27.2.10

LOUIS VUITTON $10,000 MANHATTAN RICHELIEU WINGTIP SHOE


FOR THEIR SPRING/SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION LOUIS VUITTON HAS CREATED THE ULTIMATE LUXURIOUS LACE-UP WINGTIP FOR MEN, THE MANHATTAN RICHELIEU WINGTIP SHOE FINISHED IN WAXED ALLIGATOR LEATHER AND IS PRICED AT $10,000 PER PAIR. THE CLASSIC DESIGN EMBODIES LOUIS VUITTON'S TRADITION OF LUXURY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP WITH A BIT OF VINTAGE FLAIR, THE HANDMADE FOOTWEAR FEATURES INTRICATE STITCHING AND A SUBTLE PATTERN OF PERFORATIONS. THEY ARE CRAFTED USING BLAKE CONSTRUCTION, A SHOE-MAKING TECHNIQUE DESIGNED TO IMPART IMMEDIATE SUPPLENESS AND COMFORT. BLAKE STITCHING CROSSES THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE OF THE SHOE, FINISHED IN GENUINE ALLIGATOR SKIN, AND IS VISIBLE ON THE INSIDE. THE THREAD IS EMBEDDED IN THE OUT-SOLE, MAKING IT LESS VULNERABLE TO WEAR AND TEAR. FINALLY THE STYLISH SHOES HAVE A GLOVE-SOFT LEATHER LINING, A RUTHENIUM-FINISHED LV CUBE EMBEDDED IN THE LEATHER HEEL AND A HAND-PAINTED LEATHER SOLE. THE WINGTIP TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE TOE CAP SHAPED LIKE THE SPREAD WINGS OF A BIRD,POINTED IN THE CENTER AND EXTENDING REARWARDS WITH PERFORATED SIDE SEAMS.

GEMFIELDS DISCOVERS 6,225 CARAT 'INSOFU' EMERALD IN ZAMBIA


GEMSTONE PRODUCER GEMFIELDS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE AMAZING DISCOVERY OF AN 'EXCEPTIONAL' 6,225 CARAT ROUGH EMERALD IN ITS KAGEM MINE IN ZAMBIA. THE EMERALD WAS RECOVERED DURING NORMAL MINING OPERATIONS ON 5.FEBRUARY, THE COMPANY SAID IN A STATEMENT, AND IS BEING EXAMINED BY GEMFIELDS' EXPERTS TO ESTABLISH A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF ITS VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE. THE EMERALD HAS BEEN NAMED 'INSOFU' (WHICH MEANS ELEPHANT IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE BEMBA PEOPLE WHICH ARE INDIGENOUS TO THE REGION) DUE TO ITS SIZE AND I HONOR OF THE WORLD LAND TRUST'S "WILD LANDS ELEPHANT CORRIDOR PROJECT', OF WHICH GEMFIELDS IS A PARTICIPANT. GEMFIELDS SAID ITS EXPERTS 'WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE GEM BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN IN TERMS OF ITS FUTURE.' IAN HAREBOTTLE, CEO OF GEMFIELDS, SAID: 'THIS IS A UNIQUE FIND. THE INSOFU DISPLAYS WONDERFUL COLOUR AND GOOD TRANSLUCENCY. ITS SHEER SIZE, RICH COLOUR AND FINE PROTECTIVE BIOTITE SHELL MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE DEEP INTO THE GEM. HOWEVER, ALL THE INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE CORE OF THE EMERALD IN COMPETENT AND THAT IT SHOULD YIELD A NUMBER OF CUT GEMS OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE.' THE LARGEST UNCUT EMERALD BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FOUND WAS IN CARNAIBA, BRAZIL IN 1974. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE 86,136 CARAT NATURAL BERYL CRYSTAL. THE STONE WAS EVENTUALLY VALUED AT $1,120,080.

507.5 CARAT GEM SELLS FOR RECORD $35.3 MILLION


A 507.5 CARAT GEM DISCOVERED IN SOUTH AFRICA LAST YEAR HAS BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE ROUGH DIAMOND EVER SOLD. HONG KONG'S CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELRY COMPANY BOUGHT THE CULLINAN HERITAGE STONE FOR $35.3 MILLION, PETRA DIAMONDS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY. PETRA RECOVERED THE GEM, THE 19th LARGEST EVER FOUND, DESCRIBED AS THE SIZE OF A CHICKEN'S EGG, FROM ITS CULLINAN MINE NEAR PRETORIA IN SOUTH AFRICA IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. PETRA SAID THAT THE RECORD PRICE REFLECTED THE 'INCREDIBLE RARITY' OF THE STONE BASED ON ITS 'REMARKABLE SIZE' AND 'EXCEPTIONAL COLOUR AND CLARITY'. 'IT IS FITTING THAT THE CULLINAN HERITAGE SHOULD ACHIEVE A SALE PRICE OF $35.3 MILLION, THE HIGHEST SALE PRICE ON RECORD EVER ACHIEVED FOR A ROUGH DIAMOND, AS IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT POLISHED GEMS. THE SALE PROCEEDS FURTHER BOLSTER PETRA'S TREASURY AND WILL BE INVESTED IN THE GROWTH OF OUR CORE ASSETS', SAID JOHAN DIPPENAAR, PETRA'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE. CHOW TAI FOOK HAS YET TO OUTLINE ITS PLANS FOR THE AMAZING STONE. THE WORLD'S LARGEST DIAMOND, THE 3,106 CARAT CULLINAN, WAS DISCOVERED IN THE SAME MINE IN 1905. THAT WAS CUT TO FORM THE GREAT STAR OF AFRICA AND THE LESSER STAR OF AFRICA, SET IN BRITAIN'S CROWN JEWELS. PETRA RECEIVED $9.48 MILLION AT A SALE IN MAY FOR A POLISHED 7.03 CARAT BLUE GEM, ALSO FROM THE CULLINAN MINE, SETTING A PER-CARAT RECORD. A CARAT IS A FIFTH OF A GRAM.

26.2.10

STORE TURNS EVERYTHING UP-SIDE-DOWN FOR NEW SALES PROGRAM



A NEW SALES PROMOTION RECENTLY LEFT SHOPPERS FEELING A LITTLE QUEASY, BUT THE UNIQUE AND UNUSUAL DISPLAY MOST CERTAINLY GRABBED THEIR ATTENTION. THE STAFF AT THE BRANCH OF A GAP CLOTHING STORE TUNED IT UPSIDE DONE, AND IN SOME CASES LITERALLY FROM THE MANNEQUINS INSIDE TO THE LABELS ON CLOTHES AND EVEN CARS ON THE STREET. ALMOST EVERYTHING WAS FLIPPED AS PART OF A NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM BEING TRIALED IN VANCOUVER. THE ADVERTISEMENT SCHEME, CALLED 'SPRIZE', BEARS THE TAG-LINE 'TURNING SHOPPING ON ITS HEAD'. EMPLOYEES SPENT OVER TWELVE HOURS SUSPENDING 32 MANNEQUINS FROM THE CEILING, TURNING OVER FOUR DISPLAY TABLES, HUNDREDS OF T-SHIRTS AS WELL AS THREE CARS AND A HOT DOG STAND. SHOPPERS WHO SIGN UP FOR THE 'SPRIZE PROGRAM' WILL HAVE ALL THEIR PURCHASES TRACKED, AND IF THE PRICE DROPS WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THEM BUYING THE ITEM, THEY GET THE DIFFERENCE REFUNDED TO THEIR 'SPRIZE CARD'. THEY CAN THEN USE THE CREDIT, WHICH IS VALID FOR UP TO A YEAR, TO MAKE FURTHER PURCHASES FROM GAP STORES. SO FAR 10 VANCOUVER STORES ARE INVOLVED IN THE 'SPRIZE' PILOT PROGRAM. 'WE ARE EXCITED TO BE PILOTING THIS PROGRAM IN VANCOUVER', SAID SCOTT KEY OF GAP INC. 'VANCOUVER WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST RETAIL LOCATIONS TO OPEN OUTSIDE OF THE US. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL MARKET FOR GAP AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 'SPRIZE PROGRAM HERE WILL INFORM HOW AND WHEN WE ROLL OUT 'SPRIZE TO OTHER STORES.WE THINK OUR VANCOUVER CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO APPRECIATE THIS EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK AT THE PROGRAM, AND WE HOPE THEY ENJOY THE 'SPRIZE'.

DROUOT RICHELIEU AUCTION HOUSE TO SELL CHANEL TREASURES


HUNDREDS OF FASHINOISTAS, COLLECTORS AND WOULD-BE CONSUMERS WITH A DREAM JOSTLED FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF MORE THAN 800 GARMENTS, ACCESSORIES AND SHOES BY THE ICONIC LUXURY FASHION GIANT CHANEL THAT WILL HIT THE AUCTION BLOCK. THE LOTS ON DISPLAY INCLUDE TRADEMARK TWEED SKIRT SUITS, CLASSIC CHAIN HANDBAGS, 1980s-ERA ENSEMBLES IN BOLD COLOURFUL HUES BY THE LABEL'S CURRENT IN-HOUSE DESIGNER, KARL LAGERFELD, AND VINTAGE HAUTE COUTURE GOWNS BY MADEMOISELLE CHANEL HERSELF. THE ORGANIZER, AUCTIONEER PIERRE CORNETTE DE SAN CYR, SAID HE EXPECTS THE SALE TO FETCH BETWEEN $270,000 AND $550,000, THOUGH HE ADDED 'THERE COULD BE SURPRISES'. ESTIMATES FOR THE LOTS RANGE FROM $27 FOR A BUNCH OF BUTTONS EMBLAZONED WITH THE LABEL'S HALLMARK DOUBLE 'C' TO $14,000 FOR A 1923 DROP-WAIST DRESS IN IVORY SILK, THOUGH MOST OF THE ESTIMATES HOVER AROUND THE HUNDRED DOLLAR MARK. STAR LOTS, WHICH COULD END UP FETCHING SEVERAL TIME THEIR ESTIMATES, INCLUDE A 1935 HAUTE COUTURE SHEATH GOWN IN FINE BLACK LACE, ITS NECKLINE EMBELLISHED WITH A BLACK SILK BOW, AND A 1029 AFTERNOON DRESS IN VERDANT LEAF PRINT, WITH A SWING JACKET IN EMERALD GREEN. WHILE THE VINTAGE PIECES, DISPLAYED ON MANNEQUINS BEHIND VELVET ROPES, WERE OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THEIR FRAGILE CONDITION, MOST OF THE LOTS COULD BE HANDLED, INSPECTED AND EVEN TRIED ON. A HOARD OF WOMEN OF ALL AGES, SOME OF THEM DRESSED IN HEAD TO TOE CHANEL IN A MARK OF BRAND LOYALTY, SWARMED THE RACKS, SHIMMYING INTO SLIGHTLY TOO-SMALL JACKETS, SWIMMING IN OVER-SIZED TRENCHES AND SOMETIMES, JUST SOMETIMES, FINDING THAT PERFECT FIT. IT TOOK ASSESSOR FRANCOISE STERNBACH A YEAR AND A HALF TO ASSEMBLE THE 820 LOTS, WHICH SHE ACQUIRED FROM MORE THAN 120 PRIVATE SELLERS. COME OF THE VINTAGE ITEMS WERE DUG OUT OF TRUNKS OR RESCUED FROM ATTICS WHERE THEY HAD LANGUISHED FOR DECADES, SHE SAID, ADDING SHE HOPED THOSE LOTS WOULD END UP GOING TO MUSEUMS. WITH BIDDERS EXPECTED FROM ACROSS EUROPE AND TELEPHONE BIDDER CALLING IN FROM AS FAR AFIELD AS ASIA AND AMERICA, THE REST OF THE GARMENTS WILL LIKELY GET A CHANCE TO COME BACK INTO FASHION IN THE WARDROBES OF WOMEN FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.drouot.com

ANNE WINTOUR PORTRAIT RECENTLY UNVEILED


RECENTLY A UNIQUE PORTRAIT OF ANNE WINTOUR, EDITOR OF US VOGUE, WAS UNVEILED. HER ICY DEMEANOR HAS EARNED HER THE NICKNAME 'NUCLEAR WINTOUR', SO ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE EXPRESSION WHEN THE PORTRAIT WAS DISPLAYED FOR EXHIBITION. THE PAINTING BY ACCLAIMED US ARTIST ALEX KATZ, IS NOT EXACTLY A PHOTOGRAPHIC LIKENESS. THE FAMOUS BOBBED HAIRSTYLE IS REPRESENTED, BUT BEARS A DISTINCTLY GINGER TINGE, AND THE EXPRESSION ID SOMEWHAT FLAT. ON THE PLUS SIDE, WINTOUR APPEARS MUCH YOUNGER THAN HER 60 YEARS, AND THIS IS A RARE SIGHTING OF HER WITHOUT HER SIGNATURE DARK GLASSES. SHE SAT FOR KATZ AT HIS NEW YORK STUDIO IN LATE 2009, THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS CONSENTED TO HAVE HER PORTRAIT PAINTED. 'I COULDN'T THINK OF A NICER WAY TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON. WE TALKED FOR TWO HOURS WHILE HE WORKED', RECALLED WINTOUR, WHO WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR MERYL STREEP'S TERRIFYING EDITOR IN 'THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA'. KATZ ASKED WINTOUR TO POSE WITHOUT HER SUNGLASSES AFTER WATCHING 'THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE', THE RECENT DOCUMENTARY FILM WHICH WENT BEHIND THE SCENES AT VOGUE, AND NOTICING THAT SHE HAD 'LOVELY EYES'. HE SAID: 'PAINTING ANNA WAS LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL. THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD MISS IT.' THE PAINTING WILL GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MAY AT LONDON'S NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, IN AN EXHIBITION OF KATZ'S WORK. WINTOUR'S VERDICT ON THE PORTRAIT? WELL, SHE LIKED THE YELLOW. 'I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT HE USED A LOT OF COLOUR, WHICH I ADORE', SHE SAID.

25.2.10

NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART TO ACQUIRE FOUR PROMISED PAINTINGS FROM PRIVATE COLLECTION


LAWRENCE J WHEELER, DIRECTOR, NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART, RALEIGH, NC, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A PROMISED GIFT TO THE MUSEUM FROM THE COLLECTION OF JOSIE AND JULIAN ROBERTSON, OF NEW YORK. THE GIFT INCLUDES FOUR STUNNING PAINTINGS BY IMPORTANT EUROPEAN IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ARTISTS. IN ADDITION TO PICASSO'S 'SEATED WOMAN, RED AND YELLOW BACKGROUND', THEY ARE 'THE BRIDGE AT MORET ON AN APRIL MORNING', BY ALFRED SISLEY, 'THE BRIDGE AT POISSY', BY MAURICE DE VLAMINCK, AND 'FISHING BOAT' BY EMIL NOLDE. THE FIRST OF THE PROMISED WORKS TO BE ON PUBLIC VIEW WILL BE PICASSO'S SUPERB PORTRAIT OF HIS LOVER FRANCOISE GILOT, WHICH WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE MUSEUM'S NEW BUILDING WHEN IT OPENS ON 24.APRIL. PICASSO'S VISUALLY COMPLEX, EXPRESSIVE PORTRAIT OF GILOT WAS PAINTED AT THE END OF THEIR TURBULENT RELATIONSHIP. GILOT SITS IN A STUDIO CHAIR, HAND CRADLING HER CHIN, EYES WANDERING. BUT WITHIN THE RECTANGLE OF THE PAINTING, SHE REMAINS VERY MUCH PICASSO'S SUBJECT, THE PRETEXT FOR A VIRTUOSIC PERFORMANCE OF THE ARTIST'S COMPOSITIONAL AND TECHNICAL BRILLIANCE. 'WHILE THE NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART IS KNOWN FOR ITS STRONG GROUP OF MODERN GERMAN PAINTINGS, IT NEVER HAD COMPARABLE SCHOOL OF PARIS WORKS', NOTES JOHN COFFEY, THE MUSEUM'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ART. 'THE PROMISED GIFT OF THESE WONDERFUL PICTURES ENSURES THAT THE MUSEUM WILL HAVE A SOLID REPRESENTATION OF FRENCH MODERNISTS, INCLUDING THE EXCEPTIONALLY VIVID PORTRAIT BY PICASSO, THE FIRST WORK BY THIS ARTIST TO ENTER THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION.'

KIERANTIMBERLAKE WIN THE NEW LONDON EMBASSY DESIGN COMPETITION



US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, LOUIS B SUSMAN, AND ACTING DIRECTOR OF
THE BUREAU OF OVERSEAS BUILDINGS OPERATIONS, ADAMS NAMM, ANNOUNCED RECENTLY THAT KIERANTIMBERLAKE OF PHILADELPHIA, PA, HAS WON THE DESIGN COMPETITION FOR THE NEW LONDON EMBASSY. KIERANTIMBERLAKE'S DESIGN MET THE GOAL OF CREATING A MODERN, WELCOMING, TIMELESS, SAFE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT EMBASSY FOR THE 21st CENTURY. THEIR CONCEPT MOST FULLY SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE DESIGN COMPETITION'S MISSION STATEMENT. THE CONCEPT HOLDS THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING A TRULY ICONIC EMBASSY AND IS ON THE LEADING EDGE OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN. KIERANTIMBERLAKE IS AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM KNOWN FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. STARTING WITH 37 ARCHITECTURAL SUBMISSIONS, THE BUREAU OF OVERSEAS BUILDINGS OPERATIONS NARROWED THE NUMBER TO A SHORTLIST OF NINE FIRMS. A DISTINGUISHED JURY OF BOTH AMERICAN AND BRITISH LEADERS IN THE FIELDS OF ARCHITECTURE, ACADEMIA AND DIPLOMACY SELECTED FOUR FIRMS FOR THE FINAL PHASE OF THE COMPETITION. THE FOUR FIRMS EXPLORED THE SYMBOLISM OF THE EMBASSY, ITS PRESENCE AND POSITION IN THE CITYSCAPE OF LONDON.THEIR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A BUILDING AND SITE COMPLEX WITH A TIMELESS QUALITY TO APPROPRIATELY REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. THE FOUR COMPETING ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS KIERANTIMBERLAKE, MORPHOSIS ARCHITECTS, PEI COBB FREED & PARTNERS AND RICHARD MEIER & PARTNERS WORKED FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND MADE PRESENTATIONS TO THE JURY WHICH RECOMMENDED THE WINNING DESIGN. AS KIERANTIMBERLAKE MOVES FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING, THE BUREAU OF OVERSEAS BUILDINGS OPERATIONS AND KIERANTIMBERLAKE WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE CONSULTATION AND PLANNING PROCESS INVOLVING THE LONDON MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE WANDSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL, THE COMMISSION FOR ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS IN THE AREA TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW EMBASSY PROVIDES AN APPROPRIATE HOME FOR THE UNITED STATES IN LONDON. THE ANTICIPATED GROUND BREAKING ON THE NEW LANDMARK BUILDING WILL BE ON 2013 WITH A GOAL TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION IN 2017.

LYON & TURNBULL TO SELL QUEEN VICTORIA'S SILK STOCKINGS


A PAIR OF QUEEN VICTORIA'S SILK STOCKINGS ARE TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT AN AUCTION NEXT MONTH. THE UNIQUE BLACK AND WHITE HAND-STITCHED GARMENTS WITH CRESTS ARE VALUED AT £400. THEY ARE THOUGHT TO DATE FROM 1874, WHEN SHE WAS IN HER MID-50s, AND ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN THE MONARCH'S FAVORITE DESIGN DURING THE 1870s. THE STOCKINGS WILL BE AUCTIONED AS PART OF A FINE ANTIQUES SALE AT LYON & TURNBULL IN EDINBURGH ON 24.MARCH. LEE YOUNG, A SPECIALIST AT THE AUCTION HOUSE, SAID: 'WHEN I WAS SHOWN THE STOCKINGS BY THE CURRENT OWNER, I WAS IMMEDIATELY REMINDED OF A SCENE IN THE FILM 'THE YOUNG VICTORIA' WHERE PRINCE ALBERT KNELT AT QUEEN VICTORIA'S FEET AND ROLLED HER SILK STOCKINGS UP HER LEGS. IT CONTRADICTS THE IMAGE WE USUALLY HAVE OF THE QUEEN AS A RATHER LARGE ELDERLY LADY DRESSED IN BLACK.' YOUNG ADDED: 'EXAMPLES OF THE QUEEN'S UNDERGARMENTS HAVE LONG BEEN CONSIDERED THE CROWNING GLORY FOR VICTORIANA COLLECTORS AROUND THE WORLD. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS SEVERAL ITEMS HAVE COME UP FOR AUCTION AND MADE EXCELLENT PRICES, WITH INTEREST FROM AROUND THE WORLD' IN JULY 2008 A PAIR OF BLOOMERS SAID TO HAVE BELONGED TO QUEEN VICTORIA SOLD FOR £4,500 AT AUCTION IN DERBY. THE STOCKINGS ARE BEING SOLD BY A PRIVATE COLLECTOR. IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW THE ITEMS CAME INTO THE HANDS OF THE CURRENT OWNER'S FAMILY. ON QUEEN VICTORIA'S DEATH, HER UNDERGARMENTS AND MUCH OF HER WARDROBE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD.

PATRIZZI & CO TO OFFER RARE CARTIER TABLE CLOCK


PATRIZZI & CO's HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED TO DELIGHT COLLECTORS OF WRISTWATCHES, POCKET WATCHES AND CLOCKS BY OFFERING OVER 150 PIECES UNDER THE HAMMER. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE AUCTION IS A CLASSIC 1929 GOLD AND NEPHRITE CARTIER TABLE CLOCK WITH GRANDE SONNERIE CHIMES. THE STUNNING AND UNIQUE TAB TOP TIMEPIECE IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE TWO MOST COMPLICATED TECHNOLOGIES MADE BY THE COMPANY TILL DATE. THE RARE CHRONOGRAPH COMES WITH A LARGE COMET CLOCK FEATURING A GRAND SONNERIE, MOON PHASES AND CALENDER. ENCASED IN A 14 CARAT GOLD CASE WITH A NEPHRITE BASE AND SIDE PANELS, THE ENAMEL FACE PORTRAYS PHASES OF THE MOON. IT WAS OWNED ORIGINALLY BY THE SON OF HUGH L GRANT, THE YOUNGEST MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, 1889-1892.

CHRISTIE'S ACCUSED OF SELLING £6 MILLION TITIAN PAINTING FOR £8,000


A LOST MASTERPIECE BY VENETIAN ARTIST TITIAN WHICH WAS ONCE OWNED BY KING CHARLES I AND WORTH MILLIONS WAS MISTAKENLY SOLD AT AUCTION FOR JUST £8,000 IT EMERGED RECENTLY. THE £4 MILLION 16th CENTURY PAINTING, SALOME WITH THE HEAD OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, WAS ORIGINALLY UNEARTHED DURING A HOUSE CLEARANCE IN 1993. ITS UNSUSPECTING OWNERS TOOK IT TO AUCTION HOUSE CHRISTIE'S IN LONDON WHERE THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY 'FROM THE SCHOOL OF TITIAN', BUT NOT BY THE HAND OF THE MASTER HIMSELF. ASSURED THAT CLEANING THE PAINTING WOULD BE AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE DAVID SETON POLLOK-MORRIS DICKSON AND HIS SISTER SUSAN MARJORIE GLENCORSE PRIESTLEY AGREED UPON A VALUATION. WHEN IT WENT UNDER THE HAMMER 12 MONTHS LATER IN DECEMBER 1994 THEY WATCHED AS LOT 348 WAS SOLD FOR ITS RESERVE PRICE OF JUST £8,000. ONLY LATER AFTER THE PAINTING WAS SOLD AGAIN IN 2001, THIS TIME TO A MILAN-BASED PRIVATE COLLECTOR WAS ITS TRUE VALUE REVEALED. AND IRONICALLY, ALL IT TOOK WAS A LITTLE CLEANING. YESTERDAY DICKSON AND HIS SISTER REACHED AN OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT WITH CHRISTIE'S AFTER LAUNCHING LEGAL ACTION AT THE HIGH COURT CLAIMING BREACH OF DUTY AND NEGLIGENCE. IN COURT PAPERS THEY ALLEGED THAT A SPECIALIST IN CHRISTIE'S OLD MASTER PICTURES DEPARTMENT HAD ORIGINALLY ASSESSED THE PICTURE AS 'WORTH STUDYING, COULD BE WRECK OF AN ORIGINAL?' BUT IN A LETTER PRIOR TO THE SALE, THEY SAID THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS 'DOUBTFUL' THAT THE PAINTING, FOUND IN DICKSON'S HOME, WAS ACTUALLY A TITIAN. IN JANUARY LAST YEAR IT WAS PUT UP FOR AUCTION BY SOTHEBY'S AS PART OF A COLLECTION, WITH A GUIDE PRICE OF BETWEEN £2.6 MILLION AND £4 MILLION. SOTHEBY'S DESCRIBED IT AS A 'REMARKABLE PAINTING, IN WHICH THE SEDUCTRESS SALOME STRAINS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF JON THE BAPTIST'S SEVERED HEAD.' A HIGH COURT HEARING WAS DUE TO BEGIN YESTERDAY BUT AFTER LENGTHY NEGOTIATIONS AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED AND THE CASE ADJOURNED.

QUEEN'S BENTLEY BREAKS DOWN WHILE TOURING LONDON


QUEEN ELIZABETH II RECENTLY FOUND THE TUBE MORE RELIABLE THAN HER BENTLEY. AFTER LEAVING ALDGATE STATION, ONE OF SEVERAL STOPS ON A ROYAL TOUR OF THE CITY OF LONDON, HER MAJESTY'S OFFICIAL CAR BROKE DOWN, FORCING HER TO HITCH A RIDE WITH A POLICE OFFICER. THE VINTAGE ARMOUR-PLATED BENTLEY, A GIFT TO THE QUEEN TO MARK HER GOLDEN JUBILEE IN 2002, FAILED TO START AS SHE SAT IN THE BACK SEAT OUTSIDE THE CITY SKYSCRAPER KNOWN AS THE GHERKIN. AFTER A FRUSTRATING FEW MINUTES IN WHICH THE DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION KEY REPEATEDLY TO NO AVAIL, THE QUEEN CLIMBED OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS DIRECTED TO A POLICE ESCORT RANGE ROVER, WHICH DROVE HER ON TO THE NEXT ENGAGEMENT AT THE TOWER BRIDGE, WHICH WAS THE FINAL STOP ON HER TOUR. AN ONLOOKER, WHO SAW THE SITUATION UNFOLD SAID: 'IT WAS A BIT AWKWARD. THE QUEEN LOOKED A BIT STUNNED THAT THE CAR WASN'T WORKING. SHE GOT OUT AND AN AIDE TOLD HER SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO USE A POLICE RANGE ROVER. SHE JUST HOPPED IN THE BACK AND CONTINUED ON HER JOURNEY.' EARLIER, THE QUEEN HAD BEEN DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE A PERSONALIZED 'BUCKINGHAM PALACE' TUBE STATION SIGN DURING HER VISIT TO ALDGATE, THE SCENE OF ONE OF THE 7.JULY BOMBINGS. SEVEN PASSENGERS WERE KILLED ON A CIRCLE LINE TRAIN AT ALDGATE IN THE ATROCITIES IN THE CAPITAL ON 7.JULY.2005, WHICH CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 52 PEOPLE. THE QUEEN MET TOM O'RIORDAN, A FORMER GROUP STATION MANAGER, WHO WAS ON DUTY AT THE TIME OF THE BOMBINGS, AND WAS SHOWN THE PLAQUE DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO DIED. O'RIORDAN SAID AFTERWARD: 'THE QUEEN SAID (THE BOMBINGS) WASN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAPPEN. SHE WAS THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE HAD DONE.' AS PRINCESS ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN TRAVELED ON THE UNDERGROUND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MAY 1939, WHEN SHE WAS 13 YEARS OLD, WITH HER GOVERNESS MARION CRAWFORD AND PRINCESS MARGARET. A BUCKINGHAM PALACE SPOKESPERSON CONFIRMED LAST NIGHT THAT AN INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED: 'THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUEEN'S BENTLEY DURING HER TOUR OF THE CITY OF LONDON. THE BENTLEY DID EVENTUALLY START A FEW MINUTES LATER BUT IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT FOR HER NOT TO BE LATE FOR HER NEXT ENGAGEMENT, WHICH WAS WHY SHE WENT ON AHEAD. STAFF ARE CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.'

24.2.10

L A BURDICK



WHEN I LIVED IN BOSTON ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES, TO BUY CHOCOLATE OR JUST HAVE A QUIET MOMENT ENJOYING COFFEE AND PASTRY, WAS THE AMAZING LA BURDICK, A QUAINT LITTLE CAFE IN HARVARD SQUARE, CAMBRIDGE. I HAVE TO ADMIT I WOULD ALWAYS BUY TOO MANY OF THEIR SIGNATURE CHOCOLATE MICE AND PENGUINS. AND FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, LA BURDICK HAS BEEN BRINGING THE VERY BEST INGREDIENTS IN THE WORLD TOGETHER IN THEIR STUNNING AND UNIQUE OFFERINGS.


AFTER YEARS SPENT STUDYING THE ART OF CHOCOLATE IN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND, LARRY BURDICK FOUNDED HIS CHOCOLATE COMPANY IN A BROOKLYN, NEW YORK WORKSHOP IN 1987. WITHIN A YEAR, HE WAS SELLING HIS BONBONS TO A HANDFUL OF NEW YORK RESTAURANTS. IN 1990. A POSITIVE REVIEW IN THE NEW YORK TIMES SPARKED INTEREST IN BURDICK'S HANDIWORK; A YEAR LATER, HE STARTED HIS MAIL ORDER BUSINESS. IN 1993, BURDICK AND HIS WIFE, PAULA, MOVED TO WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY GREW THE BUSINESS FROM A FLEDGLING START-UP TO AN INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE MAIL ORDER AND RETAIL OUTFIT, WITH LARRY SUPPLYING THE CHOCOLATE EXPERTISE AND PAULA USING DESIGN SMARTS HONED AT THE NEW YORK FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TO PREPARE THE PACKAGING. TODAY, LA BURDICK OPERATES RETAIL STORES IN WALPOLE, NH, CAMBRIDGE, MASS, AND NEW YORK. FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO ONE OF THEIR AMAZING SHOPS, A STUNNING ARRAY OF DELECTABLE DELIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.burdickchocolate.com

MUSEUM OF LONDON OPENS NEW GALLERY


WAR, PLAGUE AND FIRE, A NEW GALLERY EXPLORING THE TUMULTUOUS CENTURY FROM THE ACCESSION OF ELIZABETH I IN 1558 TO THE GREAT FIRE OF 1666 OPENS THIS WEEK AT THE MUSEUM OF LONDON. BRINGING ALIVE ONE OF THE MOST TURBULENT PERIODS IN LONDON'S HISTORY, THE GALLERY IS FULL OF TREASURES FROM THE MUSEUM'S UNIQUE COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING PRINTING PLATES FROM LONDON'S EARLIEST MAP, RARE DELFTWARE POTTERY, EXQUISITE JACOBEAN JEWELS, OLIVER CROMWELL'S DEATH MASK AND ARCHAEOLOGY FROM THE FIRE THAT NEARLY DESTROYED THE CITY. THE MUCH LOVED GREAT FIRE EXPERIENCE, ONE OF THE OLDEST MODELS IN THE MUSEUM, HAS BEEN RELIT WITH NEW FIBER-OPTIC LIGHTS, VISUAL AND SOUND EFFECTS. AS THE GALLERY OPENS THERE IS ALSO A RARE CHANCE TO SEE THE VEST BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN WORN BY CHARLES I AT HIS BEHEADING, COMPLETE WITH GRUESOME BLOOD STAINS. THE LONDON IS THIS GALLERY SHOWS A DIVIDED METROPOLIS: HOME TO PLEASURE-SEEKERS, WHO FLOCKED TO SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS, AND EVANGELICAL PURITANS, WHO WISHED TO BURN THE THEATERS DOWN. BUT IT WAS ALSO A CENTER OF TRADE WITH A NETWORK STARTING TO REACH AROUND THE GLOBE. THE CITY GREW BEYOND ITS WALLS AND TEH POPULATION TREBLED. THE GALLERY SEES LONDON TRANSFORMING FROM MEDIEVAL TO MODERN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.museumoflondon.org.uk

QUINN'S AUCTION GALLERIES TO OFFER RARE DAUMIER PAINTING


MATTHEW QUINN, PARTNER IN QUINN'S AUCTION GALLERIES, IS ACCUSTOMED TO DEALING WITH AMAZING CONSIGNMENTS AND ESTATE CONTENTS FROM WASHINGTON DC DIPLOMATS AND HIGH SOCIETY, SO IT TAKES SOMETHING RATHER SPECIAL TO CAPTURE HIS IMAGINATION. THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY WHEN A WASHINGTON WOMAN BROUGHT IN A PAINTING THAT, WHILE UNSIGNED, WAS IDENTIFIED ON VERSO AS BEING A WORK BY HONORE DAUMIER. DAUMIER WAS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS SATIRICAL LITHOGRAPHS, AND PRODUCED NEARLY 4,000 LITHOS BEFORE HE LOST HIS SIGHT AT AGE 64. AS HE WAS CREATING HIS LITHOGRAPHS, HE ALSO PAINTED. HOWEVER, DAUMIER'S PAINTINGS ARE VERY RARE, VERY FEW WERE DISPLAYED PUBLICLY DURING THE ARTIST'S LIFETIME. THE PAINTING APPEARS TO BE AN OIL SKETCH THAT DAUMIER WOULD HAVE CREATED PRIOR TO EXECUTING HIS OIL-ON-PANEL WORKS IN THE SERIES TITLED THE PRINT COLLECTOR. THE SUBJECT OF THE SERIES IS A TOP-HATTED GENTLEMAN WHO BROWSES THROUGH ART PRINTS IN A GALLERY SETTING. THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO AND THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART ARE AMONG THE INSTITUTIONS THAT OWNS ORIGINALS FROM THE SERIES. THE FRENCH WRITING ON THE BACK OF THE PAINTING: 'H DAUMIER / ESQUISSE ORIGINATE POUR L'AMATEUR D'ESTAMPES'. SEVERAL KNOWLEDGEABLE BUYERS OF EUROPEAN ART WHO HAVE VIEWED THE PAINTING SAID THEY WERE IMPRESSED BOTH BY ITS BEAUTY AND THE ARTIST'S REFINED TECHNIQUE. 'BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAY IT'S POSITIVELY A DAUMIER', SAID QUINN. 'IN FACT, I'VE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME TRYING TO DISCREDIT THIS PAINTING, BUT I CAN'T. REALISTICALLY, A SIGNED DAUMIER IN TODAY'S MARKET MIGHT BRING IN THE RANGE OF $60,000 TO $80,000, BUT THIS ARTWORK IS NOT SIGNED, SO WITHOUT SOLID PROVENANCE, WE'RE OFFERING IT IN OUR 6.MARCH SALE WITH AN ATTRIBUTION TO DAUMIER AND A $6,000-$8,000 ESTIMATE. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT IT WILL BRING AS AN UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED WORK.'

23.2.10

DOM PERIGNON WEDDING SERVICE



DOM PERIGNON HAS RECENTLY CREATED A SPECIAL SERVICE CATERING SPECIFICALLY TO WEDDINGS. THE DOM PERIGNON WEDDING SERVICE CONSISTS OF TWELVE DOM PERIGNON VINTAGE 2000 MAGNUMS. A THIRTEENTH BOTTLE FEATURES A CUSTOM LABEL MADE OF STERLING SILVER ENGRAVED WITH THE NAME OF BOTH BRIDE AND GROOM AND DATE OF THE WEDDING. DOM PERIGNON HAVE ONLY MADE A CUSTOM BOTTLE ONCE BEFORE IN THEIR THREE HUNDRED YEAR HISTORY AND THAT WAS FOR THE MARRIAGE OF LADY DIANA SPENCER AND PRINCE CHARLES IN 1981. THE DOM PERIGNON WEDDING SERVICE CAN BE ORDERED FROM DOM PERIGNON MERCHANTS WORLDWIDE.

DALI UNIVERSE MOVES OUT OF ITS LOCATION


DALI UNIVERSE, ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST COLLECTIONS OF DALI, IS MOVING FROM COUNTY HALL ON LONDON'S SOUTH BANK TO A NEW LOCATION IN LONDON. OVER 500 DALI ARTWORKS WHICH WERE EXHIBITED TO GREAT ACCLAIM OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, ARE MOVING TO A NEW HOME WHICH IS BETTER SITUATED TO PLEASE THE MUSEUM GOING PUBLIC. THEIR RECENT PRESS RELEASE SAID: WE ARE SORRY FOR AN INCONVENIENCE CAUSED AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANNOUNCING A NEW SPACE AND A NEW EXHIBITION WHICH WILL HAVE MANY OF THE OLD FAVORITES AS WELL AS A NEW DALI COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS ON LOAN FROM A SECRET SPANISH ADMIRER. IN THE MEANTIME, ART LOVERS WHO WISH TO SEE ONE OF EUROPE'S LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF DALI CAN VISIT THE ESPACE DALI EXHIBITION IN MONTMARTES, PARIS AND www.daliparis.com.'

PRINCE WILLIAM VISITS ST DUNSTAN'S CENTER


PRINCE WILLIAM RECENTLY FOUND HE WAS WAY OFF-TARGET WHEN HE TURNED HIS HAND TO ARCHERY, BUT THEN HE WAS WEARING A BLINDFOLD. THE YOUNG PRINCE WAS VISITING A NEW TRAINING CENTER FOR BLIND EX-SERVICE PERSONNEL WHEN HE WAS INVITED TO FIRE ARROWS AT A TARGET WHILE COVERING HIS EYES. DESPITE GUIDANCE FROM CLIVE JONES, A FORMER WELSH GUARDSMAN AND INSTRUCTOR AT ST DUNSTAN'S CENTER IN LLANDUDNO, WALES, HE WAS UNABLE TO HIT HIS MARK WITH THREE ATTEMPTS. HOWEVER, HE DREW LAUGHTER FROM ONLOOKERS WHEN HE DISCOVERED HE WAS NO MORE ACCURATE WITH A FOURTH SHOT, DESPITE HAVING REMOVED THE BLINDFOLD. 'I'M GOING TO GIVE UP NOW BEFORE IT GETS TOO EMBARRASSING', THE PRINCE JOKED. MEANWHILE JONES WHO WAS BLINDED IN BOTH EYES IN AN OFF-DUTY ASSAULT, HIT THE TARGET ON ALL THREE OF HIS ARROWS. THE PRINCE, WHO IS CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE RAF, ALSO MET FORMER SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE NEW FACILITIES AT THE CHARITY'S GROUNDBREAKING NEW COMPLEX. JOINED BY GENERAL SIR RICHARD DANNATT, FORMER CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF, THE PRINCE SPOKE TO IRAQ VETERANS SIMON BROWN, WHO WAS BLINDED BY SNIPER FIRE, AND CORPORAL CRAIG LUNDBERG, WHO LOST HIS SIGHT AFTER BEING HIT BY A ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE. BROWN SAID: 'WHEN I WAS LYING IN HOSPITAL I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS GOING TO COPE. BUT THANKS TO THE SUPPORT AND SENSE OF BELONGING I RECEIVED FROM ST DUNSTAN'S COMMUNITY, I'VE GAINED MY CONFIDENCE.' EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE PRINCE VISITED LIVERPOOL'S ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO UNVEIL A £3 MILLION MRI SCANNER, WHICH WILL ALLOW SURGEONS TO ATTEMPT LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURES. HE TOLD SION MEREDITH, A SEVEN YEAR OLD BRAIN TUMOR PATIENT, HOW HE WAS 'SCARED' WHEN HE HAD AN MRI SCAN AT THE AGE OF EIGHT. IN 1991, THE PRINCE WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD WITH A GOLF CLUB AT HIS SCHOOL IN LUDGROVE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE ROYAL BERKSHIRE HOSPITAL IN READING. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED BY AMBULANCE TO LONDON'S GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL AND IT EMERGED HE HAD SUFFERED A DEPRESSED FRACTURE OF THE FOREHEAD. THE PRINCE NOW AFFECTIONATELY CALLS HIS WOUND HIS 'HARRY POTTER SCAR'.

22.2.10

LOUIS VUITTON HEADPHONE BRACELET



ANOTHER STUNNING AND VERY UNIQUE ACCESSORY FROM THE LOUIS VUITTON SPRING-SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION IS THE NEW HEADPHONE BRACELET. A HEADPHONE CORD IS A COMMON PIECE OF MATERIAL BUT WHEN WORKED BY MARC JACOBS' HANDS IT BECOMES ONE OF THE MOST FASHION FORWARD OF ACCESSORIES. INSPIRED BY THE HEADPHONES WORN BY DJs, THE BRACELET IS SKILLFULLY CRAFTED FROM MATERIALS SUCH AS CALF LEATHER, METAL AND COLOURFUL LACQUER. IT ALSO FEATURES AN INNOVATIVE MAGNETIC CLOSURE SYSTEM AND A LOUIS VUITTON SIGNATURE ENGRAVED ON TOP OF THE BRACELET. THE LOUIS VUITTON HEADPHONE BRACELET COMES IS TWO COLOURS: GOLD AND GREY AND IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT SELECT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE

GEMEENTEMUSEUM DEN HAAG TO PRESENT STUNNING EXHIBITION ON COUTURE


ONLY A HANDFUL OF FASHION HOUSES BELONG TO A SELECT WORLD OF HAUTE COUTURE. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHAMBRE SYNDICALE DE LA HAUTE COUTURE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1868, IS AN EXCLUSIVE HONOR SUBJECT TO A TOUGH SELECTION PROCEDURE AND STRICT RULES. THE DESIGNERS AFFILIATED TO THE CHAMBRE ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE WORLD, REPEATEDLY SURPRISING US WITH THEIR BREATHTAKING CREATIONS. THIS IS THE WORLD OF GREAT NAMES LIKE DIOR, LACROIX AND GAULTIER. IN SPRING 2010 GEMEENTEMUSEUM DEN HAAG WILL BE GIVING VISTORS AN EXCLUSIVE GLIMPSE OF THE RICH HISTORY OS A FASCINATING WORLD OF CHARM, CHAMPAGNE AND CHANEL. THE STUNNING EXHIBITION WILL SHOWCASE THE HISTORY OF HAUTE COUTURE, ALONGSIDE CREATIONS BY TOP COUTURIERS. RENOWNED FASHION HOUSES LIKE DIOR, CHANEL, CHRISTIAN LACROIX AND JEAN PAUL GAULTIER WILL LEND A NUMBER OF EXCLUSIVE COUTURE CREATIONS FROM THEIR LATEST COLLECTIONS, FRESH FROM THE CATWALK, AND NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN THE NETHERLANDS. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO ADMIRE CLOSE BY THE DETAILS THAT MAKE THESE GARMENTS SO UNIQUE: THE SUMPTUOUS FABRICS, UNPARALLELED EMBROIDERY, THE CUT. IN SHORT: ALL THE SKILLS OF PARISIAN COUTURE. CONTEMPORARY COUTURE IS NOT THE ONLY THING THE EXHIBITION WILL HIGHLIGHT, THE MUSEUM GALLERIES WILL ALSO RECOUNT THE STORY OF COUTURE, BEGINNING IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY. VISITORS WILL NOT ONLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADMIRE EXCLUSIVE CREATIONS BY TOP DESIGNERS, BUT ALSO DESIGN DRAWINGS, ACCESSORIES, MOVING IMAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO COVER THE HISTORY OF DUTCH COUTURE, FROM THE COPIES OF DESIGNS FROM PARIS TO THE GREAT DUTCH COUTURIERS LIKE CHARLES MONTAIGNE, FRANK GOVERS, FONG LENG AND RISING NEW STAR JAN TAMINIAU. THE GEMEENTEMUSEUM DEN HAAG OWNS ONE OF THE LARGEST FASHION COLLECTIONS IN EUROPE, IN WHICH ALL THE GREAT COUTURE HOUSES ARE WELL REPRESENTED. THE ORIGINAL PINK GIVENCHY DRESS THAT AUDREY HEPBURN WORE IN BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S IS JUST ONE FAMOUS ITEM IN THE COLLECTION. IT ALSO INCLUDES EARLIER PIECES THAT ILLUSTRATE THE HISTORY OF COUTURE: WORTH, POIRET AND VIONNET WERE FORERUNNERS OF THE FAMOUS COUTURIERS WHO NW DEFINE THE LOOK OF PARIS'S AVENUE MONTAIGNE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.gemeentemuseum.nl

PRINCE WILLIAM MAKES DEBUT AS PRESIDENT OF BAFTAS


PRINCE WILLIAM MADE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AS PRESIDENT OF THE BAFTAS, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HIS GRANDFATHER AND AUNT, THIS EVENING AND PAID A MOVING TRIBUTE TO THE OUTGOING LORD ATTENBOROUGH. DESPITE FREEZING WINTRY CONDITIONS THE YOUNG PRINCE LOOKED DASHING AS HE MADE HIS WAY ALONG THE RED CARPET, TAKING TIME TO HAVE HIS PICTURES TAKEN WITH THE GALLERY OF FEMALE ADMIRERS. ONE TEENAGE FAN SAID: 'HE IS SO CHARMING. HE DIDN'T SEEM LIKE ROYALTY AT ALL AND SPENT AGES HAVING HIS PHOTO TAKEN WITH US.' AND HIS FIRST TASK WAS TO PRESENT A BRITISH ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP AWARD TO AVOWED REPUBLICAN VANESSA REDGRAVE. THE FELLOWSHIP RECOGNIZES AN INDIVIDUALS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO FILM AND HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN TO SOME OF THE INDUSTRY'S BIGGEST NAMES, INCLUDING CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND ALFRED HITCHCOCK. REDGRAVE, 73, HAS HAD A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER, WINNING THE BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS OSCAR IN 1977 FOR JULIA, IN WHICH SHE PORTRAYED A JEWISH WOMAN MURDERED BY THE NAZIS. BUT WHILE SHE IS PART OF SHOW BUSINESS ROYALTY, SHE HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN SO KEEN ON BRITAIN'S MONARCHY. A SELF-CONFESSED REPUBLICAN, IN THE 1970s SHE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE WORKERS' REVOLUTIONARY PARTY WHICH CALLED FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE MONARCHY. THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH BAFTA, PRINCE PHILIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ITS INCEPTION AND BECAME ITS FIRST PRESIDENT, FOLLOWED BY HIS DAUGHTER, PRINCESS ANNE. WILLIAM SUCCEEDS LORD ATTENBOROUGH TO BECOME ITS FIFTH PRESIDENT. THE PRINCE GAVE A SPEECH TO THE GATHERED STARS AND INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE BEFORE THE CEREMONY BEGAN. HE TOLD THE AUDIENCE THAT HE WAS 'HONORED' TO TAKE THE ROLE. HE ADDED: 'THE VISUAL ARTS ARE SUCH A VITAL PART OF WHAT MAKES UP THE FABRIC OF THE NATION. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO LORD ATTENBOROOUGH FOR INVITING ME TO TAKE OVER FOR HIM. BRITAIN HAS BEEN A CULTURAL LEADER IN SO MANY WAYS LEST IN ITS CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS.' HE ADDED: 'OCCASIONS SUCH AS TONIGHT ARE OBVIOUSLY WONDERFUL SHOWCASES FOR THE BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY, BUT I AM ALSO EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF WORKING WITH BAFTA ON ITS MYRIAD CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS. BECAUSE WHAT IS LESS KNOWN ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION IS HOW MUCH GOOD IT DOES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ITS MENTORING SCHEMES, CAREER STARTER INITIATIVES AND LEARNING AND EVENTS ACTIVITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO SUPPORT THE GENIUS OF FILM. THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BECOME YOUR FIFTH PRESIDENT.'

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART TO PRESENT 'EUROPEAN DESIGN SINCE 1985: SHAPING THE NEW CENTURY'


THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, WILL BE PRESENTING A NEW EXHIBITION 'EUROPEAN DESIGN SINCE 1985: SHAPING THE NEW CENTURY', THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF WESTERN DESIGN FROM 1985 TO 2005. THE EXHIBITION TRACES THE EVOLUTION OF DESIGN WITH NEARLY 200 WORKS BY SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS OF THIS ERA, ENCOMPASSING FURNITURE, GLASS, CERAMICS, METALWORK AND A BROAD RANGE OF PRODUCT DESIGN CREATED BY 117 DESIGNERS FROM 14 WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. ADDITIONAL WORKS FROM THIS PERIOD WILL BE INCORPORATED FROM THE HIGH'S GROWING COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN. 'EUROPEAN DESIGN SINCE 1985', ORGANIZED BY THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART (IMA) AND THE DENVER ART MUSEUM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, LONDON, WILL BE ON VIEW AT THE HIGH FROM 5.JUNE THROUGH 29.AUGUST.2010. 'EUROPEAN DESIGN SINCE 1985' EXAMINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LARGER AESTHETIC MOVEMENTS OF DECORATIVE AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN THAT TRANSCENDED NATIONAL BORDERS AND DEFINED NEW RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ART, DESIGN AND CRAFT DURING THIS PERIOD. THE EXHIBITION ALSO FOCUSES ON THE TWO GENERATIONS OF DESIGNERS THAT SHAPED THESE MOVEMENTS. THE FIRST GENERATION, BORN AFTER WORLD WAR II, INCLUDES RON ARAD, PHILIPPE STARCK, AND MARC NEWSON. BORN AFTER 1960, THE SECOND GENERATION HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEGUN TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION AND INCLUDES JURGEN BEY, MAARTEN BAAS, AND MARCEL WANDERS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.high.org

21.2.10

LOUIS VUITTON PLUMBER BRACELET



FOR THEIR SPRING-SUMMER 2010 COLLECTION LUXURY FASHION HOUSE LOUIS VUITTON HAS CREATED A UNIQUE NEW LINE OF JEWELRY. THE STUNNING ACCESSORY IS CALLED THE PLUMBER BRACELET WHICH WAS INSPIRED BY THE METAL PIPES USED BY PLUMBERS. THE CHUNKY AND COLOURFUL BRACELETS ARE MADE OF METAL TUBING AND COLOURFULLY LACQUERED, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE IN ORANGE OR PINK, AND SET WITH SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES AND FEATURES AN INNOVATIVE CLOSER SYSTEM. THE LOUIS VUITTON PLUMBER BRACELET WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE AT SELECT LOUIS VUITTON BOUTIQUES UNTIL THEIR WIDE RELEASE IN JUNE.

SCUDERIE DEL QUIRINALE PRESENTS HISTORIC CARAVAGGIO EXHIBITION


THE MASTER OF LIGHT, SHADOW AND EMOTION IS BACK ON CENTER STAGE AFTER 400 YEARS. AN EXHIBITION OPENING THIS WEEKEND IN ROME COMMEMORATES BAROQUE MASTER CARAVAGGIO, WHO REVOLUTIONIZED THE ART WORLD WITH HIS REALISM AND INTENSITY. THE SHOW BRINGS TOGETHER 24 PAINTINGS, FROM MUSEUMS ACROSS EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES, OF UNDISPUTED AUTHENTICITY ON THE 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PAINTER'S DEATH. CURATORS SAID THEY AIMED TO PRESENT THE TRUE MICHELANGELO MERISI DA CARAVAGGIO (1571-1610) AFTER A CENTURY IN WHICH MANY WORKS OF OTHER ARTISTS HAVE BEEN FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO HIM. THE EXHIBIT TAKES PLACE AT THE SCUDERIE DEL QUIRINALE, A MUSEUM FASHIONED FROM THE STABLES OF ROME'S QUIRINAL PALACE, AND RUNS THROUGH 13.JUNE. BY FRIDAY, SOME 50,000 RESERVATIONS ALREADY HAD BEEN MADE FOR WHAT NEWSPAPER CORRIERE DELLA SERA DUBBED ROME'S 'EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR'.
THE ROME EXHIBITION IS ORGANIZED CHRONOLOGICALLY AND DIVIDED INTO THE THREE MAIN PERIODS OF CARAVAGGIO'S SHORT CAREER. CARAVAGGIO, WHO DIED WHEN HE WAS 39, PAINTED FOR 18 YEARS AND PRODUCED RELATIVELY FEW PIECES. PERIODS OF INTENSE CREATION WERE INTERSPERSED WITH LONG PERIODS OF ARTISTIC REST. IN HIS FIRST STAGE, 1592-1599, CARAVAGGIO OFTEN USED GREEN AS A PREDOMINANT BACKGROUND COLOUR. IN THE SECOND PHASE, 1607-1610, DUBBED 'FLIGHT', FIGURES ARE OFTEN SET IN GREY. 'FLIGHT' REFERS TO CARAVAGGIO'S BEING FORCED TO FLEE ROME IN 1606 AFTER RECEIVING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING A MAN IN A DUEL. HE SPENT THE LAST YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN NAPLES, MALTA AND SICILY. IN THAT LATE PERIOD, CARAVAGGIO PRODUCED A REMARKABLE 'DAVID WITH THE HEAD OF GOLIATH', PORTRAYING HIS OWN LIKENESS IN THE DECAPITATED HEAD OF GOLIATH. DAVID SEEMS ALMOST COMPASSIONATE AND MOVED AS HE LOOKS AT THE SEVERED HEAD, 'ALMOST AN ETERNAL ADMONITION AGAINST THE ABSURDITY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT', CURATORS WROTE IN AN ACCOMPANYING TEXT. OTHER WORKS ON LOAN INCLUDE 'THE MUSICIANS', WHICH DEPICTS FOUR MALE YOUTHS PLAYING MUSIC, FROM THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK AND 'AMOR VINCIT OMNIA' SHOWING A WINGED CUPID, FROM BERLIN'S GEMAELDEGALERIE MUSEUM.

PREVIEW SEQUEL TO THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA NEW SONG 'TILL I HEAR YOU SING'


AS THE SEQUEL TO THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S NEW MUSICAL LOVE NEVER DIES IS ONE OF THE MOST EAGERLY AWAITED SHOWS IN BRITISH THEATER. FANS WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT MONTH FOR THE MUSICAL TO OPEN, BUT TODAY ARIA IS BRINGING AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE SHOW'S STUNNING SOUNDTRACK. THE SINGLE, TILL I HEAR YOU SING, IS AN EPIC BALLAD FILLED WITH LLOYD WEBBER'S TRADEMARK THEMES OF LOVE AND OBSESSION AND FEATURES THE HAUNTING VOICE OF OPERA SINGER RAMIN KARIMLOO, WHO WILL REPRISE THE ROLE OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. LOVE NEVER DIES CONTINUES THE STORY OF THE PHANTOM, WHO HAS MOVED FROM THE PARIS OPERA HOUSE TO HAUNT THE FAIRGROUNDS OF CONEY ISLAND. IT IS TEN YEARS SINCE HE DISAPPEARED. LOVE NEVER DIES OPENS AT THE ADELPHI THEATER IN LONDON ON 9.MARCH.