DUKE OF YORK 'CLIPS' POLICE OFFICER WITH CAR WHILE DRIVING INTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PRINCE ANDREW, THE DUKE OF YORK, IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY POLICE AFTER HE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE HIT A UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICER WHILE DRIVING INTO BUCKINGHAM PALACE. ACCORDING TO SOURCES, THE DUKE 'MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY CLIPPED' THE UNIFORMED OFFICER AS HE TRIED TO MOVE TWO JAPANESE TOURISTS FROM THE PATH OF THE PRINCE'S 4X4. THE PRINCE DROVE INTO THE PALACE'S SIDE ENTRANCE AND DID NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IT HAS BEEN ALLEGED. THE OFFICER, WHO IS SAID TO BE 'SHAKEN UP' BY THE INCIDENT SUFFERED AN ARM INJURY AND MADE A COMPLAINT TO HIS SUPERIORS. A SCOTLAND YARD SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THE ACCIDENT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED AND SAID: 'A UNIFORMED METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE OFFICER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE WHILST ON DUTY ON CONSTITUTION HILL AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS ARM. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE COLLISION ARE NOW BEING EXAMINED.' SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY FREQUENTLY DRIVE THEMSELVES WHEN TRAVELING PRIVATELY, WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH FAMOUSLY TAKING TO THE WHEEL OF A LONDON BLACK CAB. A SOURCE SAID: 'MOST OF THE ROYALS DO TAKE THE ENTRANCE SHARPLY, THIS IS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY RISK POSED BY MILLING CROWDS.' A BUCKINGHAM PALACE SPOKESPERSON ADDED: 'THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTER.' THE DUKE IS CURRENTLY IN CENTRAL AMERICA CARRYING OUT DUTIES IN HIS ROLE AS A UK TRADE AMBASSADOR. IN 2002 THE DUKE WAS LET OFF BY POLICE AFTER HE WAS CAUGHT SPEEDING AT 60mph IN A 40mph ZONE NEAR HEATHROW AIRPORT AS HE RUSHED TO CATCH A FLIGHT TO SCOTLAND FOR THE OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP. HE WAS ACCUSED AT THE TIME OF BEING 'ARROGANT' BY POLICE SOURCES AFTER HE TOLD OFFICERS: 'I'M IN A HURRY.'

NOTTINGHAM CITY MUSEUMS ACQUIRE RARE PLATE SET

INDEPENDENT CHARITY THE ART FUND ANNOUNCED THAT NOTTINGHAM CITY MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE HAS BOUGHT A RARE SET OF ORNATE 19th CENTURY PORCELAIN PLATES AT AUCTION IN NEW YORK, WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED ACROSS THREE HERITAGE SITES; NEWSTEAD ABBEY, WOLLATON HALL AND NOTTINGHAM CASTLE. ACQUIRED WITH A GRANT OF £2,195 FROM THE ART FUND TOWARDS THE HAMMER PRICE OF £3,519, THE PLATES WILL NOW RETURN TO THEIR FORMER HOME AT THE ABBEY. THE TEN PLATES WERE PAINTED BETWEEN 1818 AND 1821, AND THEY HAVE A LINK TO THE CELEBRATED BRITISH POET LORD BYRON. THEY WERE DECORATED BY MARIA WILDMAN, SISTER OF COLONEL THOMAS WILDMAN, WHO LIVED AT NEWSTEAD ABBEY. FIVE OF THE PLATES DEPICT EXQUISITELY DETAILED SCENES FROM THE ESTATE AND FIVE ARE ILLUSTRATED WITH SCENES RELATING TOO IMPORTANT EVENTS IN COLONEL WILDMAN'S MILITARY CAREER. COLONEL THOMAS WILDMAN BOUGHT NEWSTEAD ABBEY FROM LORD BYRON, WHO WAS HIS FRIEND, IN 1818 AND THE ESTATE REMAINED IN HIS POSSESSION UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1859. MARIA, A TALENTED AMATEUR ARTIST, WAS A FREQUENT VISITOR TO NEWSTEAD AND DREW MUCH CREATIVE INSPIRATION FROM THE ESTATE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE TEN PLATES WERE ORIGINALLY PART OF THE CONTENTS OF THE HOUSE AND ARE FROM A SET REFERRED TO IN THOMAS BAILEY'S HANDBOOK TO NEWSTEAD ABBEY, 1855. THE ART FUND HAS HELPED NEWSTEAD ABBEY TO BUY WORKS OF ART FOR ITS COLLECTION ON FIVE PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, THE MOST RECENT BEING A GRANT OF £8,750 IN 1999 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF TWO PAINTINGS OF THE FOUR LORD BYRON'S FAVORITE RACEHORSES BY PETER TILLMANS, 1684-1734 FOR £35,000. THE PLATES WILL INITIALLY GO ON DISPLAY AT 3 OF NOTTINGHAM CITY MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES MAJOR HERITAGE SITES, AT NEWSTEAD ABBEY, WOLLATON HALL AND NOTTINGHAM CASTLE MUSEUM AND WILL BE ON DISPLAY FROM 2.APRIL, WHEN NEWSTEAD ABBEY RE-OPENS TO THE PUBLIC.

DUCHESS OF CORNWALL SPORTS HANDBAG WITH PICTURE OF QUEEN

THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WAS SPOTTED CLUTCHING A VERY UNUSUAL HANDBAG, DECORATED WITH A PICTURE OF THE QUEEN, AT A RECENT CHARITY FASHION SHOW. THE DUCHESS WAS SEEN WITH THE UNIQUE ACCESSORY FEATURING A STYLIZED IMAGE OF A ROYAL MAIL STAMP COMPLETE WITH AN IMAGE OF THE HEAD OF STATE. THE QUEEN WAS SHOWN IN PROFILE IN A MULTI-COLOURED SEQUIN DESIGN STITCHED ON TO THE BLACK SATIN BAG CREATED BY FASHION DESIGNER LULU GUINNESS. THE DUCHESS WAS GUEST OF HONOUR AT THE SHOW, STAGED IN THE IMPRESSIVE LOBBY OF LONDON'S HIGH COURT, FEATURING STUNNING ASSEMBLAGE OF CLOTHES FROM THE SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION OF HER FAVORITE FASHION DESIGNER, ANNA VALENTINE. VALENTINE DESIGNED THE DUCHESS'S WEDDING GOWN AND HER OUTFITS ARE A FIRM FAVORITE IN CAMILLA'S WARDROBE. THE EVENING WAS IN AID OF MAGGIE'S CANCER CARING CENTERS, OF WHICH THE DUCHESS IS PRESIDENT, AND WAS HOSTED BY ACTOR RUPERT EVERETT. IT ALSO FEATURED FORMER BLUE PETER PRESENTER JANET ELLIS, A PATRON OF THE ORGANIZATION. GUINNESS, WHO WAS AMONG THE GUESTS, WAS DELIGHTED THAT THE DUCHESS WAS CARRYING THE LIMITED EDITION BAG, WHICH SHE SAID WAS BOUGHT BY CAMILLA FOR UNDER £1,000. SHE ADDED: 'I THINK IT SHOWS SHE'S GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR. I'M QUITE TOUCHED.' IN KEEPING WITH THE EVENING, THE DUCHESS WAS WEARING AN ANNA VALENTINE OUTFIT OF A BLACK CHIFFON SKIRT AND MATCHING FITTED JACKET. IN THE FORWARD TO THE BROCHURE WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE FASHION SHOW, THE DUCHESS SAID SHE FIRST BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE CHARITY WHEN SHE VISITED A CENTER IN EDINBURGH THREE YEARS AGO. SHE ADDED: 'ON THAT FIRST VISIT, I WAS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY THE SENSE OF LIGHT AND COLOUR WARMTH AND SPACE. EACH MAGGIE'S CENTER IS A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED BUILDING OFFERING ESSENTIAL ADVICE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, A SANCTUARY IN A WORLD WHERE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN.'

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS PONT DES AMOUREAUX

THE NEW PONT DES AMOUREAUX FROM VAN CLEEF & ARPELS IS A STUNNING AND UNIQUE WATCH THAT IS SURE TO MELT YOUR HEART AT FIRST SIGHT. THE DIAL FEATURES TWO DELICATE WHITE GOLD FIGURES, THE WOMAN WITH THE UMBRELLA INDICATES THE HOUR AND THE GENTLEMAN HIDING A FLOWER BEHIND HIS BACK INDICATES THE MINUTES. AND WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 12, THE CUTE ROMANTIC COUPLE SHARE A KISS. THE CHRONOGRAPH HAS A 38mm DIAMETER CASE MADE OUT OF 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD AND IS SET WITH BRILLIANT CUT DIAMONDS AROUND THE BEZEL, AND THE WATCH CROWN IS SET WITH A SAPPHIRE CABOCHON. THE TIMEPIECE HAS A MODIFIED JAEGER-ECOULTURE MECHANICAL MOVEMENT. THIS AMAZING PIECE OF ARTISTRY IS FINISHED WITH A WHITE CROCODILE STRAP AND IS PRICED AT $116,000, MAKING IT THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE HOPELESS ROMANTIC ON VALENTINE'S DAY.











Haute Timepieces: Fall in Love with Van Cleef & Arpels’ Pont des Amoureux
Posted By Ariel Adams on February 8th, 2010
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The actual Pont des Amoureux is a French bridge going over the Thiou River in Annecy, a town also known as the Venice of France. The fabled bridge earned a reputation throughout the years as a rendezvous place for couples in love.
This romantic concept has been applied to a poetic watch whose maker also carries a rich French legacy. Van Cleef & Arpels coined the phrase “poetic complication” and recently presented luxury lovers with a unique form of horology that perfectly demonstrates the poetry of its name. Instead of focusing on utility, these complications are whimsical and meant to evoke emotion. Here, that emotion is romance.

Women’s watches such as this are exceedingly rare. The piece combines exquisite jewelry components with artistic craftsmanship, which can only be fully appreciated once understanding the elements of the various tiny details.

First up for review is the functionality of the watch. Two figurines travel along respective hour or minute retrograde dials to display the time. The delicate figure of the woman carrying an umbrella serves as the hour indicator, while the man, secretly holding a flower behind his back, points to the minutes. The retrograde display has been further complicated by the fact that upon hitting the 12 o’clock hour, the lovers meet at the center for a kiss. The concept, while seemingly quite simple, was actually an incredibly arduous feat of engineering.

What you can’t see hidden inside the watch is a manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre 846 mechanical movement that is sized for a watch a fraction of the size. Why? Because the rest of the space is dedicated to a custom Van Cleef & Arpels module that makes the romantic gesture on the dial possible. And even though the French jewelry house knew that the complex mechanism would never be seen, their impeccable attention to detail dictated that it be beautifully finished nonetheless.

The bridge depicted on the dial isn’t the actual Pont des Amoureux, but a fairy tale rendition conceived by Van Cleef & Arpels. The most time-consuming process for the makers of the luxury timepiece is the components of the background of the face. The contre-jour enamel painting of the buildings and starry night in gray tones is completely painted by hand by a master artist. Each dial is then baked to perfection in a furnace heating up to 1545 degrees. The resulting dial with its white gold “lovers hands” and detailed bridge make for a stunning, and poetic, three-dimensional scene. The entire timepiece is housed in a 38mm wide 18-karat white gold case decorated with large diamonds around the bezel, as well as on the mono-piece lugs, their ends, and on the watch crown as a cabochon. Attached to the watch is a smooth, white reptile strap. It is a remarkable and beautiful timepiece for a lady, further enhanced by the story behind its design and construction. Priced at $116,000.

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LOUIS VUITTON RAINDROP BESACE

LOUIS VUITTON IS TAKING AMAZING STEPS INTO NEW CREATIVE TERRITORY WITH THEIR RAINDROP BESACE DESIGN. DEPARTING FROM THE ICONIC CLASSICISM AND REFINED STYLE LOUIS VUITTON TURNED TO THE EDGY, TRENDY AND SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL DESIGN. AVAILABLE IN TWO COLOURS, THE NEW BAGS ARE MADE FROM AN INNOVATIVE NEW TECHNIQUE IN LEATHER DESIGN, WHICH IS MADE TO RESEMBLE A PLASTIC TRASH BAG WITH A DRAWSTRING CLOSURE. THE NEW RAINDROP BESACE COLLECTION WILL PREMIERE THIS SPRING AND WILL BE PRICED AROUND $1,996.

ITALIAN JUDGE ORDERS SEIZURE OF GETTY MUSEUM STATUE

AN ITALIAN JUDGE RECENTLY ORDERED THE SEIZURE OF AN ANCIENT GREEK STATUE FROM THE RENOWNED J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM, THE LATEST ROUND IN A LENGTHY LEGAL DISPUTE OVER A COLLECTION OF ARTWORKS ITALY SAYS WERE LOOTED FROM ITS TERRITORY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES. THE LOS ANGELES-BASED MUSEUM, WHICH PURCHASED THE BRONZE STATUE FOR $3.9 MILLION IN 1977 FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTOR, SAID IT WOULD APPEAL TO ITALY'S TOP COURT AGAINST THE RULING. PROSECUTORS IN THE ITALIAN CITY OF PESARO ARGUED THAT THE HIGHLY PRIZED SCULPTURE, WHICH DEPICTS AN ATHLETE CROWNED WITH AN OLIVE WREATH, WAS ILLEGALLY SMUGGLED OUT OF ITALY AND THE MUSEUM DID NOT CARRY OUT PROPER CHECKS BEFORE BUYING IT. PESARO JUDGE LORENA MUSSONI ORDERED THAT THE STATUE, CALLED THE 'STATUE OF A VICTORIOUS YOUTH', 'BE SEIZED FROM THE GETTY MUSEUM OR WHEREVER IT MAY BE AT THE MOMENT.' IN A STATEMENT, THE J PAUL GETTY TRUST, ONE OF THE RICHEST AMERICAN ART INSTITUTIONS SAID IT WOULD 'VIGOROUSLY DEFEND IT LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF THE STATUE.' IT SAID THE SAME COURT IN PESARO HAD DISMISSED AN EARLIER CASE IN 2007 OVER WHETHER THE STATUE BELONGED TO ITALY, RULING THAT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAD LONG EXPIRED, THAT THERE WAS NO ONE TO PROSECUTE UNDER ITALIAN LAW, AND THAT THE GETTY WAS TO BE CONSIDERED 'A GOOD FAITH OWNER'.
'WITH TODAY'S DECISION, THE GETTY MUSEUM WILL HAVE TO RETURN THIS STATUE OF INCOMPARABLE BEAUTY TO ITALY', A SPOKESPERSON SAID. THE ALMOST LIFE-SIZE STATUE WAS DISCOVERED IN 1964 BY A FISHING TRAWLER FROM FANO, A SMALL SEASIDE TOWN NEAR PESARO ON THE ADRIATIC COAST. IT WAS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE THE WORK OF LYSIPPOS, A GREEK SCULPTOR OF THE 4th CENTURY BC, THOUGH MORE RECENT STUDIES DATE IT TO THE 2nd OR 3rd CENTURY BC. IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN LOST AT SEA AFTER BEING LOOTED BY ROMANS. THE GETTY MUSEUM SAYS IT BOUGHT THE STATUE THROUGH LEGAL CHANNELS AND WITH CLEAR TITLE. IT ALSO SAYS THE ART WORK WAS NETTED IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS. ITALY DISPUTES THAT THEORY. AFTER THE STATUE WAS FOUND BY THE FANO FISHERMEN, IT WAS BURIED IN A CABBAGE PATCH AND LATER HIDDEN BY A PRIEST. ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, IT LEFT ITALY IN A SHIPMENT OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES SENT TO A MISSIONARY IN BRAZIL, BEFORE BEING BOUGHT BY AN ART CONSORTIUM IN 1971 WHICH LATER SOLD IT TO THE GETTY MUSEUM.

HARRODS WINE SHOP TO SELL LOUIS XIII RARE CASK

THIS MONTH MARKS AND OCCASION COGNAC CONNOISSEURS WON'T WANT TO MISS, HARRODS LAUNCHES THEIR LONG AWAITED LOUIS XIII RARE CASK. A UNIQUE OFFERING, LOUIS XIII RARE CASK IS DISTINGUISHED BY A TOUCH OF EXTRA STRENGTH AND A BLEND OF TWELVE HUNDRED EAUX DE VIE AGED UP TO A CENTURY, ITS DISTINCTIVE AROMATIC INTENSITY AND INFINITE RICHNESS WITH AN EXTRA BREATH OF ALCOHOL ALSO SETS THE RARE CASK APART FROM THE REST. THIS COGNAC HAS A FORMIDABLE BOUQUET OF WILD MUSHROOMS AND UNDERWOOD NOTES FOLLOWED BY FULL, SPICY TONES AND NOTES OF GINGERBREAD, WAX,NUTS AND MINT. ROUNDED AND TEXTURED WITH AN INCREDIBLY LONG LENGTH, RARE CASK BOASTS A PRESENCE AND DENSITY IN THE MOUTH THAT KNOWS NO LIMIT. EACH LOUIS XIII RARE CASK IS PRESENTED IN A BLACK CRYSTAL BACCARAT DECANTER, HAND BLOWN, HAND DECORATED, INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED AND HOUSED IN AN EMBELLISHED METAL COFFRET. EVERY DETAIL OF THE PRESENTATION IS A CELEBRATION OF THE FINEST CRAFTSMANSHIP REFLECTING THE PEDIGREE OF THIS INCREDIBLY RARE AND DISTINCTIVE COGNAC.

WORLD MUSEUM. LIVERPOOL, PRESENTS 'ANCIENT GREECE'

A NEW DISPLAY REVEALS THE INSPIRATIONAL WORLD OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS WHOSE INFLUENCE IS STILL FELT IN THE MODERN WORLD. THIS CULTURE PROVIDED THE FOUNDATIONS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND INSPIRED THE RENAISSANCE WHILE ALSO PAVING THE WAY FOR THE ISLAMIC GOLDEN AGE IN NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTH WEST ASIA. THE ROMAN EMPIRE, WHICH CONQUERED GREECE IN 146BC, WAS ALSO POWERFULLY INFLUENCED BY THE GREEK CIVILIZATION WHICH DOMINATED ALL ASPECTS OF CULTURAL LIFE FROM POLITICS AND PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE TO ART FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. 'ANCIENT GREECE' FEATURES MORE THAN 150 EXHIBITS FROM THE WORLD MUSEUM'S REMARKABLE COLLECTIONS TO HELP TELL THE STORY OF A SOCIETY THAT GREW FROM VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO ARGUABLY THE GREATEST CIVILIZATION ON EARTH. THERE ARE STATUES AND STATUETTES OF THE GREEKS GODS, GODDESSES AND MYTHICAL HEROES THAT CONTINUE TO FASCINATE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD INCLUDING GODDESSES ATHENA (WARFARE AND WISDOM), ARTEMIS (HUNTING), APHRODITE (LOVE AND BEAUTY) AND NIKE (VICTORY, STRENGTH, AND SPEED). GODS INCLUDE KING OF THE GODS ZEUS, APOLLO (MUSIC AND ARTS), EROS (LOVE AND PASSION) AND DIONYSUS (WINE AND THEATER). POTS AND THE STUNNING PICTURES ON THEM TELL HOW THE GREEKS LIVED. TINY ORNAMENTS AND JEWELRY ALSO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ARTISTIC AND CREATIVE SKILLS. A BOX LID DECORATED WITH HORSES, PROBABLY FROM A WOMAN'S GRAVE, INDICATES HER FAMILY WAS IMPORTANT. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MUSEUM SAID: 'THESE OBJECTS, ALONG WITH THEIR WRITINGS, SPEAK TO US OVER THE CENTURIES ABOUT THE WONDERS OF ANCIENT GREECE.'
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

FASHION DESIGNER ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FOUND DEAD FROM APPARENT SUICIDE

ICONIC BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER ALEXANDER MCQUEEN WAS DISCOVERED DEAD TODAY AFTER TAKING HIS OWN LIFE. THE INDUSTRY WAS LEFT REELING AFTER THE 40 YEAR OLD'S SUICIDE THIS MORNING, WHICH COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS BELOVED MOTHER, JOYCE. IT IS ALSO JUST THREE YEARS SINCE HIS CLOSE FRIEND, STYLE GURU ISABELLA BLOW, WHO PLUCKED HIM FROM OBSCURITY AND HELPED HIM BECOME A STAR, KILLED HERSELF. MCQUEEN, WHO WAS CHRISTENED LEE BUT USED HIS MIDDLE NAME AS A DESIGNER, WAS FOUND AT HIS LUXURY FLAT IN GREEN STREET, IN LONDON'S WEST END. IT IS BELIEVED HE HANGED HIMSELF. ONE OF HIS LINES, MCQ, WAS DUE TO BE SHOWN AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK THIS AFTERNOON BUT THE SHOW HAS SINCE BEEN CANCELED. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE DESIGNER'S £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

CREED TO SELL LAST BOTTLES OF PRIVATE COLLECTION TABAROME

FIRST CREATED IN 1875 BY HENRY CREED, PRIVATE COLLECTION TABAROME HAS A RICH HISTORY AND HAS MAINTAINED A STRONG FOLLOWING OVER THE YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY THE PRODUCTION OF THE 'WARM, RICH, CLUBBY BLEND' IS BEING PERMANENTLY HALTED DUE TO THE NUMEROUS CHANGES IN THE EARTH'S CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT AND ONLY POOR QUALITY INGREDIENTS NOW BEING AVAILABLE. THE COMPANY'S LAST 50 BOTTLES OF THE ICONIC FRAGRANCE, PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE COMPANY PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE COLLECTION, ARE BEING SOLD -- 25 BOTTLES ONLINE VIA THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE AND 25 IN THE CREED BOUTIQUE ON 67th STREET AND MADISON AVE, NEW YORK CITY. PRIVATE COLLECTION TABAROME HAS TOP NOTES OF BERGAMOT AND CITRUS, MIDDLE NOTES OF PEPPER, AND A BASE NOTES OF SANDALWOOD, AMBERGRIS, AND PEPPER AND COMES IN A CARAMEL ITALIAN LEATHER WRAPPED SPRAY CAN EMBOSSED WITH THE CREED LOGO AND ETCHED WITH THE COMPANY'S PARIS ADDRESS AND IS PRICED AT $405.

PRINCE OF WALES TRIES THE ANCIENT CHINESE THERAPY CHI KUNG

THE PRINCE OF WALES WAS LEFT CLUTCHING AT THIN AIR WHEN HE STRUGGLED TO MASTER AN ANCIENT CHINESE THERAPY RECENTLY. THE PRINCE IS A WELL KNOWN FAN OF COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE BUT WHEN HE TOOK PART IN A SESSION OF CHI KUNG, ENERGY EXERCISE, HE STRUGGLED WHILE ATTEMPTING THE EXERCISES. THE HEIR TO THE THRONE DROPPED HIS 'ENERGY BALL' WHILE PERFORMING SIMPLE MOVES THAT HAD THE ROYAL IN FITS OF LAUGHTER. THE PRINCE WAS BEING SHOWN THE THERAPY THAT IS USED TO HELP EX-SERVICEMEN STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL PROBLEMS AFTER LEAVING THE FORCES. CHI KUNG IS PART OF THE WARRIOR PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE CO-FOUNDED BY EVA HAMILTON WHO WORKED ON HOMELESS PROJECTS FOR SOME OF THE PRINCE'S ORGANIZATIONS. PERSONAL TRAINER GUY HO TOOK THE ROYAL AND HAMILTON THROUGH TWO MOVES WHERE THEY WHERE THEY LIFTED THEIR RIGHT ARMS OVER THEIR HEADS TWISTING THEIR HANDS AS THEY WERE RAISED, THEN REPEATED IT WITH BOTH HANDS. THE PRINCE STARTED LAUGHING AND SHARED A JOKE WITH HIS EXERCISE PARTNER AS THEIR INSTRUCTOR LOOKED ON AT A CENTER IN FULHAM, WEST LONDON. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE LESSON CAME TO AN END AND HO SAID: 'I TOLD HIM 'IMAGINE YOU HAVE GOT THIS GOLDEN ENERGY BALL IN THE PALM OF OF YOUR HAND'. THE PRINCE WAS FOCUSED BUT HE DROPPED THE BALL TWICE, I HAD TO FIND HIS ENERGY BALL. HE HAD WONDERFUL ENERGY, YOU COULD REALLY FEEL IT.' THE WARRIOR PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED IN 2007 BY HAMILTON AND CHARLOTTE COLE AND USES A RANGE OF THERAPIES FROM T'AI CHI TO MEDITATION AND COGNITIVE THERAPY TO HELP THE EX-SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FORMER SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND AIRMEN FIND PROBLEMS ADJUSTING TO CIVILIAN LIFE AFTER THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE FORCES, WITH MANY ENDING UP HOMELESS OR IN PRISON. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO TACKLE SOME OF THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS, SUCH AS TRAUMA, RELATED STRESS AND DEPRESSION, THAT CAN BLIGHT THEIR LIVES.

HERMES OPENS FIRST HERMES MEN'S STORE IN NEW YORK

FRENCH LUXURY HOUSE HERMES RECENTLY OPENED ITS FIRST MEN'S BOUTIQUE ENTIRELY DEDICATED TO MEN'S READY TO WEAR, ACCESSORIES AND ART OF LIVING. CALLED HERMES MAN, THE STUNNING BOUTIQUE IS LOCATED IN NEW YORK AT 690 MADISON AVENUE AT EAST 62nd STREET AND STANDS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE US FLAGSHIP STORE. THE 2,450 SQUARE FOOT STORE IS THE FIRST IN THE WORLD THAT HERMES HAS DEDICATED TO MEN. THE CLASSIC BROWNSTONE WAS REDESIGNED BY RDAI, THE PARISIAN ARCHITECTURAL AGENCY FOUNDED BY RENA DUMAS, AND FEATURES AN INTERIOR THAT IS NEW AND CONTEMPORARY YET BORROWS FROM THE DECORATIVE STYLES OF THE TRADITIONAL TAILOR'S SHOP AND GENTLEMAN'S CLUB. DETAILS FROM THE ORIGINAL HERMES STORE AT 24 FAUBOURG SAINT-HONORE ARE REVEALED AND REWORKED AND PAIRED WITH THE STORE'S STREAMLINED ARCHITECTURE TO OFFER A UNIQUE SPACE THAT IS BOTH ELEGANT AND SIMPLE. FOR THE DISCERNING CUSTOMER, THE STORE WILL FEATURE AN ARRAY OF MERCHANDISE MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LOCATION. EXCLUSIVE ITEMS INCLUDE A SELECTION OF SILK TIES, ONE WITH THE STATUE OF LIBERTY NEXT TO THE EIFFEL TOWER ON THE FRONT, WHILE ANOTHER HAS AN APPLE MOTIF AND COMES IN FOUR DIFFERENT COLOURS. ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE SIGNATURE ITEM IS A HANDCRAFTED LEATHER BASEBALL GLOVE, WHICH RETAILS FOR $8,500. 'THE BASEBALL GLOVE IS A NEW PRODUCT', SAID A SPOKESPERSON FOR HERMES. 'IT HAS NEVER BEEN MADE BEFORE BY HERMES. WE THOUGHT IF WE ARE OPENING OUR VERY FIRST HERMES BOUTIQUE FOR MEN AND IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN NEW YORK CITY, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE A BASEBALL GLOVE. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WITH THE LEATHER AND THE STITCHING, IT IS A NATURAL FIT FOR US. WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE GLOVE, WE WERE ALL TAKEN ABACK BY HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. AND AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, AS WE KNEW THIS DATE WAS APPROACHING, THE NEW YORK YANKEES WON THE WORLD SERIES.'

BONHAMS TO SELL FRANCO ZEFFIRRELLI WEDDING GIFT

A LOVELY ROMAN MARBLE BUST THAT FILM DIRECTOR, FRANCO ZEFFIRRELLI GAVE AS A WEDDING GIFT TO FRIENDS WHO WORKED WITH HIM ON THE FILMING OF 'THE TAMING OF THE SHREW' WILL BE SOLD AT BONHAMS NEXT ANTIQUITIES SALE IN LONDON ON 28.APRIL. DATING FROM THE SECOND CENTURY AD THE ROMAN HERM HEAD TRADITIONALLY USED ON THE TOP OF A PILLAR, IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £7,000 TO £9,000. A WONDERFUL PHOTO OF THE BRIDE AND GROOM TAKEN AT THEIR WEDDING WITH ELIZABETH TAYLOR, RICHARD BURTON AND ZEFFIRELLI WILL BE SOLD WITH THE BUST. A HERM IS A SCULPTED IMAGE OF A GOD, THOUGHT TO BE ORIGINALLY HERMES. IT STOOD IN DOORWAYS, GARDENS OR BY THE WAYSIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS. THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT SUCH AN IMAGE WAS USED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 'SACRED MARRIAGE' RITUAL IN THE DIOYSIAC MYSTERIES CONNECTED WITH PURIFICATION AND FERTILITY. THE FILMING OF 'THE TAMING OF THE SHREW' IN ROME IN 1967 BROUGHT ALL THESE CREATIVE PEOPLE TOGETHER IN A PROJECT THAT WAS CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED.
'THE TAMING OF THE SHREW' IS A 1967 FEATURE FILM BASED ON A PLAY BY SHAKESPEARE ABOUT A COURTSHIP BETWEEN TWO STRONG-WILLED PEOPLE. THE FILM WAS DIRECTED BY FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI AND STARED ELIZABETH TAYLOR AND RICHARD BURTON AS SHAKESPEARE'S KATE AND PERRUCHIO. TAYLOR AND BURTON PUT IN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OF THEIR OWN MONEY INTO THE PRODUCTION, AND INSTEAD OF A SALARY, TOOK A PERCENTAGE OF PROFITS. THE FILM WAS ORIGINALLY A VEHICLE FOR SOPHIA LOREN AND MARCELLO MASTROIANNI. THE FILM HAD TWO ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS, FOR BEST COSTUME DESIGN AND BEST ART DIRECTION. IT ALSO HAD TWO BAFTA AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR RICARD BURTON FOR BEST BRITISH ACTOR AND ELIZABETH TAYLOR FOR BEST BRITISH ACTRESS.

FIRST 1881 POSTAL ORDER SELLS FOR £4,485

THE WORLD'S FIRST-EVER POSTAL ORDER WHICH WAS BOUGHT FOR JUST ONE SHILLING 129 YEARS AGO WAS SOLD AT A RECENT AUCTION. THE PERFECTLY-PRESERVED PAYMENT, WHICH HAS THE SERIAL NUMBER 000001, WAS THE FIRST OF MILLIONS PRODUCED BY THE POST OFFICE IN LOMBARD STREET, LONDON, IN 1881. ONLY FIVE OTHER 1881 POSTAL ORDERS BEARING THE SAME 000001 NUMBER ARE KNOWN TO HAVE SURVIVED BUT THIS IS THE FIRST ONE EVER PRODUCED BY THE MAIN LOMBARD STREET POST OFFICE. ON WEDNESDAY AN ANONYMOUS COLLECTOR SNAPPED IT UP FOR £4,485, FARO ABOVE THE ESTIMATED PRICE OF £2,500. POSTAL ORDERS WERE INVENTED BY THE VICTORIANS AS A SAFE AND SECURE METHOD OF SENDING MONEY THROUGH THE POST. EVEN THE FIRST ONES CONTAINED THE WATERMARK 'POSTAL ORDER/ONE SHILLING' AS A COUNTER FORGERY DEVICE. THE FIRST ONE WAS BOUGHT BY ARTHUR BELL ON 1.JANUARY.1881, AFTER HE QUEUED FOR THREE HOURS OUTSIDE THE LOMBARD STREET POST OFFICE. IT WAS SIGNED BY THE CLERK AG EMERY BUT ARTHUR NEVER CASHED IT, PREDICTING THAT IT WOULD ONE DAY BE A COLLECTOR'S ITEM. HE KEPT IT IN A LEATHER CASE AND LOCKED IT IN HIS FAMILY'S SAFE BEFORE PASSING IT DOWN TO HIS SON, ALSO NAMED ARTHUR BULL. WHEN ARTHUR BULL JR DIED IN 1953 THE POSTAL ORDER PASSED TO HIS SON BRIAN GALPIN, WHO KEPT IT SAFE IN HIS HOME IN SURREY. AFTER HE PASSED AWAY IN 2005, THE POSTAL ORDER PASSED TO HIS WIDOW AUDREY, WHO AGREED TO AUCTION IT OFF. GRANDMOTHER OF FIVE AUDREY WATCHED AS THE POSTAL ORDER WENT UNDER THE HAMMER AT WARWICK AND WARWICK AUCTIONEERS, WITH A PRICE GUIDE OF £2,500. SHE SAID: 'IT HAS BEEN HARD TO SELL THE POSTAL ORDER BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR OVER 120 YEARS BUT IT WAS BOUGHT AS AN INVESTMENT AND THIS FEELS LIKE THE RIGHT TIME TO CASH IT IN. THE POSTAL ORDER, MEASURING 21cm BY 9cm, IS SMALLER THAN MODERN VERSIONS AND DID NOT COME WITH A COUNTERFOIL OR STUB FOR THE BANK TELLER TO KEEP AS A RECORD OF THE TRANSACTION. AUCTIONEER RICHARD BEALE SAID: 'THIS IS A FASCINATING PIECE OF POSTAL HISTORY. NOT ONLY IS THE POSTAL ORDER ONE OF THE VERY FIRST EVER ISSUED IT HAS ALSO BEEN KEPT BLANK. THE ONLY WRITING ON IT IS THE POSTMASTER'S SIGNATURE ALONG WITH THE OFFICIAL STAMP WHICH BEARS THE DATE 1881. MR BULL OBVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED HOW VALUABLE IT WAS AS A COLLECTORS' ITEM AND KEPT IT SAFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO AUCTION SUCH A RARE ITEM.' THE POSTAL ORDER IS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE MONEY ORDER WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY IN 1792. POSTAL ORDERS CAN BE BOUGHT AND REDEEMED AT POST OFFICES IN THE UK, ALTHOUGH A CROSSED POSTAL ORDER MUST BE PAID INTO A BANK ACCOUNT.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II TRAVELS TO LONDON ON TRAIN

QUEEN ELIZABETH II SURPRISED PASSENGERS ON HER RECENT TRAIN JOURNEY. THE QUEEN LOOKED LIKE ANY OTHER RAIL TRAVELER AS SHE CAUGHT A TRAIN BACK TO LONDON AFTER HER SIX WEEK WINTER BREAK AT SANDRINGHAM. FELLOW PASSENGERS WATCHED IN SURPRISE AS THE 83 YEAR OLD MONARCH GOT INTO HER OWN FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT AT THE STATION IN KING'S LYNN, NORFOLK. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH DID NOT ACCOMPANY THE QUEEN ON THE FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT TRAIN FOR THE 100 MILE JOURNEY TO KING'S CROSS, LONDON, HE IS BELIEVED TO BE STAYING BEHIND ON THE 20,000 ACRE ROYAL ESTATE IN NORFOLK SO THAT HE CAN ENJOY HARE SHOOTING PARTIES WITH FRIENDS. THE HARE SHOOTS TRADITIONALLY TAKE PLACE AT SANDRINGHAM IN FEBRUARY AFTER THE END OF THE PHEASANT SHOOTING SEASON. THE QUEEN, WEARING A BLUE COAT AND HEADSCARF, ARRIVED FIVE MINUTES EARLY AT THE STATION DURING A BRIEF SNOWFALL AFTER BEING DRIVEN SEVEN MILES FROM SANDRINGHAM. SHE SMILED AS SHE WALKED THE 30 YARDS DOWN PLATFORM ONE TO GET TO THE FRONT OF THE FOUR-CARRIAGE TRAIN. AN ONLOOKER AT THE STATION SAID: 'SHE LOOKED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SMARTY-DRESSED LADY GETTING ON THE TRAIN. PEOPLE COULDN'T BELIEVE THEIR EYES WHEN THEY SAW HER.' THE TRAIN WHICH DID NOT HAVE A BUFFET SERVICE LEFT ON SCHEDULE AND ARRIVED ON TIME AT 12:33pm AT KING'S CROSS WHERE A ROYAL CAR WAS WAITING TO PICK UP THE QUEEN. BUCKINGHAM PALACE OFFICIALS ARE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE BOOKED ALL THE SEATS IN THE FIRST CLASS COMPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE QUEEN COULD SIT UNDISTURBED WITH HER AIDES. THE ONE WAY FIRST CLASS TICKETS WOULD NORMALLY HAVE COST £44.40 EACH FOR THE 100 MILE JOURNEY. BUT AS SHE IS OVER 65, THE QUEEN WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED TO A DISCOUNT TICKET COSTING £29.30 IF SHE HAD APPLIED FOR IT. A FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT SPOKESPERSON SAID: THE QUEEN OFTEN TRAVELS BY TRAIN AND SETS A GREAT EXAMPLE BY DOING SO. IT IS THE QUICKEST AND GREENEST WAY TO TRAVEL BETWEEN LONDON AND KING'S LYNN.'

HERMES ADDS A CHRONOGRAPH TO ITS CLIPPER COLLECTION

THE RENOWNED FRENCH WATCHMAKER HERMES HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED A NEW INTERPRETATION OF ITS LEGENDARY CLIPPER WATCH AT BASELWORLD 2010. THE HERMES CLIPPER CHRONOGRAPH TAKES ITS INSPIRATION FROM THE BRAND'S ICONIC DIVE/SAILING TIMEPIECES WHICH ARE DESIGNED FOR ACTION WITH ITS ELEGANTLY CRAFTED 44mm TITANIUM CASE ON A 'HERMES ORANGE' RUBBER STRAP. BOTH THE FRONT AND BACKSIDES OF THE WATCH ARE FITTED WITH GLARE-PROOF SAPPHIRE CRYSTALS. PRICED BETWEEN $5,000 AND $10,000 DEPENDING ON THE SIZE ORDERED: 26mm AND 28mm QUARTZ, 36mm CHRONOGRAPH, AND A 39.5mm AUTOMATIC, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE FROM HERMES BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

SALVADOR DALI PAINTING MADE IN US ON LOAN TO DALI FOUNDATION

THE FUNDACIO GALA-SALVADOR DALI PRESENTED THE LOAN OF THE WORK 'DREAM CAUSED BY THE FLIGHT OF A BEE AROUND A POMEGRANATE ONE MINUTE BEFORE AWAKENING (1944), FROM THE THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA MUSEUM, MADRID. THE OIL PAINTING WILL BE EXHIBITED AT THE DRAWINGS ROOM, NUMBER 6, OF THE DALI THEATRE-MUSEUM IN FIGUERES FROM 9.FEBRUARY UNTIL 2.MAY.2010. THE PAINTING DEPICTS A WOMAN, DALI'S WIFE GALA, SLEEPING WHILE SUNBATHING NAKED DURING A CALM DAY ON ROCKS FLOATING OVER A SEA, POSSIBLY AT PORT LLIGAT. AN ELEPHANT WITH INCREDIBLY LONG, EXTREMELY THIN LEGS WALKS ACROSS THE SEA'S HORIZON WHILE CARRYING AN OBELISK. NEAR THE WOMAN FLOAT TWO DROPS OF WATER AND A SMALL POMEGRANATE. FROM A LARGER POMEGRANATE COMES A FISH THAT SPEWS A TIGER FROM WHICH COMES ANOTHER TIGER, WHILE IN FRONT OF THAT SECOND TIGER A RIFLE'S BAYONET TOUCHES (OR NEARLY TOUCHES) THE WOMAN'S RIGHT ARM. IT WAS PAINTED WHILE DALI AND HIS WIFE GALA WERE LIVING IN AMERICA. THE BAYONET, AS A SYMBOL OF THE STINGING BEE, MAY THUS REPRESENT THE WOMAN'S ABRUPT AWAKENING FROM HER OTHERWISE PEACEFUL DREAM. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SIGMUND FREUD'S INFLUENCE ON SURREALIST ART AND DALI'S ATTEMPTS TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF DREAMS IN A DREAM-SCAPE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PAINTING IS 'A SURREALIST INTERPRETATION OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION'. IN 1962, DALI SAID HIS PAINTING WAS INTENDED 'TO EXPRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN IMAGES FREUD'S DISCOVERY OF THE TYPICAL DREAM WITH A LENGTHY NARRATIVE, THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE INSTANTANEOUSNESS OF A CHANCE EVENT WHICH CAUSES THE SLEEPER WAKE UP. THUS, AS A BAR MIGHT FALL ON THE NECK OF A SLEEPING PERSON, CAUSING THEM TO WAKE UP AND FOR A LONG DREAM TO END WITH THE GUILLOTINE BLADE FALLING ON THEM, THE NOISE OF THE BEE HERE PROVOKES THE SENSATION OF THE STING WHICH WILL AWAKEN GALA.'

NICOLAS SARKOZY TO EXIBIT CARLA BRUNI PORTRAIT

ARTIST AND FATHER OF FRENCH PRIME MINISTER NICOLAS SARKOZY, PAL SARKOZY, AND PUBLICIST WERNER HORNUNG, WHO HAVE UNITED THEIR ARTISTIC CREATIONS UNDER THE NAME OF 'DIGITAL FINE ART' , BASED ON A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL DRAWINGS AND DIGITAL TECHNIQUES, INAUGURATED THEIR EXHIBITION TITLED 'OUT OF MIND, 4 HANDS FOR 1 CREATION' AT ABIGAIL GALLERY, BUDAPEST. THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES A PORTRAIT OF FRENCH FIRST LADY CARLA BRUNI. PAL SARKOZY SAID THAT THE PAINTING WAS A GIFT HE GAVE HER WHEN SHE WED HIS SON AND THE ROSE IN THE PAINTING ALLUDES TO THE OPENNESS HIS SON'S GOVERNMENT HAS TOWARDS SOCIALISTS. SARKOZY AND HORNUNG COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER TO SHOW IN THIS EXHIBITION THEIR PERSONAL PERCEPTIONS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE THROUGH PICTORIAL SPEECH, CRITICAL AND INVESTIGATIVE AS WELL AS TRANSGRESSIVE. THE FEMININE WORLD AND DAILY LIFE ARE THE MAIN THEMES UNDERTAKEN IN THESE WORKS OF ART. EVEN THOUGH AND WITHOUT A DOUBT THE STAR OF THIS SHOW IS CARLA BRUNI. NEXT STOP FOR THIS EXHIBITION IS THE SELECT ESPACE PIERRE CARDIN IN A ONE-MAN SHOW.

COGNAC CUVEE 1888 PAYS TRIBUTE TO PIERRE FRAPIN

COMING FROM THE PRESTIGIOUS FAMILY OF FRAPIN RABELAIS THAT HAS BEEN PRODUCING WINE AND BRANDY FOR THE PAST 20 GENERATIONS, THIS SPECIAL COGNAC CUVEE 1888 IS DESIGNED AS A TRIBUTE TO PIERRE FRAPIN. THE STUNNING NEW COGNAC IS A BLEND OF COMPLEX AROMAS FROM DRIED FRUITS, NUTS, RAISINS, PLUMS AND HINTS OF CANDIED ORANGE INVITING SCENTS OF BALSAMIC AND ROASTED COCOA, BEANS TONCO AND COFFEE. IT CONCEALS A SUBTLE BURST OF PEPPER HIGHLIGHTED BY A TOUCH OF IMMORTELLE COMBINED WITH THE SWEETNESS OF LIME: SPICY NOTES SOFTENED BY THE FLORAL AROMA EXPRESSING FINESSE AND ELEGANCE. SEALED IN A UNIQUE DECANTER WITH PURE LINES THAT GIVES AN IMPRESSION OF A SPINNING 'TOP' FORMATION, THE SPECIAL COGNAC IS PRODUCES IN A LIMITED SERIES OF 1888 PIECES. PRICED AT $7,400, THE CUVEE 1888 IS BOTTLED BENEATH A 24 CARAT GOLD STOPPER IN THIS TWISTY CRYSTAL DECANTER.

IRAN TO CUT TIES WITH ENGLAND OVER ARTIFACT LOAN

IRAN SAID IT WILL CUT TIES WITH THE BRITISH MUSEUM ON MONDAY BECAUSE OF THE MUSEUM'S FAILURE TO LEND TEHRAN AN ANCIENT BABYLONIAN ARTIFACT DESCRIBED AS THE WORLD'S EARLIEST BILL OF RIGHTS. THE SPAT OVER THE LOAN HAS LONG FESTERED BETWEEN LONDON AND TEHRAN, AND COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF INCREASINGLY TENSE IRANIAN-BRITISH RELATIONS. TEHRAN IS UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE FROM THE WEST OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM, AND HAS ACCUSED BRITAIN AND OTHER FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS OF INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC POLICIES AND OF STOKING THE COUNTRY'S POST-ELECTION STREET PROTESTS. THE ARTIFACT IS A 6th CENTURY BC CLAY TABLET WITH AN ACCOUNT IN CUNEIFORM OF THE CONQUEST OF BABYLON BY PERSIAN KING CYRUS THE GREAT. IT DESCRIBES HOW CYRUS CONQUERED BABYLON IN 539 BC AND RESTORED MANY OF THE PEOPLE HELD CAPTIVE BY THE BABYLONIANS TO THEIR HOMELANDS. CALLED THE CYRUS CYLINDER, IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE UN WEB SITE AND ELSEWHERE AS THE WORLD'S OLDEST HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENT. ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS IN IRAN, THE PIECE WAS TO HAVE BEEN LENT TO TEHRAN BY SUNDAY FOR AN EXHIBITION AGREED ON BY THE MUSEUM AND TEH IRANIAN GOVERNMENT. VISE PRESIDENT HAMID BAQAEI, WHO IS ALSO THE HEAD OF IRAN'S CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM ORGANIZATION, WAS QUOTED BY STATE PRESS TV AS SAYING THAT THE TIES WOULD BE CUT BY MONDAY. IT WASN'T IMMEDIATELY CLEAR IF THIS HAS HAPPENED AS OF YET. BAQAEI SAID THE BRITISH MUSEUM'S FAILURE TO KEEP ITS PROMISE IS 'NOT ACCEPTABLE'. HE SAID THE BRITISH MUSEUM INITIALLY WAS TO LEND TEHRAN THE CYRUS CYLINDER LAST SEPTEMBER BUT POSTPONED THE DEAL, CITING TECHNICAL REASONS AND THE POST-ELECTION UNREST FOLLOWING IRAN'S QUESTIONABLE JUNE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND POSSIBLE HUMAN RIGHT'S VIOLATIONS. BAQAEI SAID IRAN WOULD SEND A PROTEST LETTER TO THE UN EDUCATION AGENCY, UNESCO, OVER THE MATTER.

AN OLD PLATE TAKEN TO ANTIQUES ROADSHOW VALUED AT £100,000

AN OLD PLATE TAKEN TO THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, CARRIED IN A WORN TESCO BAG IS VALUED AT £100,000. NEVER BEFORE IN THE TV SHOW'S THREE-DECADE HISTORY HAS A PLATE BEEN AWARDED A SIX-FIGURE VALUATION. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WENDY JONES TOOK AN OLD PIECE OF CROCKERY TO THE WELL KNOWN PROGRAM. THE GRANDMOTHER WAS SHOCKED TO BE TOLD THAT THE PLATE, WHICH HAD SET ON A 'RICKETY' SIDEBOARD IN HER HOME FOR YEARS, WAS WORTH £100,000. SHE ONLY ATTENDED THE ROADSHOW EVENT HEAR HER HOME IN ABERGLASNEY, WALES, BECAUSE HER HUSBAND WANTED SOME BOOKS VALUED. SEEKING SOMETHING TO TAKE ALONG, JONES GRABBED THE 22 INCH PLATE ON HER WAY OUT OF THE DOOR AND CASUALLY TRANSPORTED IN IN A TESCO CARRIER BAG. BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE MOST VALUABLE PLATE TO HAVE APPEARED ON THE BBC PROGRAM. EXPERT VALUER JOHN AXFORD TOLD JONES THAT THE 18th CENTURY OVAL SHAPED PLATE WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE PRUSSIAN EAST INDIA COMPANY FOR FREDERICK II. MADE BETWEEN 1750 AND 1755, IT IS CONSTRUCTED OUT OF HARD PASTE PORCELAIN AND IS DECORATED WITH THE ARMS OF THE HOHENZOLLERN FAMILY, THE ORDER OF THE BLACK EAGLE AND THE MALTESE CROSS. THERE ARE PIECES OF THE SERVICE IN THE BEST MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD BUT ONLY TWO ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE LAST DECADE, AXFORD SAID. HE THEN DELIVERED HIS VALUATION OF £100,000 TO THE SPEECHLESS JONES, WHO REVEALED THAT THE PLATE ACTUALLY BELONGS TO HER SON AFTER IT WAS LEFT TO HIM BY HIS GRANDMOTHER. SHE SAID: 'HE DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR IT IN HIS LONDON HOME SO I HAD IT FOR YEARS, IT WAS ON THE SIDEBOARD ON THE RICKETY STAND. ONE DAY IT FELL OFF THE STAND AND CRASHED ONTO THE SIDEBOARD BUT LUCKILY IT WASN'T DAMAGED. I EXPECT MY SON WILL SELL IT AS HE HAS A YOUNG FAMILY.' AXFORD, AN EXPERT FROM WOOLLEY AND WALLIS AUCTION HOUSE IN SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE, BASED HIS ESTIMATE ON A MUCH SMALLER SOUP PLATE FROM THE SERVICE RECENTLY SELLING FOR £31,000. HE SAID: 'IT IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING BY FAR THAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE ROADSHOW. IT IS A FANTASTIC PIECE OF A VERY RARE ROYAL SERVICE AND IS VERY UNUSUAL.'

AGENT PROVOCATEUR LAUNCHES JEWELRY COLLECTION

LUXURY LINGERIE MAKER AGENT PROVOCATEUR HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED INTO CREATING STUNNING AND UNIQUE JEWELRY.LIKE THE BRITISH BRAND'S SEXY AND SAUCY LINGERIE, THE NEW JEWELRY PIECES ARE BOTH FLIRTY AND A LITTLE BIT NAUGHTY WITH LOVE MIXED WITH S&M. THE COLLECTION OF EARRINGS, RINGS, NECKLACES AND CHARM BRACELETS SPANS THE MINIMALIST DARK FAIRYTALE AND EQUALLY SEDUCTIVE SLAVE FOR YOU RING AND BRACELET, TO THE SWEETER SAFETY PIN AND SALLY PADLOCK CHARMS. PRICES RANGE FOR $40 TO $700 DEPENDING ON THE COLLECTION CHOICE AND ARE AVAILABLE AT www.agentprovocateur.com

QUEEN ELIZABETH II PLAYS ROLE OF DINNER LADY

QUEEN ELIZABETH II PLAYED THE ROLE OF DINNER LADY WHILE ATTENDING CHURCH ON THE LAST DAY OF HER WINTER BREAK. ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, SHE WENT TO ST PETER AND ST PAUL'S CHURCH IN WEST NEWTON NEAR THE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE IN NORFOLK. SHE HANDED OUT PRIZES TO CHILDREN FOR THEIR GOOD ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH AND THEN BROUGHT THEM LUNCH OF SAUSAGE AND MASH. CHARLIE ADAMS, WHO HELPS OUT AT THE SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR THE PARISH OF SANDRINGHAM AND WEST NEWTON, SAID: 'THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. ABOUT 20 OF THEM PERFORMED A VERSION OF DANIEL AND THE LION'S DEN FOR HER. THEY PRACTICED SO HARD.' THE QUEEN, WHO WAS WEARING A FUCHSIA COAT WITH A MATCHING HAT AND BLACK KNEE HIGH BOOTS, MET THE CROWDS LINING THE STREET TO WISH HER WELL. JORDON CHERVENKOFF, A STUDENT FROM BULGARIA, CAME TO LINE THE STREETS TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE MONARCH. THE 21 YEAR OLD SAID: 'AT FIRST I ACME OUT OF CURIOSITY, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO COME AND SHOW MY ADMIRATION FOR THE QUEEN. IT WAS A GREAT HONOUR TO MEET HER.' YESTERDAY THE QUEEN REFLECTED ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER ACCESSION TO THE THRONE AT THE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE. SHE BECAME MONARCH 58 YEARS AGO ON THE DEATH OF HER FATHER KING GEORGE VI. HE DIED ON 6.FEBRAURY.1952, AT THE ESTATE IN NORFOLK AFTER SUFFERING LUNG CANCER. SHE IS SET TO CELEBRATE HER DIAMOND JUBILEE, 60 YEARS AS QUEEN, IN 2012.

PORTLAND ART MUSEUM PRESENTS THREE WORKS BY CY TWOMBLY

AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS OF HIS GENERATION, CY TWOMBLY HAS USED MARK-MAKING AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE AS THE CORE OF HIS ARTISTIC PRACTICE SINCE THE LATE 1950s. TWOMBLY'S WORK HAS COME TO DEFINE AN IMPORTANT BRANCH OF GESTURAL ABSTRACTION THAT CONFLATES PAINTINGS AND POETRY, LINE AND WORD. A NEW EXHIBITION WILL SHOWCASE THREE RECENT WORKS; TWO VIRTUOSIC PAINTINGS AND A BRONZE SCULPTURE, THAT ILLUMINATES THE ARTIST'S CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT WITH PROCESS AND CONTENT, THE IMMEDIACY OF MATERIALS, AND THE CONTINUUM OF HISTORY. THE ARTIST'S INSTINCTIVE AND INTUITIVE BRUSHSTROKES COAX POETRY FROM THE INTERACTION OF THE PULL OF GRAVITY AND THE LIQUIDITY OF PAINT, DAZZLING THE VIEWER'S SENSES. LIVING AND WORKING IN GAETA, ITALY AND LEXINGTON, VA, THE 82 YEAR OLD TWOMBLY CONTINUES TO CREATE CHALLENGING NEW BODIES OF WORK IN PAINTING AND SCULPTURE. HIS WORK HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT RETROSPECTIVES AT THE TATE MODERN, LONDON, AND THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, AND IS IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS INTERNATIONALLY. THE STUNNING EXHIBITION OPENED 6.FEBRUARY AND RUNS THROUGH 16.MAY.2010 AT THE PORTLAND ART MUSEUM, PORTLAND, OR.

JULIE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART TO SHOW WORKS BY CHARLES MOTTALINI

JULIE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART, AUBURN, AL, OPENS A NEW EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHARLES MOTTALINI ENTITLED 'AFTER YOU LEFT, THEY TOOK IT APART: DEMOLISHED PAUL RUDOLPH HOMES'. THE EXHIBITION, ON VIEW 6.FEBRUARY THROUGH 17.APRIL, FEATURES A SERIES OF HAUNTING IMAGES THAT RECORD THE DEMISE OF THREE ABANDONED HOUSES DESIGNED BY WORLD-RENOWNED ARCHITECT PAUL RUDOLPH, WHO EARNED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. RUDOLPH, WHO DIED IN 1997, WAS ONE OF THE 20th CENTURY'S MOST ICONOCLASTIC ARCHITECTS. ORIGINATOR OF THE SARASOTA MODERN STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE IN FLORIDA, HE STUDIED AT HARVARD AFTER GRADUATING AUBURN AND LATER BECAME DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AT YALE UNIVERSITY. BEST KNOWN FOR HIS STARKLY GEOMETRIC, CONCRETE BUILDING DESIGN TERMED 'BRUTALISM', HIS RESIDENTIAL WORKS SHARED THE SAME MODERNIST AESTHETIC WHILE REFLECTING REGIONAL AND VERNACULAR INFLUENCES. BY EXPLORING THESE NEGLECTED PARADIGMS OF MODER DESIGN, MOTTALINI FOUND POIGNANCY AND NO SMALL MEASURE OF IRONY IN THE STARTLING CONTRAST OF HIGH MODERNISM LAID TO RUIN. PHOTOGRAPHED IN SOME CASES IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO TEH HOMES' DEMOLITION, HIS IMAGES ARE THE LAST 'PORTRAITS' OF RUDOLPH'S STRIKING CREATIONS. MOTTALINI'S PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE APPEARED IN NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS WORLDWIDE AND HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECENT EXHIBITIONS AT THE SANTA MONICA CENTER OF ARTS IN BARCELONA, SPAIN, AND THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY IN CHICAGO, ILL. THIS IS THE FIRST SHOWING IN ALABAMA.