LONDON BAR SELLS VINTAGE DOM PERIGNON FOR £50,000

A VINTAGE BOTTLE OF DOM PERIGNON HAS BROKEN THE RECORD FOR THE MOST EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF WINE EVER SOLD AT A BRITISH BAR, FOR £35,000. THE METHUSELAH OF 1996 ROSE GOLD, DUBBED THE 'KING OF CHAMPAGNES', WAS SOLD AT A TOP LONDON HOTEL. A TILL RECEIPT SHOWS THE BUYER LEFT A £10,625 TIP, IN ADDITION TO THE £4,375 SERVICE CHARGE. THE GRATUITY RAISED THE TOTAL TO £50,000, OR THE EQUIVALENT OF £1,562.50 PER GLASS. THE BUYER, THOUGHT TO BE A RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE, IS SAID TO HAVE SPILLED 'AT LEAST THREE GLASSES' WITHIN MINUTES OF THE PURCHASE AT THE WESTBURY HOTEL ON TUESDAY. WHILE OTHER CHAMPAGNES HAVE SOLD MORE AT AUCTION, THE ROSE GOLD IS BELIEVED TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE SINGLE BOTTLE EVER BOUGHT FROM A BAR. IT WAS SOLD ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT A VIP AFTER-SHOW PARTY FOLLOWING THE GALA SCREENING OF THE NEW BRITISH COMEDY, 'BOOGIE WOOGIE'. TEH BAR MANAGER REFUSED TO REVEAL THE BUYER'S IDENTITY. THE 1996 VINTAGE IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FINEST IN THE 20th CENTURY AND WITH ONLY 35 BOTTLES PRODUCED PER YEAR, ITS INCREDIBLY RARE AND SOUGHT AFTER. THE ROSE METHUSELAH, THE EQUIVALENT TO EIGHT STANDARD SIZED BOTTLES, IS PRODUCED BY THE FRENCH WINERY MOET ET CHANDON AND IS PRIZED FOR ITS 'EXCELLENCE AND ELEGANCE'. THE BOTTLE ITSELF HAS A METAL CASING DIPPED IN ROSE GOLD, AND IS WORTH ALMOST £20,000 ALONE. IT IS SO EASILY SCRATCHED THAT SOMMELIERS ARE INSTRUCTED TO WEAR WHITE SILK GLOVES WHEN OPENING OR POURING. ACCORDING TO ITS MAKERS, THE BLEND IS 'CHARACTERIZED BY THE VIVACIOUS INTERPLAY BETWEEN PINOT NOIR AND CHARDONNAY GRAPES' AND IS 'COPPER PINK WITH SHADES OF AMBER AND GOLD' IN COLOUR.

JAMES A MICHENER ART MUSEUM PRESENTS 'MICHELLE BERKOWITZ: CONTEMPORARY COSTUMES'

THIS SPRING, THE JAMES A MICHENER ART MUSEUM, DOYLESTOWN, PA., PRESENTS CONTEMPORARY FASHIONS BY COSTUME ARTIST MICHELLE ANNETTE BERKOWITZ. CELEBRATED IN THE SOCIETY PAGES OF THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA NEWSPAPERS FOR HER UNIQUE EVENING GOWNS, BERKOWITZ'S DESIGN EXPLORATIONS ALSO INCLUDE MILLINERY, BEADED JEWELRY AND STERLING SILVER, AND RESTORATION WORK ON VINTAGE APPAREL. 'MICHELLE BERKOWITZ: CONTEMPORARY COSTUMES' IS ON VIEW IN THE MUSEUM'S PFUNDT GALLERY FROM 17.APRIL THROUGH 8.AUGUST AS A COUNTERPART TO 'ICONS OF COSTUME: HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN ERA AND BEYOND'. 'USING ANTIQUE FABRICS AND TRIM AND PERIOD SEWING TECHNIQUES, I CREATE WEARABLE ART FOR TODAY'S WOMAN', EXPLAINS BERKOWITZ, WHOSE GOWNS OFTEN FEATURE MODULAR COMPONENTS, LIKE CRINOLINES, UNDERSKIRTS, JACKETS AND WRAPS THAT CAN BE INTERCHANGED TO CREATE MULTIPLE COSTUMES. BERKOWITZ'S INFLUENCES INCLUDE THE FATHER OF HAUTE COUTURE, CHARLES FREDERICK WORTH, NOTED PHILADELPHIA MILLINER, ALZIE JACKSON, AND RENOWNED DESIGNER JUDITH LEIBER. A NATIVE OF PHILADELPHIA, BERKOWITZ STUDIED INTERIOR DESIGN AT DREXEL UNIVERSITY AND MILLINERY AT MOORE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN. IN ADDITION TO HER OWN ORIGINAL WORK, BERKOWITZ IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH RESTORATION OF COSTUMES FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF HOLLYWOOD.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.michenermuseum.org

BOWES MUSEUM INSTALLS NEW FUNDRAISING SWAN

THE BOWES MUSEUM, COUNTY DURHAM, HAS RECENTLY TAKEN DELIVERY OF A NEW, COIN OPERATED SILVER SWAN WHICH IT HOPES WILL GENERATE EXTRA FUNDING TOWARDS THE UPKEEP OF THE FRENCH STYLE CHATEAU. BESPOKE FURNITURE MAKERS ANTHONY NIXON, OF BARNARD CASTLE, WERE COMMISSIONED TO PRODUCE THE UNUSUAL DONATIONS BOX AND THEY CERTAINLY GAVE THEIR IMAGINATION FULL REIN IN CREATING THE STUNNING HAND CARVED BIRD FROM OAK. 'WE WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING RELEVANT TO THE MUSEUM, AND WITH A BIT MORE INTEREST THAN YOUR USUAL CONTRIBUTIONS BOX', SAID THE FIRM'S OWNER. 'THE SILVER SWAN, AS THE MUSEUM'S MOST IDENTIFIABLE ARTIFACT, WAS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE.' THE MUSEUM'S ORIGINAL SILVER SWAN WAS ONCE COIN OPERATED, AND MANY VISITORS RECALL PUTTING SIXPENCE, 2½p IN TODAY'S TERMS, IN A SLOT TO OPERATE IT. HOWEVER, THE UNIQUE AUTOMATION IS NOW PLAYED JUST ONCE A DAY TO PRESERVE ITS DELICATE CONDITION. THE NEW SWAN HAS A SLOT WHICH DIRECTS COINS INTO THE HEAD OF THE BIRD, AND WHEN ENOUGH COINS ARE COLLECTED THE SWAN GRACEFULLY DIPS ITS NECK, REMINISCENT OF THE ORIGINAL 230 YEAR OLD AUTOMATION, AND DEPOSITS THE CASH INTO A COLLECTING BOX. THE WOODEN SWAN, WHICH IS PAINTED SILVER, SITS WITHIN A FUMED OAK CASE, WHICH INCORPORATES A STEP TO ALLOW VISITORS TO REACH THE COIN SLOT. THE COMMISSION, WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY NIXON'S COMPANY, TOOK OVER 200 MAN HOURS TO COMPLETE.

NATIONAL GALLERY DISCOVERS 15th PAINTING TO BE FAKE

THE NATIONAL GALLERY HAS DISCOVERED AN IMPOSTOR AMONG ITS GREAT OLD MASTER PICTURES, A 19th CENTURY FORGERY OF A 15th CENTURY PAINTING. THE VIRGIN AND CHILD WITH AN ANGEL HAS BEEN A HIGHLY PRIZED PAINTING BY THE RENAISSANCE ARTIST FRANCESCO FRANCIA SINCE IT WAS ACQUIRED AS A GIFT ALMOST 100 YEARS AGO. IT WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN PAINTED AROUND 1490. NOW IT HAS BEEN UNMASKED AS A FAKE, PAINTED AS RECENTLY AS THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY. EXPERTS AT THE GALLERY FOUND THE DAMNING EVIDENCE RECENTLY WHEN THEY USED ROUTINE SCIENTIFIC TESTS TO LOOK THROUGH THE PAINTING'S LAYERS FOR THE FIRST TIME. SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS EXPOSED THE DECEPTION, REVEALING THAT THE FORGER USED PIGMENTS THAT WERE NOT AVAILABLE BEFORE THE 19th CENTURY AND COATED THE TOP LAYER WITH A NATURAL RESIN TO SIMULATE THE APPEARANCE OF AGE. TO THEIR ASTONISHMENT, THEY DISCOVERED A PRELIMINARY DRAWING BENEATH THE PAINTING DRAWN IN GRAPHITE PENCIL, AN IMPLEMENT THAT DID NOT EXIST AT THAT TIME. 'THIS PROVED THE PAINTING COULD NOT BE AN AUTHENTIC FRANCESCO FRANCIA', SAID A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE GALLERY. 'THE STYLE OF THE UNDER-DRAWING WAS 19th CENTURY RATHER THAN THE 16th', SHE ADDED. IF NOT FOR THE SCIENTIFIC TESTS, THE FORGERY WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. THE OIL ON WOOD PAINTING, WHICH MEASURES 58.5 BY 44.5 cm, WAS DESCRIBED AS A FRANCIA WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT BY THE COLLECTOR LUDWIG MOND IN 1893. IN 1924, HIS £500 MILLION COLLECTION OF RENAISSANCE MASTERPIECES, INCLUDING RAPHAEL, TITIAN AND THE FRANCIA, WAS LEFT TO THE NATION. THE FRANCIA VIRGIN TOOK PRIDE OF PLACE IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY UNTIL 1954 WHEN ANOTHER VERSION, NOW IN THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM IN PITTSBURGH, SURFACED. ITS QUALITY WAS SUPERIOR, BUT EXPERTS SILL BELIEVED THAT THE NATIONAL GALLERY'S PAINTING WAS A FRANCIA. THE GALLERY NO REALIZES THAT ITS VERSION IS A PRECISE COPY OF THE PITTSBURGH ONE. ASKED WHETHER THEY FEAR THEY MAY DISCOVER MORE FAKES, THE GALLERY SAYS IT IS UNLIKELY. THE FAKE WILL HAVE ONE LAST OUTING IN A GALLERY SHOW BEFORE BEING DISGRACED TO A STOREROOM. IT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY'S MAJOR EXHIBITION 'FAKES, MISTAKES & DISCOVERIES' FROM 30.JUNE.

RICKY MARTIN

VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM TO PRESENT 'GRACE KELLY: STYLE ICON'

DRESSES THAT GRACE KELLY WORE IN SCREEN CLASSICS SUCH AS 'HIGH SOCIETY' AND 'REAR WINDOW' ARE GOING ON EXHIBITION IN LONDON. 'GRACE KELLY: STYLE ICON' AT THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM WILL DISPLAY THE GLAMOROUS WARDROBE OF THE OSCAR WINNING ACTRESS WHO WENT ON TO BECOME A PRINCESS. EXHIBITS INCLUDE THE GOWN KELLY WORE TO EXCEPT HER OSCAR IN 1955, AS WELL AS THE OUTFIT SHE WORE TO HER FIRST MEETING WITH HER FUTURE HUSBAND PRINCE RAINIER III OF MONACO LATER THAT YEAR. THE SHOW WILL TRACE THE EVOLUTION OF HER STYLE AS PRINCESS GRACE OF MONACO, WITH HAUTE COUTURE GOWNS BY HER FAVORITE COUTURIERS DIOR, BALENCIAGA, GIVENCHY AND YVES SAINT LAURENT. THE EXHIBITION EXPLORES KELLY'S ENDURING APPEAL AS A STYLE ICON, IT FEATURES HER FILM COSTUMES, THE MUCH PUBLICIZED DRESSES MADE FOR HER TROUSSEAU AND WEDDING, AND THE FRENCH HAUTE COUTURE THAT SHE REQUIRED FOR HER ROLE AS PRINCESS OF MONACO
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF GRACE KELLY (1929-82), ONE OF THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED WOMEN OF THE 20th CENTURY, WHAT THEY USUALLY RECALL IS HER BEAUTY AND ELEGANCE. SHE ROSE TO FAME AS AN ACTRESS IN THE 1950s, STARRING IN FILMS BY HITCHCOCK AND OTHERS. HER IMAGE WAS CULTIVATED BY THE MOVIE INDUSTRY, WHICH FED CINEMA-GOERS' GROWING APPETITE FOR PICTURES OF GLAMOROUS STARS THROUGH MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS. SHE CAME TO SYMBOLIZE THE CLASSIC, UNDERSTATED LOOK SHE WORE BOTH ON AND OFF SCREEN. THE EXHIBITION EXPLORES, THROUGH HER SURVIVING CLOTHES, THE STORY OF HER TRANSFORMATION FROM HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS TO A PRINCESS OF ONE OF EUROPE'S OLDEST ROYAL FAMILIES.

ROYAL TRAINS ON EXHIBITION IN THE NETHERLANDS

DOORS WITH GILDED HANDLES LEADING TO AN ART NOUVEAU LOUNGE, LOUIS XV STYLE FURNITURE AND A 148 YEAR OLD LOCOMOTIVE ARE REMNANTS OF SOME OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST AND MOST STUNNING ROYAL TRAINS WHICH ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE DUTCH CITY OF UTRECHT. FROM BRITAIN, IRELAND, SWEDEN, DENMARK, BELGIUM, THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND PORTUGAL. ALL THE HISTORIC TRAINS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER FOR A FIRST-EVER EXHIBITION OF ITS KIND, IN THE DUTCH RAILWAY MUSEUM. ENTITLED ROYAL CLASS, REGAL JOURNEY, THE EXHIBITION WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED RECENTLY BY THE DUTCH MONARCH, QUEEN BEATRIX, WHO ARRIVED FOR THE OCCASION IN HER OWN PRIVATE TRAIN FROM THE HAGUE. HOSTED IN A COLONIAL-ERA STATION, THE EXHIBITION STARTS WITH THE DUTCH ROYAL FAMILY'S 19th CENTURY WAITING ROOM AT THE HAGUE CENTRAL STATION, RESTORED IN UTRECHT WITH ALL ITS WOOD PANELING AND A FIREPLACE DECORATED WITH TILES MADE FROM THE NETHERLANDS' FAMOUS BLUE AND WHITE GLAZED DELFT POTTERY. A GREEN TRAIN CONSTRUCTED IN 1862 FOR THE PORTUGUESE QUEEN MARIA PIA IS THE ONLY TRAIN ON SHOW THAT IS COMPLETE. A GIFT FROM HER FATHER, ITALIAN KING VICTOR EMMANUEL II, THE TRAIN COMPRISES THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE AND ITS TENDER, THE QUEEN'S CARRIAGE AND ANOTHER WAGON. THE QUEEN'S COACH, LAVISHLY UPHOLSTERED IN GOLD AND RED VELVET AND CREAM COLOURED SILK BROCADE, HAS A SLEEPING COMPARTMENT WITH A PORCELAIN TOILET AND A SEPARATE COMPARTMENT FOR HER ATTENDANTS. THE SMALLEST WAGON IN THE EXHIBIT, ALL OF 6.4 METERS LONG, IS ALSO 'THE OLDEST PRESERVED ROYAL WAGON IN THE WORLD', ACCORDING TO THE MUSEUM'S CURATOR. CONSTRUCTED IN 1842 FOR THE EXCURSIONS OF THE ENGLISH QUEEN ADELAIDE, IT RESEMBLES AN OLD-FASHIONED STAGE COACH AND INCLUDED AN INNOVATIVE FEATURE: A FOLDAWAY BED. THE SALOON COACH BUILT IN 1910 FOR AUSTRIAN ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND HAS MORE MODERN ACCESSORIES, ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND A STEAM HEAT WARMING SYSTEM, A SEPARATE TOILET COMPARTMENT AND A BEDROOM WITH TWO BEDS. IT WAS ON BOARD THIS WAGON THAT THE HEIR TO THE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN THRONE TRAVELED TO SARAJEVO IN JUNE 1914, WHERE HE WAS ASSASSINATED IN AN ACT THAT PROVOKED WORLD WAR I. GETTING THE WAGONS TO THE HAGUE REQUIRED 'MASSIVE LOGISTICS', SAID THE MUSEUM SPOKESMAN. 'SOME CAME VIA RAILROAD', HE SAID, 'INCLUDING THE LOUNGE AND RESTAURANT WAGON OF BELGIAN KING ALBERT, DATING FROM 1912.' IN THE KING'S DINING ROOM CART, FURNISHED IN THE STYLE OF LOUIS XV WITH CREAM-COLOURED WOOD PANELING, A DINING TABLE SET FOR TEN PEOPLE COMPLETE WITH SILVERWARE, PLATES AND GLASSES. THE EXHIBITION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL 5.SEPTEMBER.

PRINCE WILLIAM TO BE POSTED TO RAF VALLEY

PRINCE WILLIAM WILL BE POSTED TO RAF VALLEY IN ANGLESEY IF HE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES HIS RAF SEARCH AND RESCUE PILOT TRAINING. THE YOUNG PRINCE WILL JOIN 22 SQUADRON AFTER HIS MILITARY STUDIES ARE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL FLY AS A FULLY OPERATIONAL CO-PILOT IN A SEA KING 3A HELICOPTER. ST JAMES' PALACE SAID IN A STATEMENT: 'THE ROYAL AIR FORCE'S DECISION TO POST PRINCE WILLIAM TO RAF VALLEY WAS MADE WITH THE RAF'S INTEREST IN MIND, MATCHING PRINCE WILLIAM'S SKILLS TO THE CHALLENGES OF FLYING SORTIES FROM RAF VALLEY. IN PARTICULAR, SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS FROM RAF VALLEY OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF CHALLENGING FLYING OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND HOSTILE SEAS SUPPORTING BOTH MILITARY OPERATIONS AND CIVILIAN EMERGENCY SERVICES ACROSS THE AREA.' ALL STUDENTS ON PRINCE WILLIAM'S COURSE WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT TWO PREFERENCES FOR THEIR POSTING AND THE ROYAL'S OTHER CHOICE WAS RAF LOSSIEMOUTH IN SCOTLAND. THE DECISION ON WHERE THE SECOND-IN-LINE TO THE THRONE AND HIS COURSE MATES ARE TO BE POSTED WAS TAKEN BY THE RAF CHAIN OF COMMAND, SAID ST JAMES' PALACE. A TYPICAL TOUR FOR A PILOT ON THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCE LASTS FROM 30 TO 36 MONTHS. FLIGHT LIEUTENANT WALES CAN EXPECT TO BE PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND OVERALL CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER IN THE COMING YEARS, BUT HOW QUICKLY WILL DEPEND ON HIS ABILITY AND PERFORMANCE. WILLIAM COULD FIND HIMSELF FLYING RESCUE MISSIONS TO NORTHERN IRELAND AS RAF VALLEY IN NORTH WALES ROUTINELY RESPONDS TO CALLS FROM ULSTER. A ST JAMES' PALACE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE PRINCE WILL GO WHEREVER HE IS ASKED TO DEPLOY IN THE UK INCLUDING NORTHERN IRELAND.'

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART ANNOUNCES DONATION OF 47 NEW ARTWORKS

THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A GIFT OF 47 WORKS OF ART, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE PRINTS AND POSTERS BY MAJOR ARTISTS WORKING FIN-DE-SIECLE PARIS, FROM PROMINENT ATLANTA COLLECTORS IRENE AND HOWARD STEIN. THE STEIN COLLECTION INCLUDES MANY RARE AND EXTREMELY PRIZED WORKS BY HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC, SUCH AS 'LA CLOWNESSE AU MOULIN ROUGE', ONE OF A HANDFUL OF IMPRESSIONS OF THE ICONIC COLOUR LITHOGRAPH, AND 'MISS LOIE FULLER', A GHOSTLY IMAGE OF THE FAMOUS AMERICAN DANCER THAT INCORPORATES POWERED GOLD. THE GIFT ALSO INCLUDES IMPORTANT PRINTS AND DRAWINGS BY PIERRE BONNARD, EDGAR DEGAS, PAUL GAUGUIN, HONORE DAUMIER AND PAUL SIGNAC, AND SCULPTURES BY PIETER XAVERY, MARTIN DESJARDINS, CHARLES CORDIER AND JULES DALOU. IN CELEBRATION OF THE GIFT, THE HIGH WILL MOUNT A SPECIAL EXHIBITION TITLED 'TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND FRIENDS; THE SREIN COLLECTION', WHICH WILL OPEN IN JANUARY 2011. 'THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT GIFTS OF WORKS OF ART IN THE HISTORY OF THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART', A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE MUSEUM SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. 'OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, THE STEINS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE IN HELPING US BUILD OUR COLLECTION. THIS LATEST GIFT WILL GREATLY STRENGTHEN OUR EUROPEAN SCULPTURE COLLECTION AND DRAMATICALLY ELEVATE OUR HOLDINGS OF WORKS ON PAPER BY IMPRESSIONISTS AND POST-IMPRESSIONISTS.' TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND FRIENDS: THE STEIN COLLECTION WILL FEATURE APPROXIMATELY 80 WORKS. IN ADDITION TO THE 47 NEW GIFTS, THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 30 WORKS THAT WERE EITHER PREVIOUSLY GIVEN TO THE HIGH BY THE STEINS OR PURCHASED WITH FUNDS GIVEN BY THE STEINS. AMONG THESE IS A RARE COMPLETE SET OF TOULOUSE-LAUTREC'S LITHOGRAPHIC MASTERPIECE 'THE ELLES SERIES', WHICH THE STEINS PRESENTED TO THE HIGH IN 2001; THE SET IS REMARKABLE BECAUSE IT IS UNBROKEN AND VIRTUALLY IN PERFECT CONDITION.

PERRIER-JOUET FLOWER TABLE

PERRIER-JOUET HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A STUNNING NEW TABLE CREATED BY RENOWNED DESIGNER NOE DUCHAUFOUR-LAWRANCE WHO IS KNOWN FOR HIS UNIQUE FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES DESIGNS. THE PERRIER-JOUET FLOWER TABLE WAS INSPIRED BY THE BELLE EPOQUE FORMS AND THE FAMOUS ANENOMES THAT EMILE GALLE CREATED TO DECORATE THE ICONIC PERRIER-JOUET'S BOTTLES IN 1902. THE TABLE WHICH IS SHAPED LIKE AN ENENOME FITS AN ICE BUCKET AND HAS SPACE FOR CHAMPAGNE GLASSES.

ICA PRESENTS FIRST EXHIBITION OF RENOWNED TATTOO ARTIST DR LAKRA

THE ICA, BOSTON, PRESENTS THE FIRST US EXHIBITION OF DR LAKRA, A MEXICO-BASED ARTIST AND WORLD-RENOWNED TATTOOIST. IN DR LAKRA'S WORK, THE IDEALIZED IMAGES OF 195s PIN-UP GIRLS, WRESTLERS AND MEXICAN BUSINESSMEN ARE TATTOOED WITH DRAWINGS OF DEMONS, SKULLS, SNAKES AND SPIDERS. NO SURFACE ESCAPES THE ARTIST'S PEN, EVERYTHING FROM VINTAGE MAGAZINES AND JAPANESE PRINTS TO PLASTIC CUPS AND KEWPIE DOLLS ARE COVERED WITH HIS PROVOCATIVE AND MACABRE DRAWINGS. THE WORK COMBINES A DIVERSE RANGE OF PATTERNS AND SYMBOLS, SUCH AS MAORI, THAI AND ANCIENT AZTEC IMAGERY, WITH POP CULTURE AND EROTICA TO CREATE A TANTALIZING MIX OF LIFE, DEATH AND DESIRE. ON VIEW FROM 14.APRIL TO 6.SEPTEMBER, DR LAKRA PRESENTS OVER 60 WORKS, INCLUDING A NEW DRAWING THAT WILL COVER AN ENTIRE WALL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.icaboston.org

RARE IMPERIAL JADE ELEPHANTS TO BE AUCTIONED

THEY WERE MADE FOR A CHINESE EMPEROR AND OWNED BY AN ENGLISH ARISTOCRAT. NOW THE 250 YEAR OLD JADE ELEPHANTS, MEASURING JUST 7.5 INCHES LONG BY 6.5 INCHES HIGH, ARE EXPECTED TO FETCH MILLIONS OF POUNDS AT AUCTION. THE EXQUISITE SCULPTURES WERE MADE FOR EMPEROR QIANLONG IN THE 1700s AND RESEMBLE A SIMILAR PIECE WHICH SOLD FOR MORE THAN £3 MILLION LAST YEAR. IT IS THOUGHT THEY WERE BROUGHT TO BRITAIN IN THE 19th CENTURY BEFORE BECOMING THE TREASURED POSSESSIONS OF MARY ANN MARTEN, OBE, WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR. ONE OF THE QUEEN MOTHER'S GODDAUGHTERS, MARTEN WAS A TRUSTEE OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM AND A GREAT PATRON OF THE ARTS. THE ELEPHANTS, WHICH HAVE A BIDDING START PRICE OF £250,000, ARE MARKED WITH THE QIANLONG STAMP AND WERE CREATED TO SIT ON EITHER SIDE OF ONE OF HIS THRONES. A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND HAPPINESS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DECORATED WITH ORNAMENTAL COVERINGS LAID OUT ACROSS THEIR BACKS. THEY ARE BEING SOLD ON 19.MAY BY AUCTIONEERS WOOLEY AND WALLIS IN SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE, WHO SOLD A SIMILAR, SINGLE, JADE WATER BUFFALO FOR £3.4 MILLION.

$12.2 MILLION IMPERIAL JADE SEAL BREAKS AUCTION RECORD

LAST WEEK, SOTHEBY'S HONG KONG SOLD A SMALL CYLINDER OF JADE FOR $12.4 MILLION SETTING A WORLD RECORD FOR ANY WHITE JADE ITEM OR IMPERIAL SEAL AT AUCTION. THE PIECE WAS FROM THE REIGN OF CHINA'S LONGEST SERVING EMPEROR, QIANLONG OF THE QING DYNASTY. THE LETTERING ON THE SIDE READS AS A POEM, CONCLUDING WITH THE PHRASE QIANLONG BINGCHUN YUBI, WHICH INDICATES THE YEAR 1796. THE SEAL'S FACE ITSELF HAS THE CHARACTERS TAI SHANG HUANG DI SHARPLY CARVED INTO IT, MEANING TREASURE OF THE EMPEROR EMERITUS. THE PRICE, BOUGHT BY AN ANONYMOUS ASIAN MAN IN HIS THIRTIES, DOUBLED THAT WHICH WAS PAID FOR THE PIECE IN 2007.

PORNOGRAPHIC BOOK FOR THE BLIND LAUNCHED

A PORNOGRAPHIC BOOK FOR THE BLIND HAS BEEN RECENTLY LAUNCHED, COMPLETE WITH EXPLICIT TEXT AND RAISED PICTURES OF NAKED MEN AND WOMEN. THE BOOK, THE BRAINCHILD OF LISA MURPHY AND CALLED TACTILE MINDS, IS DESIGNED TO BE 'ENJOYED' BY THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, AND IS ON SALE FOR £150. AMONG THE 17 RAISED IMAGES INCLUDE A NAKED WOMAN IN A 'DISCO POSE', A WOMAN WITH 'PERFECT BREASTS' AND A 'MALE LOVE ROBOT'. MURPHY SAYS THAT SHE MADE THE BOOK TO FILL A GAP IN THE MARKET, ADDING: 'THERE ARE NO BOOKS OF TACTILE PICTURES OF NUDES FOR ADULTS. WE'RE BREAKING NEW GROUND. PLAYBOY HAS AN EDITION WITH BRAILLE WORDING, BUT THERE ARE NO PICTURES' SHE SAID SHE MADE THE BOOK AFTER REALIZING THAT THE 'BLIND HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT IN A CULTURE SATURATED WITH SEXUAL IMAGES'.

BRITISH RESEARCH SHIP FINDS 2,000 YEAR OLD ROMAN POTS

A BRITISH UNDERWATER TEAM HAS DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF RARE ROMAN POTS BY ACCIDENT, WHILE TRAWLING THE WRECKAGES OF SHIPS ON THE SEA BED. THE TEAM HAD BEEN USING REMOTE OPERATED VEHICLES (ROVs) TO SCOUR MODERN WRECKS FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. THEY WERE AMAZED TO COME ACROSS THE REMAINS OF A ROMAN GALLEY WHICH SANK OFF THE COAST OF ITALY THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. THE CREW FROM ENERGY COMPANY HALLIN MARINE INTERNATIONAL, BASED IN ABERDEE, FOUND A NUMBER OF POTS LYING IN THE MUD 1,640ft BELOW THE WAVES. AFTER THE FIRST SIGHTING THE CREW WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK FOR TWO DAYS TO BRING THEM TO THE SURFACE WITHOUT DAMAGING THEM. SUPERVISOR DOUGIE COMBE, SAID THE TEAM MANAGED TO RECOVER FIVE OF THE 2,000 YEAR OLD VESSELS INTACT. THEY WERE THEN HANDED OVER TO AN ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM IN THE HISTORIC GRAECO-ROMAN CITY OF PAESTUM, IN NORTHERN ITALY. A SPOKESMAN FOR HALLIN SAID: 'THEY WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN LOADED ON SOME KIND OF MERCHANT SHIP WHICH SANK ALL THOSE YEARS AGO'. THE MARE OCEANO WAS SEARCHING FOR LOW-GRADE RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL ALONGSIDE ITALIAN COMPANY GEOLAB WHEN THEY MADE THE DISCOVERY. THEY WERE TRAWLING OFF THE COAST OF CAPO PALINURO, NEAR POLICASTRO, ITALY. THE JARS THAT WERE FOUND ARE BELIEVED TO BE ANCIENT GREEK OR ROMAN AND ARE THOUGHT TO DATE BACK AT LEAST 2,000 YEARS.

RARE COPY OF FIRST EVER BEANO ANNUAL DONATED TO CHARITY SHOP

A RARE COMIC BOOK, WHICH WAS IN A BAG WITH OTHER ITEMS WAS DONATED TO A CHARITY SHOP, COULD FETCH UP TO £2,000 AT AUCTION, IT WAS REVEALED TODAY. THE 1939 BEANO ANNUAL, THE FIRST EVER PUBLISHED, WAS GIVEN TO THE ST ANDREWS BRANCH OF THE CANCER RESEARCH UK CHARITY SHOP. THE COMIC, SAID TO BE IN GREAT CONDITION, WAS UNEARTHED BY SHOP VOLUNTEER MATTHEW HARRIS. HE SAID: 'AS SOON AS I SAW IT I THOUGHT IT LOOKED WELL-CARED FOR, SO I FISHED IT OUT AND HAD A PROPER LOOK. IT'S IN GREAT CONDITION, SO I KNEW IT MIGHT BE WORTH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE COMIC BOOK, BUT WHEN I CHECKED IT OUT ONLINE AND LEARNED IT COULD BE WORTH MORE THAN £2,000 I COULD HARDLY BELIEVE IT.' HARRIS THEN CONTACTED BEANO PUBLISHERS DC THOMSON IN DUNDEE, WHO CONFIRMED THE CHARITY SHOP HAD 'RECEIVED A REALLY SPECIAL AND GENEROUS DONATION'. THE COMIC BOOK WILL BE SOLD IN JUNE BY COMIC BOOK AUCTIONS LTD MALCOLM PHILLIPS. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CHARITY SHOP SAID: 'ALL THE STAFF HERE ARE REALLY GOOD AT PICKING OUT THE VALUABLE DONATIONS, BUT WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT MATTHEW SPOTTED THIS ONE AND NOW WE ALL HOPE THAT THE CHARITY IS IN FOR A REAL WINDFALL. WE GET LOTS OF GENEROUS DONATIONS HERE BUT THIS MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE THE MOST GENEROUS WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED.'

CHEEKWOOD TO DISPLAY HISTORIC JEFFERSON GOBLET

CHEEKWOOD HAS RECENTLY ACQUIRED THE HISTORIC JEFFERSON GOBLET ON TEMPORARY LOAN FOR THEIR 50th ANNIVERSARY, WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED IN THEIR NEWLY RE-INSTALLED SILVER LIBRARY. DISTINCTIVE IN ITS UNEMBELLISHED SURFACES AND ARCHITECTURAL FORM, THE STUNNING GOBLET IS THE LARGER OF A PAIR DESIGNED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON AND COMMISSIONED FROM THE SHOP OF FRENCH SILVERSMITH JEAN-BAPTISTE-CLAUDE ODIOT IN 1789. 'CHEEKWOOD IS PROUD TO WELCOME THIS IMPORTANT OBJECT BACK TO TENNESSEE IN CELEBRATION OF OUR 50th ANNIVERSARY', SAID ALLISON REID, CHEEKWOOD'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR COLLECTION AND PROGRAMS. 'WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE IT ON LOAN FROM DR AND MRS BENJAMIN H CALDWELL JR; IT IS A REMARKABLE ADDITION TO OUR SILVER LIBRARY INSTALLATION.' IN 1789, AT THE END OF A FIVE-YEAR SOJOURN TO PARIS, JEFFERSON PAID ODIOT TO CREATE THE TWO SILVER GOBLETS. ODIOT LIKELY RELEGATED THE ACTUAL FABRICATION OF THE OBJECTS TO ANOTHER SILVERSMITH IN HIS EMPLOY, CLAUDE-NICHOLAS DELANOY, AS BOTH ARE STAMPED WITH DELANOY'S MAKER'S MARK. UPON JEFFERSON'S RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES IN SEPTEMBER OF 1789, THE GOBLET WAS IN FREQUENT USE IN HIS HOME, MONTICELLO. AFTER JEFFERSON'S DEATH IN 1826, THE GOBLET TRAVELED A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE TO MIDDLE TENNESSEE THROUGH MEMBERS OF THE MARTHA RANDOLPH JEFFERSON FAMILY. THE GOBLETS REMAINED IN THE AREA UNTIL THEY WERE SOLD AT AUCTION IN 1940.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.cheekwood.org

COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS NEW DALE CHIHULY INSTALLATION

THE COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE COMPLETED INSTALLATION OF THE DALE CHIHULY ART ACQUISITION CHANDELIER IN THE MUSEUM'S DAVID WALLACE ROBINSON JR ATRIUM. THE INSTALLATION MARKS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND MEASURES 14' TALL, 5' WIDE AND 11' DEEP. THE DESIGN WAS CHOSEN TO ENHANCE THE ASYMMETRICAL DESIGN OF THE MUSEUM'S ATRIUM SPACE AND A 'CAROLINA SUNSET' COLOUR-SCHEME WILL INCORPORATE COLUMBIA'S 'FAMOUSLY HOT' SHADES OF GOLDS, ORANGES, AND REDS. THE PUBLIC CELEBRATION OF THE INSTALLATION WILL BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MUSEUM'S ANNUAL GALA, WHICH IS ENTITLED 'RED HOT . . . COOL! 60 YEARS OF COLOUR' ON 17.APRIL. THE COMPLETION OF THE INSTALLATION ALSO MARKS THE SUCCESS OF A PUBLIC-FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN BY WHICH THE MUSEUM RAISED OVER $360,000 THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS AND VARIOUS FUND RAISING EVENTS. THE COMMISSION IS A SIGNIFICANT WORK BY THE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ARTIST, DALE CHIHULY OF WASHINGTON STATE. CHIHULY INSTALLATIONS ARE FOUND IN NUMEROUS MUSEUMS AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING; THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM IN LONDON, THE SEATTLE MUSEUM OF ART, THE DE YOUNG IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND THE BELLAGIO IN LAS VEGAS. DALE CHIHULY'S EXPERTISE IN GLASS-BLOWING HAS TRANSFORMED THE MEDIUM AND HIS WORKS ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE ORGANICALLY INSPIRED SHAPES AND BOLD COLOURS OF HIS DESIGNS.

JULIAN'S TO SELL MARILYN MONROE'S PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY

JULIAN'S AUCTIONS HAS ASSEMBLED A WORLD CLASS SELECTION OF MARILYN MONROE'S PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY TO BE AUCTIONED 26-27.JUNE AT THE PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO LAS VEGAS. AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS OF MONROE'S PERSONAL AND CAREER PROPERTY INCLUDES: A COLLECTION OF ITEMS FROM THE ESTATE OF DR RALPH GREEESON, X-RAY'S OF MARILYN MONROE'S CHEST FROM CEDERS OF LEBANON HOSPITAL FROM HER DOCTORS VISIT ON 10.NOVEMBER.1954, THE CHAIR USED BY MONROE IN HER FINAL PHOTO SHOOT, DAVID CONOVER NEGATIVES AND COPYRIGHTS TO MARILYN MONROE PHOTOGRAPHS, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED PHOTOGRAPHS OF MONROE ON HER HONEYMOON WITH JOE DIMAGGIO INCLUDING THEIR VISIT TO TROOPS IN KOREA, AS WELL AS MARILYN'S PERSONAL BOTTLE OF CHANEL NO.5. PERHAPS NO OTHER PRODUCT IS SO CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH MONROE THAN CHANEL NO.5. WHEN SHE WAS ASKED IN 1953 WHAT SHE WORE TO BED AT NIGHT SHE REPLIED: 'FIVE DROPS OF CHANEL NO.5', LINKING THE TWO ICONS FOREVER.

DR RALPH GREESON WAS MONROE'S ANALYST FROM APPROXIMATELY 1960 UNTIL THE TIME OF HER DEATH. AMONG THE ITEMS OFFERED FOR SALE FROM HIS ESTATE ARE THE THERAPY COUCH USED IN HIS BEVERLY HILLS HOME OFFICE WHERE MONROE WOULD LIE DURING HER APPOINTMENTS WITH DR GREESON; PERSONAL PUCCI CLOTHING GIFTED TO DR GREESON'S DAUGHTER AS WELL AS HANDWRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.juliensauctions.com.

PRINCESS DIANA'S FIRST OFFICIAL DRESS TO BE AUCTIONED

THE BLACK DRESS WORN BY DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, FOR HER FIRST OFFICIAL APPEARANCE WITH THE PRINCE OF WALES SHORTLY BEFORE THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN 1981 WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF THIS SUMMER. IT WAS RUMORED THAT THE PRINCESS HAD DESTROYED THE BLACK TAFFETA GOWN, BUT IT RECENTLY TURNED UP IN A WARDROBE AT THE STUDIO OF DRESS MAKERS DAVID AND ELIZABETH EMANUEL. NOW THE ICONIC DRESS IS SET TO FETCH UP TO £50,000 WHEN IT APPEARS AT KERRY TAYLOR AUCTIONS IN LONDON ON 8.JUNE. THE DRESS CAUSED A SENSATION WHEN LADY DIANA SPENCER BENT DOWN TO CLIMB OUT OF THE CAR. SHE WAS MET WITH A FRENZY OF FLASH BULBS AND THE NEXT DAY'S NEWSPAPERS INCLUDED THE HEADLINE: 'DARING DI SETS FASHION AS SHE TAKES A PLUNGE.' BUT WHILE THE 19 YEAR OLD LADY DIANA THOUGHT THAT BLACK WAS ELEGANT AND GROWN-UP, IT WAS DEEMED AN UNUSUAL CHOICE AS THE ROYAL FAMILY WEAR THE COLOUR ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY FOR MOURNING. THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, WENT WILD OVER THE DRESS. IN THE RUN-UP TO HER WEDDING, THE NERVOUS FIANCEE LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT THAT SHE RETURNED THE GOWN TO THE EMANUELS TO HAVE IT TAKEN IN. THE ALTERATIONS REQUIRED WERE SO DRASTIC THAT THEY DECIDED IT WOULD BE EASIER TO RE-MAKE A SMALLER VERSION FOR HER. THEY KEPT THE ORIGINAL AND FORGOT ABOUT IT, ONLY RE-DISCOVERING IT QUITE RECENTLY. THE STUNNING GOWN FORMS PART OF THE EMANUEL ARCHIVE OF PRINCESS DIANA RELATED MATERIAL COMPRISING 30 LOTS RANGING FROM ACTUAL CLOTHES WORN BY THE PRINCESS TO FASHION SKETCHES, INVOICES, LETTERS AND RELATED EPHEMERA AND EXPECTED TO FETCH A TOTAL OF UP TO £175, 000. IT CHARTS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PRINCESS FROM A YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED TEENAGER INTO A WORLD RENOWNED STYLE ICON.

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM PRESENTS 'VIENNA CIRCA 1780: AN IMPERIAL SILVER SERVICE REDISCOVERED'

18th CENTURY EUROPEAN COURT SOCIETY WAS FAMOUS FOR ITS LAVISH BANQUETS FEATURING ELABORATE SETTINGS AND PROTOCOLS DESIGNED TO INDICATE THE STATUS OF BOTH THE HOST AND GUESTS. INTEGRAL TO THESE EVENTS WERE EXTRAVAGANT DINING SERVICES OF SILVER AND GOLD, MANY OF WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY WERE MELTED DOWN TO FINANCE THE FREQUENT WARS OF THE PERIOD. 'VIENNA CIRCA 1780: AN IMPERIAL SILVER SERVICE REDISCOVERED', ON VIEW AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART FROM 13.APRIL THROUGH 7.NOVEMBER, WILL PRESENT A MAGNIFICENT AND RARE SURVIVING IMPERIAL SILVER SERVICE,MADE ABOUT 1779-1782. IN 2002, SHORTLY AFTER THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM ACQUIRED TWO VIENNESE SILVER WINE COOLERS FROM THE SACHSEN-TESCHEN SERVICE, THE CORE OF THE SURVIVING PARTS WAS DISCOVERED IN A FRENCH PRIVATE COLLECTION. THE SUPERB ENSEMBLE WAS LAST DISPLAYED AT THE END OF THE 19th CENTURY AND WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN LOST. MADE BY AUSTRIAN IMPERIAL COURT GOLDSMITH IGNAZ WURTH, THE SO-CALLED SECOND SACHSEN-TESCHEN SERVICE COMPRISED MORE THAN 350 ITEMS, INCLUDING WINE COOLERS, TUREENS, CLOCHES, SAUCEBOATS, CANDELABRA, CANDLESTICKS AND SERVING IMPLEMENTS, AS WELL AS 24 DOZEN SILVER PLATES AND PIECES OF PORCELAIN-MOUNTED SILVER AND GOLD CUTLERY. REPRESENTING THE SPLENDOUR OF ROYAL DINING DURING THE ANCIEN REGIME, THE SERVICE WAS MADE FOR DUKE ALBERT CASIMIR OF SACHSEN-TESCHEN AND HIS CONSORT ARCHDUCHESS MARIE CHRISTINE OF AUSTRIA, DAUGHTER OF EMPRESS MARIA THERESA. THE ENSEMBLE WILL BE PARTIALLY REUNITED AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM AND PLACED IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTEMPORARY SILVER FROM OTHER EUROPEAN CITIES.

PRINCE OF WALES IN ROW OVER NEW SUPERMARKET

THE PRINCE OF WALES HAS BECOME EMBROILED IN A ROW WITH LOCALS AFTER GRANTING PERMISSION TO BUILD A SUPERMARKET ON HIS CORNISH ESTATE. WAITROSE ALREADY HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRINCE, WHICH BEGAN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE NEW CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL HAS OUTRAGED LOCAL BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNERS WHO FEAR THE NEWLY PLANNED SUPERMARKET WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE AREA. THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD THE STORE ON DUCHY OF CORNWALL LAND AT UNION HILL IN TRURO COMES ONLY MONTHS AFTER WAITROSE SIGNED AN EXCLUSIVE DEAL TO LICENSE THE PRINCE'S DUCHY ORIGINALS BRAND. BUT THE TRADE MAGAZINE THE GROCER REPORTED THAT LOCAL GREEN AND BUSINESS GROUPS ARE UP IN ARMS AT THE PLANNED PROJECT. WAITROSE CLAIMS THE STORE WOULD SHOWCASE THE BEST OF CORNISH PRODUCE. THE PLANS WILL BE PUT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AT A MEETING IN JUNE AND, IF THEY GO AHEAD, WAITROSE HOPES TO OPEN THE STORE IN 2013. IT WOULD BE THE THIRD SUPERMARKET TO OPEN ON DUCHY-OWNED LAND ADDING TO AN EXISTING TESCO IN DORCHESTER AND A BUDGENS IN POUNDBURY. A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE DUCHY ORIGINALS SAID THAT THE PLANS WERE UNCONNECTED TO THE LICENSING DEAL. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE PRINCE WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT.

PRINCE CHARLES COMMISSIONS MUSIC TO CELEBRATE HIGHGROVE GARDENS

THE PRINCE OF WALES HAS COMMISSIONED A PIECE OF MUSIC TO CELEBRATE HIS BELOVED GARDENS AT HIGHGROVE. HE RECENTLY ASKED THE BRITISH COMPOSER PATRICK HAWES TO WRITE A FOUR-MOVEMENT SUIT FOR HARPS AND STRINGS WHICH ARE INSPIRED BY AND CELEBRATE THE ORNATE GARDENS AT HIS HOME NEAR TETBURY IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE. FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS, THE PRINCE, HAS TAKEN A PASSIONATE INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GARDENS WITHIN THE HIGHGROVE ESTATE. THESE INCLUDE A WILD FLOWER MEADOW, A WALLED KITCHEN GARDEN, A STUMPERY AND AN ISLAMIC CARPET GARDEN, WHICH WON A SIVER MEDAL AT THE CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW IN 2001. THE HIGHGROVE SUITE IS INTENDED TO CELEBRATE THE HORTICULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN MUSIC. THE COMPOSITION HAS DEVELOPED OUT OF PATRICK HAWES ONE-MOVEMENT WORK FOR HARP AND STRINGS ENTITLED 'GODDESS OF THE WOODS', WHICH WAS PREMIERED ON THE PRINCE'S 60th BIRTHDAY IN NOVEMBER 2008 BY THE ROYAL HARPIST, CLAIRE JONES. THREE NEW MOVEMENTS HAVE NOW BEEN ADDED TO COMPLETE THE SUITE, EACH ONE INSPIRED BY AN ASPECT OF THE GARDENS AT HIGHGROVE. THE FULL 25 MINUTE COMPOSITION WILL BE GIVEN A ROYAL PREMIERE BY JONES AND THE PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA WITHIN THE GROUNDS OF HIGHGROVE THIS SUMMER. THE CONCERT WILL BE IN CELEBRATION OF THE PRINCE'S FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN AND THE ARTS.

CAB DRIVER RECEIVES DAMIAN HIRST DOODLE AS TIP

MOST PEOPLE'S IDEA OF A TIP FOR A TAXI DRIVER IS SAYING 'KEEP THE CHANGE' WHEN PAYING THE BILL. BUT THEN NOT PASSENGER IS THE WORLD RENOWNED ARTIST DAMIAN HIRST. THE ARTIST GOT ON SO WELL WITH HIS CABBIE JON HORSLEY DURING A 30 MINUTE RIDE THAT HE HANDED OVER A SKETCH WITH THE £20 FARE. ALTHOUGH LITTLE MORE THAN A DOODLE, ART EXPERTS HAVE NOW VALUED IT AT £1,500, AND SAID IT COULD EVEN FETCH UP TO £5,000 AT AUCTION. THE PENCIL DRAWING, WHICH TOOK HIRST JUST A FEW MINUTES TO PRODUCE WHILE IN THE BACK OF THE TAXI, FEATURES A SHARK, BUTTERFLY AND SKULL, ALL NODS TO SOME OF HIS MOST FAMOUS ART WORKS. HE SIGNED IT FOR HORSLEY'S 15 YEAR OLD SON, WHO IS STUDYING ART AMONG HIS GCSE SUBJECTS, WRITING: 'FOR LJ. DON'T GIVE UP ON THE ART.' ALTHOUGH LJ MIGHT HOPE TO DO A LITTLE BETTER IN HIS EXAMS THAN HIRST, WHO SCRAPED AN E GRADE IN HIS ART A LEVEL. THE ARTIST IS NOW BEST-KNOWN FOR PICKLING A SHARK IN FORMALDEHYDE AND COVERING A SKULL IN DIAMONDS, AS WELL AS ARRANGING BUTTERFLY WINGS INTO PATTERNS. HE HAS BEEN DUBBED THE 'ENFANT TERRIBLE' OF THE ART WORLD, WHICH SOME CRITICS AND MUCH OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC THINK IS A DESCRIPTION OF HIS ABILITY TO DRAW. BUT NOT MARY MCCARTHY, CONTEMPORARY ART DIRECTOR AT DREWEATTS & BLOOMSBURY, WHO WILL AUCTION THE SKETCH IN NINE DAYS.

QUEEN PAYS TRIBUTE TO POLAND'S PRESIDENT

QUEEN ELIZABETH II PAID TRIBUTE LAST NIGHT TO POLAND'S PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI, WHO DIED WITH HIS WIFE MARIA AND AT LEAST 88 OTHERS WHEN HIS PLANE CRASHED AS IT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AT A RUSSIAN AIRPORT. DONALD TUSK, POLAND'S PRIME MINISTER, SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS THE MOST TRAGIC EVENT IN POLISH HISTORY SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS IN THE CRASH WHICH HAPPENED IN THICK FOG NEAR SMOLENSK. THE PRSEIDENT'S PARTY WAS ON ITS WAY TO COMMEMORATE A MASSACRE OF POLISH OFFICERS IN 1940 BY SOVIET SECRET SECRET POLICE. IN A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE, THE QUEEN DESCRIBED HER 'SORROW' AND SENT 'DEEPEST SYMPATHY' TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF POLAND. THE PRINCE OF WALES ALSO EXPRESSED HIS SADNESS. GORDON BROWN, THE PRIME MINISTER, DAVID MILIBAND, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, AND THE TORY LEADER DAVID CAMERON ALL PAID TRIBUTE. A STATEMENT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER SAID PRESIDENT KACZYNSKI WAS 'ONE OF THE DEFINING ACTORS IN POLAND'S MODERN POLITICAL HISTORY'. THERE WERE SCENES OF GRIEF IN WARSAW AS PEOPLE SET UP MAKESHIFT SHRINES TO THE PRESIDENT. A WEEK OF MOURNING HAS BEN ANNOUNCED. KACZYNSKI HAD BEEN KNOWN AS A FERVENT ANTI-COMMUNIST AND NATIONALIST DURING HIS LONG POLITICAL CAREER. DOZENS OF SENIOR POLITICIANS AND GENERALS ALSO PERISHED IN THE CRASH. VLADIMIR PUTIN, THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER, ASSUMED CHARGE OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHY THE 26 YEAR OLD RUSSIAN-MADE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. THE POLISH COMMUNITY IN LONDON WAS THOUGHT TO HAVE LOST AT LEAST ONE IF ITS OWN IN THE INCIDENT. FATHER BRONISLAW GOSTOMSKI, FROM ST ANDREW BOBOLA CHURCH IN SHEPARD'S BUSH, WEST LONDON, WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ON THE PLANE.

HAMMER MUSEUM TO PRESENT THE RED BOOK OF CG JUNG: CREATION OF A NEW COSMOLOGY

THIS SPRING THE HAMMER MUSEUM, LOS ANGELES, WILL BE PRESENTING 'THE RED BOOK OF CG JUNG: CREATION OF A NEW COSMOLOGY', AN EXHIBITION OF PREEMINENT PSYCHOLOGIST CARL GUSTAV JUNG'S FAMOUS RED BOOK, THOUGH TO BE THE MOST INFLUENTIAL UNPUBLISHED WORK IN THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY BY MANY CONTEMPORARY SCHOLARS. JUNG ALSO CONSIDERED THE RED BOOK TO BE HIS MOST IMPORTANT WORK, OR AS HE DESCRIBED IT, THE 'PRIMA MATERIA FOR A LIFETIME'S WORK'. UNTIL NOW, HOWEVER, THE BOOK HAS SPENT MOST OF ITS EXISTENCE IN A SWISS SAFE DEPOSIT BOX, AND VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN IT. THE EXHIBITION IS THE FIRST PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF THE REMARKABLE BOOK AND IT COINCIDES WITH THE PUBLICATION OF A FACSIMILE EDITION OF THE RED BOOK BY WW NORTON & COMPANY. THE HAMMER IS THE ONLY WEST COAST VENUE FOR THE EXHIBITION AND THE PRESENTATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE AN IMPORTANT SERIES OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE WORK OF CG JUNG AND HIS LEGACY. FOR THE BETTER PART OF 16 YEARS JUNG CONSISTENTLY DOCUMENTED HIS DREAMS AND RECORDED HIS FANTASIES IN A BEAUTIFUL VOLUME THAT RESEMBLES A SMALL MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT. IT IS A HYBRID OS THOUGHT AND IMAGE, TAKING THE FORM OF A 11.5 X 14.25 INCH RED LEATHER-BOUND BOOK. ON MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE PAGES, JUNG PAIRED HIS ABSTRACT AND BRIGHTLY HUED GRAPHIC FORMS WITH THOUGHTS WRITTEN IN A BEAUTIFUL CALLIGRAPHIC STYLE. OUT OF THIS WORK AND THESE EXPERIENCES JUNG WOULD TRANSFORM PSYCHOTHERAPY FROM A PRACTICE CONCERNED WITH THE TREATMENT OF THE SICK INTO A MEANS FOR THE HIGHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERSONALITY. ALONGSIDE THE 95 YEAR OLD VOLUME, WHICH JUNG WORKED ON FROM 1914-1930, THE HAMMER MUSEUM WILL PRESENT A NUMBER OF OIL, CHALK, AND TEMPERA PAINTINGS AND PREPARATORY SKETCHES RELATED TO THE RED BOOK, AND OTHER ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS, INCLUDING THE BLACK BOOKS, WHICH CONTAIN IDEAS AND FANTASIES LEADING UP TO THE RED BOOK.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT hammer.ucla.edu

THE MACALLAN ANNIVERSARY LALIQUE DECANTER

THE MACALLAN HAVE CREATED A BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE DECANTER TO CELEBRATE THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF RENE LALIQUE'S BIRTH. THE LALIQUE CIRE PERDUE DECANTER CONTAINS AN EXTREMELY RARE 64 YEAR OLD MACALLAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY FROM THEIR HISTORIC CELLARS. THE DECANTER WAS DESIGNED AT LALIQUE'S DESIGN STUDIO IN PARIS, BASED UPON A SHIP'S DECANTER OF THE 1820s, THE DECADE IN WHICH THE MACALLAN WAS FOUNDED. THERE IS A HAND ENGRAVED PANORAMA OF THE MACALLAN ESTATE BY THE RIVER SPEY, IN NORTH EAST SCOTLAND AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE ONE OF A KIND DECANTER, WHICH WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF BY SOTHEBY'S 15.NOVEMBER WITH ALL THE PROCEEDS GOING TO CHARITY.