OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCE HARRY



A HISTORIC DUAL PORTRAIT OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCE HARRY, WHICH SHOWS THE ROYAL BROTHERS IN MILITARY UNIFORM, HAS BEEN RECENTLY UNVEILED AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY. WILLIAM AND HARRY, ARE DEPICTED 'IN CONVERSATION' WEARING THE FORMAL DRESS UNIFORM OF THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY'S BLUES AND ROYALS DURING AN IMAGINED MOMENT JUST BEFORE THEY LEAVE CLARENCE HOUSE TO TAKE PART IN THE 2008 TROOPING THE COLOUR CEREMONY. SANDY NAIRNE, DIRECTOR OF THE GALLERY WHICH COMMISSIONED THE ARTWORK, SAID THE ROYALS HAD SEEN THE DOUBLE PORTRAIT PRIVATELY BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND WERE 'VERY PLEASED' WITH THE WORK OF ARTIST NICKY PHILIPPS. THE PRINCES ARE CAPTURED WEARING THEIR HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY DRESS UNIFORMS, EACH WEARING THEIR QUEEN'S JUBILEE MEDAL. WHILE HARRY WEARS HIS AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WILLIAM SPORTS HIS BLUE SASH AND STAR OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER. PHILIPPS, WHO SPENT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS PAINTING THE ROYAL BROTHERS DURING FIVE SITTINGS WHICH BEGAN IN AUGUST 2008, SAID: 'I WANTED TO CAPTURE JUST WHAT WAS THERE IN FRONT OF ME, TO BE HONEST.' THE SECOND IN LINE TO THE THRONE IS PAINTED IN A CASUAL POSE LEANING AGAINST A DOORWAY IN CLARENCE HOUSE'S LIBRARY WHILE HIS YOUNGER SIBLING IS SEATED CLOSE BY AND SHOWN IN PROFILE. HARRY HAS A HINT OF A SMILE AND HAS HIS RIGHT HAND ON HIS LEG AND HOLDS A PAIR OF WHITE GLOVES IN THE OTHER. HIS BROTHER LOOKS TOWARDS HIM AND HOLDS HIS SWORD HILT IN HIS LEFT HAND AND HIS MILITARY CAP AND GLOVES IN THE OTHER. PHILIPPS WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY PAINTED A COMPOSITION OF BEST SELLING AUTHOR KEN FOLLETT, SAID SHE WAS MASSIVELY LUCKY TO GET THE COMMISSION.

6.1.10

NEW QUEEN ELIZABETH TAKES TO THE WAVES FOR FIRST TIME


A NEW QUEEN ELIZABETH IS SET TO RULE THE WAVES OF THE OCEANS. TOWERING OVER THE QUAYSIDE AND STILL CLUTTERED WITH SCAFFOLDING AND OTHER SIGNS OF CONSTRUCTION THE LATEST ADDITION AND THIRD AND BIGGEST OCEAN LINER TO BEAR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH TOOK TO THE WATERS FOR THE FIRST TIME RECENTLY. BUT, THERE'S AT LEAST ANOTHER NINE MONTHS OF FITTING OUT BEFORE THE QUEEN ELIZABETH WILL SET SAIL ON HER MAIDEN VOYAGE FROM SOUTHAMPTON. THE £365 MILLION LINER, WHICH IS BEING CONSTRUCTED AT THE FINCANTERI SHIPYARD, NEAR TRIESTE IN ITALY, IS REPLACING THE QE2, BUT SHE WILL NOT BE REFERRED TO AS THE QE3. INSTEAD IT IS HOPED THE NEW SHIP WILL RECALL THE 1930s OPULENCE OF THE ORIGINAL QUEEN ELIZABETH. SHE WILL CARRY THE SAME ROYAL STANDARD THAT QUEEN ELIZABETH, LATER THE QUEEN MOTHER PRESENTED WHEN SHE LAUNCHED THE ORIGINAL IN 1938. AT 92,000 TONS, THE NEW SHIP IS 20,000 BIGGER THAN THE RECENTLY RETIRES QE2 AND 10,000 TONS BIGGER THAN THE FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH. SHE IS THE THIRD LUXURY SHIP TO BE LAUNCHED BY CUNARD IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AND WILL SERVE AS A SISTER SHIP TO THE QUEEN VICTORIA AND QUEEN MARY 2, CUNARD'S FLAGSHIP AT AN ENORMOUS 148,000 TONS. DESPITE THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE THE COMPANY BELIEVES THERE IS A STRONG DEMAND FOR CRUISES, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE OLDER GENERATION. THE SHIP, WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 2,092 GUEST, WILL ALSO HAVE A WEST END-STYLE THEATER WITH PRIVATE BOXES. THE LINER'S INTERIOR WILL BOAST WHAT THE COMPANY DESCRIBES AS AN 'ART DECO FLOURISH'. PRICES FOR A TWO-WEEK VOYAGE START AT £1,099 FOR A STANDARD ROOM AND CAN REACH £3,699 FOR THE MOST LUXURIOUS QUEENS GRILL SUITES, WHICH OFFER THEIR OWN BUTLER AND PRIVATE ENTRANCE. CUNARD CEO PETER SHANKS SAID: 'OF OUR 170 YEARS OF HISTORY THERE HAS BEEN AN ELIZABETH IN THE FLEET FOR OVER 70 YEARS AND THIS SHIP WILL TAKE THE NAME FAR INTO THE 21st CENTURY.'

CHRISTIE'S TO SELL RARE SKULL FROM SKULL AND BONES SOCIETY


A UNIQUE HUMAN SKULL THAT ONCE APPARENTLY BELONGED TO YALE'S MYSTERIOUS 'SKULL AND BONES' SOCIETY IS BEING SOLD AT AN UPCOMING AUCTION. CHRISTIE'S, NEW YORK, BELIEVES THE SKULL WAS USED AS A BALLOT BOX AROUND 1872. IT HAS A HINGED TOP AND IS SURROUNDED BY CROSSBONES. SKULL AND BONES WAS FOUNDED IN 1832. THE ELITE SOCIETY HAS CLOSELY GUARDED ITS MEMBERS' NAMES AND ITS ACTIVITIES SINCE THE EARLY 1970s. PUBLICLY KNOWN MEMBERS INCLUDE BOTH PRESIDENTS BUSH. THE PURCHASER ALSO WILL GET A BLACK BOOK WITH NAMES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF EARLIER MEMBERS. THE AUCTION IS 27.JANUARY AND TE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE IS $10,000 TO $20,000. FITTINGLY, CHRISTIE'S HAS AGREED TO KEEP THE SELLER'S NAME A SECRET. IT DESCRIBES THE PERSON ONLY AS A EUROPEAN ART COLLECTOR.

WOMAN ORDERS £100,000 CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES BY MISTAKE


AN UNSUSPECTING SHOPPER ACCIDENTALLY BOUGHT A BOX OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES IN THE WORLD. MARJORIE MCLEOD THOUGHT SHE WAS PURCHASING A BOX OF LUXURY CHOCOLATES FOR £21.50 FROM SCOTTISH CHOCOLATIERS COCOA MOUNTAIN, BUT WAS ACTUALLY ORDERING THE LAST BOX OF TRUFFLES FOR £100,000. SHE PURCHASED THE CHOCOLATES ONLINE AND DIDN'T LOOK AT THE PRICE AS HER CREDIT CARD PAYMENT WENT THROUGH, AND WHEN BRITAIN'S MOST REMOTE CHOCOLATE MAKERS GAVE HER A CALL TO LET HER KNOW SHE'S BOUGHT THE £5,000 EACH TRUFFLES COLLECTION SHE GOT THE SHOCK OF HER LIFE. THE COMPANY WAS FLOODED WITH ORDERS FOR THEIR UNUSUALLY DELICIOUS TREATS THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON AND WERE SO SNOWED UNDER THEY DECIDED TO STOP MAKING ANY MORE, SELLING THE LAST AND FINAL BOX FOR BIG BUCKS. BUT UNSUSPECTING MCLEOD JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS SECURING A FESTIVE FEAST FOR HER FAMILY. JAMES FINDLAY, ONE OF THE OWNERS WHO RUN THE BUSINESS FROM AN OLD RAF CAMP NEAR CAPE WRATH, SAID: 'MRS MCLEOD MADE A GENUINE MISTAKE AND WE WILL NOT BE PROCESSING HER PAYMENT. WE HAVE REASSURED HER THAT SHE WILL NOT HAVE TO SELL HER HOME OR GET A MORTGAGE TO PAY FOR THE TRUFFLES. MCLEOD HAD CHOSEN A BOX INCLUDING THE EXOTIC FLAVOURS ORANGE AND GERANIUM, CHAMPAGNE, LIME, CHILI LEMON GRASS AND STRAWBERRY AND BLACK PEPPER. BUT SHE WASN'T PREPARED TO PAY THE HIGH PRICE TAG FOR THE TREATS, SAYING: 'I KNEW THEY WERE GOOD BUT NOT THAT GOOD.' AMONGST THE COMPANY'S BARRAGE OF ORDERS THIS YEAR WERE A MIDDLE EASTERN ROYAL FAMILY WHO ACQUIRED 16 BOXES FOR A CHRISTMAS HIGHLAND SHOOT.

5.1.10

THE VATICAN'S SECRET ARCHIVES OPENED FOR NEW BOOK


THE VATICAN'S SECRET ARCHIVES HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF LEGEND AND LORE FOR CENTURIES AND HAVE SPAWNED THE CREATION OF BOOKS AND NOVELS. NOW A SELECTION OF THE VATICAN'S DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED IN A STUNNING NEW BOOK, 'THE VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVES'. THE 252 PAGE BOOK IS FULL OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND REPRESENTS A CHRONOLOGICAL JOURNEY THROUGH THE MEANDERING HISTORY OF THE PAST SEVERAL CENTURIES OF THE VATICAN WITH THE LIBER DIURNUS ROMANORUM PONTIFICUM, AN OLD BOOK CONTAINING FORMULAS IN USE BY THE PAPAL CHANCELLERY DATING BACK TO THE END OF THE 8th CENTURY. OTHER DOCUMENTS INCLUDE A LETTER FROM MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS TO POPE SIXTUS V, A LETTER FROM PIUS X TO HITLER, AND VARIOUS WORKS FROM SAINTS INCLUDING ST TERESA OF AVILA. THERE IS A SPECIAL EDITION VERSION OF 33 BOOKS WHICH ARE HAND-BOUND IN THE STUDIO OF THE VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVES. THE COLLECTORS VERSION OF THE BOOK WILL BE PRINTED ON FELT AND HAND STITCHED WITH LEATHER TIES, EACH WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED, STAMPED AND CERTIFIED AND WILL SELL FOR ABOUT $2,500. A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE PRINTER VDH BOOKS STATES THAT THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY OF PAYING A UNIQUE VISIT TO THE VATICAN SECRET ARCHIVES FOR THE LUCKY 33 BUYERS.

TOKYO BOUTIQUE ROBBED OF $3.2 MILLION WORTH OF WATCHES


SOME 200 LUXURY DESIGNER WATCHES, INCLUDING ROLEX AND CARTIER, WORTH AN ESTIMATED 300 MILLION YEN ($3.2 MILLION) WERE LOOTED FROM AN UNMONITORED AREA OF A BOUTIQUE IN TOKYO'S OPULENT GINZA DISTRICT, SIGNALING AN INSIDE, JOB POLICE SAID. A HOLE HAD BEEN BORED EARLY SATURDAY IN A FIRST-STORY WALL OF A NINE-STORY BUILDING WHICH HOUSES THE TENSHODO STORE, LEADING TO A STAIRCASE TO THE STORE'S BASEMENT WHERE THE WATCHES WERE STORES, POLICE SAID. SECURITY CAMERAS RECORDED TWO INTRUDERS WITH FLASHLIGHTS AROUND 4:50am SATURDAY, BUT THE INFRARED SENSORS IN THE BASEMENT DID NOT GO OFF. POLICE SAID SENSORS DID NOT MONITOR THE AREA WITH THE BROKEN SHOWCASES. AN EMPLOYEE DISCOVERED THE BREAK-IN WHEN HE REPORTED FOR WORK EARLY.

LUXEMBOURG MUSEUM TO CLOSE


THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CLOSE THE MUSEE DU LUXEMBOURG IN PARIS, WHICH SHARES SPACE IN THE LUXEMBOURG PALACE WITH THE FRENCH SENATE, AFTER ITS CURRENT EXHIBITION OF TIFFANY GLASS CLOSES ON 17.JANUARY. THE MOVE WILL CUT 25 FULL-TIME AND 75 PART-TIME POSITIONS. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE FRENCH SENATE DISAGREED WITH MUSEUM MANAGERS ABOUT SHARING PROFITS FROM THE PROJECT WITH SVO, THE PRIVATE COMPANY THAT MANAGES THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 5.5 MILLION VISITORS WITH SHOWS COVERING MODIGLIANI, BOTTICELLI, AND SELECTIONS FROM THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION OF WASHINGTON DC SINCE IT WAS TURNED OVER TO SVO. THE SUDDEN CLOSURE OF THE MUSEUM MEANS THAT TWO PLANNED EXHIBITIONS, ONE ENTITLED 'BOATS AND THE IMPRESSIONISTS', HAVE BEEN CANCELED.

LOUIS VUITTON INTRODUCES THREE NEW VERNI COLOURS FOR SPRING 2010


FOR THE SPRING 2010 COLLECTION LOUIS VUITTON WILL BE RELEASING THREE NEW VERNIS COLOURS WHICH WERE INSPIRED BY ART MOVEMENTS THROUGH THE AGES; ROSE FLORENTINE, VERT IMPRESSION, AND GRIS ART DECO. DUE TO BE RELEASED IN MID-JANUARY AT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE, BAGS, WALLETS, SMALL LEATHER GOODS AND SHOES WILL SPORT THE SUBTLE YET SOPHISTICATED COLOURS. ROSE FLORENTINE IS A SHADE OF PALE PASTEL PINK AND REFLECTS THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD, A CULTURAL MOVEMENT THAT STARTED IN FLORENCE. VERT IMPRESSION HAS BEN INSPIRED BY IMPRESSIONISM, AN ART MOVEMENT THAT SEEKS TO CAPTURE A FEELING RATHER THAN ACCURATE DEPICTION. THE GRIS ART DECO ON THE OTHER HAND REFLECTS THE ART DECO STYLE OF THE 1920s. THE NEW COLOURS ARE THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THE COMING SPRING SEASON AFTER A HARSH SNOW FILLED WINTER. . .


4.1.10

INTERNET CRUSADE TO BRING BACK TORCHWOOD CHARACTER IANTO JONES


AN INTERNET CRUSADE TO RAISE TORCHWOOD CHARACTER IANTO JONES FROM THE DEAD HAS RAISED MORE THAN £12,000 FOR THE 'CHILDREN IN NEED' CHARITY. THE CHARACTER, PLAYED BY NEWPORT ACTOR GARETH DAVID-LLOYD, WAS KILLED OFF DURING THE THIRD SERIES OF THE POPULAR BBC SCI-FI SHOW TO THE HORROR OF MANY FANS. INTERNET CAMPAIGNS CALLING FOR HIS RESURRECTION WERE LAUNCHED ON TWITTER, LIVEJOURNAL AND FACEBOOK BY DISMAYED FOLLOWERS OF THE CHARACTER. THEY HAVE SINCE BOMBARDED THE BBC WITH MORE THAN 7,700 COMPLAINTS AND MANY HAVE SENT THE CORPORATION COFFEE, A REFERENCE TO THE CHARACTER'S STATUS AS 'COFFEE BOY', TO FORCE THE CORPORATION TO BRING THE CHARACTER BACK. A CHARITY CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN IANTO'S MEMORY ON THE CHARITY SITE JUSTGIVING, FUNDRAISING FOR CHILDREN IN NEED. DISTRAUGHT FANS EVEN ERECTED A SHRINE AT CARDIFF BAY AND CONTINUE TO LEAVE FLOWERS, PHOTOS AND MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE TO THE STAR. THE www.saveiantojones.com WEBSITE HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 100,000 HITS SINCE IT WAS SET UP IN JULY. CAMPAIGN CO-ORDINATOR HELEN SCHOFIELD SAID: 'IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A CAMPAIGN TO REINSTATE A POPULAR CHARACTER ON A TELEVISION SHOW. THIS IS A CAMPAIGN WITH A HEART AND A DESIRE TO DO GOOD. WE HAVE BEEN USING THE FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE AS A PLATFORM TO COMMUNICATE TO GARETH DAVID-LLOYD JUST HOW MUCH HE AND HIS CHARACTER ARE LOVED AND ADMIRED.' FANS HAVE FLOODED THE JUSTGIVING SITE TO DONATE TO THE CAUSE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO IANTO. MOURNING FANS THAT SET UP THE PAGE SAID: 'HE MADE US LAUGH, HE MADE US CRY. HE WAS SIMPLY A WELL LOVED CHARACTER. HIS DEATH LEFT A LOT OF US AS SORROWFUL AND HURT AS ANY DEATH OF A PERSON CLOSE TO US.' A BBC WALES SPOKESPERSON SAID: 'IT'S FANTASTIC THAT THE SERIES HAS RECEIVED SUCH SUPPORT AND THAT THE MONEY RAISED IS GOING TO A GOOD CAUSE.'

'MORE IS MORE' BY HUTTON WILKINSON EXPLORES THE WORLD OF TONY DUQUETTE


THE OVER THE TOP WORLD OF THE LATE LA BASED ARTIST AND DESIGNER TONY DUQUETTE, CREATIVE SVENGALI TO SOME OF THE MOST RENOWNED HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES AND TASTEMASTERS OF THE 20th CENTURY, IS BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED IN A STUNNING NEW BOOK APTLY TITLED 'MORE IS MORE' BY HIS LONGTIME ASSOCIATE HUTTON WILKINSON. WITH A FOREWORD BY ANOTHER MASTER OF STYLISH EXCESS, DIOR DESIGNER JOHN GALLIANO, THE BOOK EXPLORES DUQUETTE'S PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY AND THE ARTISTIC CREDO THAT INSPIRED HIM TO CREATE HIS FANTASTIC ARTWORK, SCULPTURES, JEWELRY, GARDENS AND LUXURIOUS, THEATRICAL INTERIORS. WILKENSON PROVIDES A PRIVILEGED GLIMPSE INTO DUQUETTE'S FASCINATING PRIVATE LIFE, SHOWING HIM AT WORK IN THE STUDIO, AT THE LAVISH CELEBRITY-PACKED PARTIES HE AND HIS WIFE HELD AT DAWNRIDGE, THEIR EYE-POPPING BEVERLY HILLS ESTATE, AND ON HIS WHIRLWIND INTERNATIONAL TOURS.

THE BECHTLER MUSEUM OF ART OPENS TO THE PUBLIC


THE BECHTLER MUSEUM OF ART, CHARLOTTE, NC, THE ONLY MUSEUM DEDICATED TO THE EXHIBITION OF MID-20th CENTURY EUROPEAN ART IN THE SOUTHEAST, OPENED RECENTLY TO THE PUBLIC. TE BUILDING, DESIGNED BY WORLD RENOWNED SWISS ARCHITECT MARIO BOTTA, IS DESTINED TO BECOME AN ICONIC STRUCTURE WITH ITS BOLDLY CANTILEVERED FOURTH FLOOR EXHIBITION GALLERY, SOARING GLASS AND STEEL ATRIUM AND TERRA COTTA EXTERIOR. THE MUSEUM IS NAMED AFTER THE FAMILY OF ANDREAS BECHTLER, A CHARLOTTE RESIDENT AND NATIVE OF SWITZERLAND WHO ASSEMBLED AND INHERITED A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 1,400 ARTWORKS CREATED BY MAJOR FIGURES OF THE 20th CENTURY MODERNISM AND DONATED IT TO THE PUBLIC TRUST. THE BECHTLER COLLECTION REFLECTS MOST OF THE IMPORTANT ART MOVEMENTS AND SCHOOLS FROM THE 20th CENTURY WITH A DEEP HOLDING OF THE SCHOOL OF PARIS AFTER WORLD WAR II. THE COLLECTION IS COMPRISED OF ARTWORKS BY SEMINAL FIGURES SUCH AS ALBERTO GIACOMETTI, JOAN MIRO, MAX ERNST, EDGAR DEGAS LE CORBUSIER AMONG OTHERS. IN MANY INSTANCES THE HOLDINGS BY A PARTICULAR ARTIST ARE ACROSS VARIOUS MEDIA (PAINTING, SCULPTURE, DRAWING, PRINTS AND DECORATIVE ARTS). SOME WORKS IN THE COLLECTION ARE ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND LETTERS ILLUSTRATING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE BECHTLER FAMILY. ONLY A HANDFUL OF THE ARTWORKS IN THE COLLECTION HAVE BEEN ON PUBLIC VIEW IN THE UNITED STATES. UNTIL NOW, THE COLLECTION WAS PRIVATELY HELD BY THE BECHTLER FAMILY AND HAS SINCE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.bechtler.org

ROBERTO COIN CHAMPAGNE COOLER


ITALIAN LUXURY JEWELER ROBERTO COIN HAS RECENTLY CREATED A STUNNING AND UNIQUE CHAMPAGNE COOLER WITH IMPROJECT. THE CHAMPAGNE COOLER USES IMPROJECT'S UNIQUE THERMAL STABILIZER WHICH MAINTAINS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CHAMPAGNE TO A PERFECT CHILL. THE COOLER ALLOWS ONE TO DISPLAY THE LABEL OF THE BOTTLE WITHOUT GETTING IT WET OR BEING OBSCURED BY ICE. THE CHAMPAGNE COOLER IS MADE OF ONE AND A HALF KILOGRAMS OF 18 CARAT GOLD AND FEATURES THIRTEEN CARATS OF DIAMONDS ON THE FRONT WHICH GIVES IT A BRILLIANT SPARKLE.

3.1.10

SMITHSONIAN TO OPEN NEW EXHIBITION HALL DEVOTED TO HUMAN ORIGINS


A NEW EXHIBITION HALL DEDICATED TO THE DISCOVERY AND UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN ORIGINS WILL BE OPENING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. BASED ON DECADES OF CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH BY SMITHSONIAN SCIENTISTS, THE DAVID H KOCH 'HALL OF HUMAN ORIGINS' WILL PREMIERE 17.MARCH.2010, WHICH ALSO MARKS THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MUSEUM'S OFFICIAL OPENING ON THE NATIONAL MALL. THE $20.7 MILLION EXHIBITION HALL WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY ONGOING HUMAN ORIGINS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE ALL KEY COMPONENTS OF THE MUSEUM'S BROADER INITIATIVE, 'HUMAN ORIGINS: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?' THE INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON THE EPIC STORY OF HUMAN EVOLUTION AND HOW THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPECIES HAVE EVOLVED OVER 6 MILLION YEARS AS ITS ANCESTORS ADAPTED TO A CHANGING WORLD. THE MUSEUM WILL LAUNCH A COMPELLING NEW SMITHSONIAN HUMAN ORIGINS WEB SITE AND A REVOLUTIONARY VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE HOSTED ON THE BLUE MARS 2150 VIRTUAL WEB SITE. IT WILL INCLUDE A COMPLETE REPRODUCTION OF THE PHYSICAL EXHIBITION PLUS ADDITIONAL FEATURES VISITORS CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE ON THE WEB.
VISITORS TO THE 15,000 SQUARE FOOT HALL OF HUMAN ORIGINS WILL BE IMMERSED IN A UNIQUE, INTERACTIVE MUSEUM EXPERIENCE ILLUMINATING THE MAJOR MILESTONES IN THE ORIGIN OF HUMAN BEINGS AND THE DRAMA OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SURVIVAL AND EXTINCTION THAT HAVE CHARACTERIZED HUMANS' ANCIENT PAST. ON ENTERING THE EXHIBITION FROM THE SANT OCEAN HALL, VISITORS WILL TRAVEL THROUGH A DRAMATIC TIME TUNNEL DEPICTING LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTS OVER THE PAST 6 MILLION YEARS. VISITORS WILL ALSO ENGAGE WITH LIFE-SIZE FORENSICALLY RECONSTRUCTED FACES OF EARLY HUMAN SPECIES, ALL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE VISITORS WITH A SENSE OF PERSONAL CONNECTION AS THEY LOOK INTO THE EYES AND FACES OF THEIR DISTANT ANCESTORS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.mnh.si.edu

SECOND MAJOR ART THEFT IN A WEEK STRIKES SOUTH OF FRANCE AGAIN


ART THIEVES HAVE RAIDED THE SOUTH OF FRANCE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A WEEK. FOLLOWING THE THEFT OF A DEGAS AT A MUSEUM IN MARSEILLES ON WEDNESDAY, AROUND 30 PAINTINGS HAVE BEEN STOLEN IN A NEARBY LA CADIERE D'AZUR, INCLUDING A RARE WORK BY PABLO PICASSO. THE WORKS WERE TAKEN FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION AT A VILLA IN PROVENCAL, LESS THAN 30 MILES FROM MARSEILLES. THE STOLEN ARTWORKS, WHICH INCLUDE A DRAWING BY POST-IMPRESSIONIST HENRI ROUSSEAU, IS THOUGHT TO BE WORTH AN ESTIMATED £900,000. POLICE SAID THE OWNER WAS CUTTING SHORT A HOLIDAY IN SWEDEN, FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF THE THEFT BY A CARETAKER ON THURSDAY. DESPITE THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY, DETECTIVES SAY THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE TWO ART THEFTS ARE LINKED, BUT ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENTS. POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A DRAWING BY IMPRESSIONIST MASTER EDGAR DEGAS WHICH WAS STOLEN FROM THE CANTINI MUSEUM ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.