28.5.10

BONHAMS SELLS IMPERIAL ENAMELED SNUFF BOTTLE FOR £821,383



A TINY SNUFF BOTTLE MEASURING JUST 1.6 INCHES HIGH HAS SOLD RECENTLY FOR NEARLY £1 MILLION, SMASHING ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS. THE BEAUTIFUL ENAMEL BOTTLE MADE FOR CHINA'S EMPEROR QIANLONG IN THE 18th CENTURY WAS PART OF A STUNNING COLLECTION PUT TOGETHER BY GEORGE AND MARY BLOCH. IT WAS HOPED IT MIGHT SELL FOR £25,000 BUT FURIOUS BIDDING SAW THE PRICE RISE BEYOND ANYONE'S EXPECTATIONS. THE SALE PROVES THE STRENGTH OF THE CHINESE MARKET. THE SMALL ENAMEL BOTTLE SHOWS ON ONE SIDE A WOMAN AND A YOUNG BOY WITH AN ELABORATE BUILDING AND TREES IN THE BACKGROUND. ON THE OTHER SIDE IS A WOMAN WITH A BASKET OF FLOWERS AND FRUIT AND ANOTHER YOUNG BOY, WITH BUILDINGS AND THE TREE-CLAD BANKS OF A STREAM BEHIND HER. ALL THE FIGURES LOOK EUROPEAN AND THE CONDITION OF TE PIECE WAS DESCRIBED AS 'PERFECT'. THE PRICE PAID BY AN ANONYMOUS COLLECTOR WAS £821,383. THE SALE WAS AT BONHAMS' FIRST EVER GOLDEN GAVEL AUCTION, WITH EVERY ITEM SOLD. THE BLOCH'S ENTIRE COLLECTION IS BEING AUCTIONED OVER SEVERAL SALES AND THE FIRST, OF 140 BOTTLES, MADE £5.8 MILLION. THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE WAS £1.8 MILLION. THE COUPLE PURCHASED THE FIRST OF THE DECORATIVE BOTTLES IN THE 1980s AND BY THE TIME GEORGE BLOCH DIED LAST YEAR THEY HAD AMASSED A COLLECTION OF OVER 1,700 BOTTLES. COLIN SHEAF, AN AUCTIONEER FROM BONHAMS WHO SOLD THE BOTTLES AT THE HONG KONG AUCTION, SAID THE SALE HAD SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING IN NEW CHINESE COLLECTORS. HE SAID: 'THIS IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND FINEST COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES AND WE AIM TO SELL IT OVER NUMEROUS SALES OVER FIVE YEARS. THE BLOCH'S STARTED BUYING AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WOULD HAVE PAID FOR EACH OF THEM ORIGINALLY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY. THEY STARTED COLLECTING IN THE MID-1980s, BUYING FROM AUCTIONS AND DEALERS. THE LOVELY THING ABOUT COLLECTING THEN IS THAT THE WHOLE RANGE OF CRAFT INDUSTRIES ARE REPRESENTED. IT IS CERTAINLY THE MOST FORMIDABLE COLLECTION IN THE WORLD.' THE BOTTLES, WHICH RANGE BETWEEN ONE AND FOUR INCHES HIGH AND DATE MAINLY FROM THE 17th AND 18th CENTURIES, COME WITH SMALL IVORY SPOONS. THEY ARE HUGELY COLLECTIBLE BECAUSE CRAFTSMEN OF ALL TECHNIQUES TURNED THEIR HANDS TO MAKING THEM. JADE, GLASS, IVORY, LACQUER, BRONZE, PORCELAIN, SILVER AND STONE WERE ALL MATERIALS USED TO CREATE THE BOTTLES. IT WAS DURING THE EMPEROR QIANLLONG WHEN THE SNUFF BOTTLE PRODUCTION BOOMED. THERE WERE MASSES OF BAD QUALITY ONES MADE, BUT ALSO MANY OF THE FINEST CRAFTSMEN PRODUCED EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES. AND IT WAS THESE THAT THE BLOCHS COLLECTED. OTHER RECORD PRICES AT THE SALE INCLUDED AN INSCRIBED NEPHRITE JADE BOTTLE WHICH WENT FOR A WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR ANY JADE BOTTLE FOR OVER £500,000, AND AN IMPERIAL 'BIRD ON BRANCH' BOTTLE WENT FOR OVER £460,000, A WORLD RECORD FOR AN ENAMELED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE.

V&A TO PRESENT RAPHAEL TAPESTRIES FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL


THE V&A ANNOUNCES THAT FOUR OF THE TEN TAPESTRIES DESIGNED BY RAPHAEL FOR THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN VATICAN CITY WILL GO ON SHOW IN SEPTEMBER. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL TAPESTRIES FROM THE ONLY SERIES DESIGNED BY RAPHAEL OF WHICH EXAMPLES SURVIVE, AND ARE COMPARABLE WITH MICHELANGELO'S SISTINE CHAPEL CEILING AS MASTERPIECES OF HIGH RENAISSANCE ART. THE TAPESTRIES WILL BE DISPLAYED ALONGSIDE THE FULL-SIZE DESIGNS FOR THEM, THE FAMOUS RAPHAEL CARTOONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN ON DISPLAY IN THE V&A SINCE 1865. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE DESIGNS AND TAPESTRIES HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED TOGETHER, SOMETHING RAPHAEL HIMSELF NEVER WITNESSED. THE TAPESTRIES HAVE NOT BEEN SHOWN BEFORE IN THE UK. THE TAPESTRIES, OF THE ACTS OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL, THE MIRACULOUS DROUGHT OF FISHES, CHRIST'S CHARGE TO ST PETER, THE HEALING OF THE LAME MAN, AND THE SACRIFICE AT LYSTRA, WERE MADE FOR THE SISTINE CHAPEL ALMOST 500 YEARS AGO. RAPHAEL WAS COMMISSIONED BY POPE LEO X TO DESIGN THESE GREAT TAPESTRIES, WHICH WERE WOVEN IN BRUSSELS, EUROPE'S LEADING CENTER FOR TAPESTRY-WEAVING, AND THEN SENT TO ROME FOR DISPLAY. AS THE CARTOONS REMAINED IN BRUSSELS, RAPHAEL HIMSELF NEVER SAW THE CARTOONS BESIDE THE TAPESTRIES WOVEN FROM THEM. SEVERAL EUROPEAN MONARCHS, INCLUDING HENRY VIII, LATER COMMISSIONED COPIES OF THE TAPESTRIES WHICH WERE MADE FROM THE CARTOONS IN BRUSSELS. IN 1623 CHARLES I, WHILE PRINCE OF WALES, HAD THE CARTOONS BROUGHT TO ENGLAND TO HAVE HIS OWN SET WOVEN IN THE MORTLAKE TAPESTRY WORKSHOPS, AND THEY HAVE REMAINED IN ENGLAND EVER SINCE. THE VATICAN MUSEUMS OWN THE TAPESTRIES FROM THE SISTINE CHAPEL. THE CARTOONS BELONG TO THE QUEEN, BUT HAVE BEEN ON LONG-TERM LOAN TO THE V&A SINCE QUEEN VICTORIA LENT THEM IN 1865. THE CARTOONS ARE TOO FRAGILE TO LEAVE THE MUSEUM BUILDING SO THEY HAVE NEVER LEFT THE MUSEUM. THE FOUR TAPESTRIES WILL BE HUNG IN THE V&A's RAPHAEL GALLERY NEXT TO THE SEVEN CARTOONS. THE DESIGN OF EACH CARTOON CORRESPONDS IN EVERY POINT, BUT IN REVERSE, TO THE TAPESTRY IT WAS MADE FOR. THE EXHIBITION OF THE TAPESTRIES WILL TAKE PLACE OVER A SIX WEEK PERIOD TO COINCIDE WITH THE HISTORIC VISIT TO ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND OF POPE BENEDICT XVI.

BUKOWSKIS AUCTION HOUSE ROBBED OF $1.5 MILLION OF JEWELRY


BUKOWSKIS, THE NORDIC REGION'S OLDEST AND LARGEST AUCTION HOUSE, WAS ROBBED OF JEWELRY TO BE SOLD AT ITS SPRING AUCTION IN A DARING HEIST IN DOWNTOWN STOCKHOLM. THREE MASKED ROBBERS WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS ENTERED BUKOWSKIS IN STOCKHOLM AROUND LUNCHTIME THURSDAY AND STOLE JEWELRY 'WORTH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY', POLICE SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. BUKOWSKIS WAS SET TO SELL 300 PIECES OF JEWELRY WITH A COMBINED STARTING PRICE OF $1.5 MILLION BETWEEN 1-5.JUNE, ACCORDING TO THE AUCTION HOUSE'S WEBSITE. THE PIECES INCLUDED A BEJEWELED COLLAR SET WITH WHITE AND YELLOW DIAMONDS. POLICE OFFICERS ARE INTERVIEWING WITNESSES AT BUKOWSKIS AND HAVE ALSO FOUND THE VEHICLE THE THREE ROBBERS USED TO FLEE IN. 'THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE FOR BUKOWSKIS, BUT THE MAIN THING IS THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS ARE UNHARMED', A SPOKESPERSON FOR BUKOWSKIS SAID IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW. 'WE NOW HAVE A POLICE INVESTIGATION GOING ON DOWN HERE AND ALSO HAVE CRISIS MANAGEMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. ALL THE FOCUS IS ON THEM.'

MUSEUM OF LONDON UNVEILED NEW GALLERIES AND EXHIBITIONS


RECENTLY THE MUSEUM OF LONDON UNVEILED THE GALLERIES OF MODERN LONDON, A SPECTACULAR £20 MILLION REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSEUM'S GALLERIES, WHICH WILL TELL THE STORY OF LONDON AND ITS INHABITANTS FROM THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON IN 1666 TO THE PRESENT DAY. SUPPORTED BY AN £11.5 MILLION HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND GRANT, THE NEW GALLERIES PROVIDE AN INSPIRING VISION OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITY, AND PLACE THE MUSEUM AT THE HEART OF LONDON AHEAD OF THE 2012 OLYMPICS. ON DISPLAY ARE OVER 7,000 FASCINATING OBJECTS TELLING THE STORIES OF LONDONERS OVER THE PAST 350 YEARS. ANN FANSHAWE'S EXTRAVAGANT 1750s COURT DRESS WILL MAKE VISITORS WONDER HOW ITS WEARER WAS ABLE TO WALK THROUGH A DOOR WITH ITS TWO-METER WIDE SKIRT. A RECONSTRUCTED GEORGIAN PLEASURE GARDEN, WITH ITS PARADE OF EXQUISITELY DRESSED STROLLERS MODELING SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED HATS AND MASKS BY PHILIP TREACY, WILL EXPOSE THE EXCITEMENT AND INTRIGUE OF GEORGIAN SOCIAL LIVES. BUT HARDSHIP WAS JUST A TURN OF FORTUNE AWAY, AS THE WELLCLOSE DEBTORS' PRISON, ETCHED WITH INMATES' GRAFFITI, SHOWS. MOVING INTO THE 20th CENTURY, THE STUNNING ART DECO LIFT FROM SELFRIDGES DEPARTMENT STORE IS EVIDENCE OF THE OPULENCE OF THE NEW CENTURY. THE FLURRY OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND VOICES OF PROTEST IS EXPOSED IN STORIES OF THE SUFFRAGETTES FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S VOTES, AND OF THE EMERGING COMMUNIST AND FASCIST GROUPS AS THE NATION MOVED CLOSER TO WAR. THE REFUGEE TRUNK BELONGING TO THE SEELIG FAMILY, WHO ESCAPED TO LONDON FROM DRESDEN IN 1939, TELLS THE STORY OF THOSE FORCED TO MOVE TO THE CITY IN HARD CIRCUMSTANCES. THE MUSEUM WILL OFFER NEW ITEMS ON DISPLAY AS WELL AS OLD FAVORITES; THE FAMOUS SPARKLING LORD MAYOR'S STATE COACH WILL HAVE ITS OWN GALLERY WITH STREET LEVEL WINDOWS FOR PASSERS-BY TO SEE IN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.museumoflondon.org.uk

BONHAMS TO SELL RARE PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS OF RUSSIAN ROYALTY


A COLLECTION OF 19th CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS OF RUSSIAN ROYALTY GOES UNDER THE HAMMER AT BONHAMS 'BOOKS, MAPS, MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS' SALE ON 8.JUNE IN LONDON. MANY OF THE PORTRAITS ARE OF THE FAMILY OF TSAR NICHOLAS I WHO REIGNED FROM 1825 TO 1855 AND OF THE FAMILY OF HIS SUCCESSOR ALEXANDER II, WHO RULED FROM 1855 UNTIL HIS ASSASSINATION IN 1881. AMONG THE MOST NOTABLE ITEMS ARE A FINELY HAND-COLOURED CABINET CARD OF ALEXANDER II AND HIS WIFE MARIA ALEXANDROVANA; A HAND COLOURED CARD OF THE FUTURE ALEXANDER III AND HIS WIFE TSARINA MARIA FEDOROVNA WHO FLED TO GREAT BRITAIN AFTER THE REVOLUTION AND THEN SETTLED IN HER NATIVE DENMARK WHERE SHE DIED IN 1928; AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF ALEXANDER II LYING IN STATE. THE COLLECTION ALSO FEATURES MEMBERS OF OTHER EUROPEAN ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDING QUEEN VICTORIA AND MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY; PRINCE CAROL, DOMNITOR OF RUMANIS; AND NIKOLA, PRINCE OF MONTENEGRO AS WELL AS PROMINENT POLITICIANS AND WRITERS OF THE DAY AND THE FAMOUS SOPRANOS, ADELINA PATTI, PAULINE LUCCA AND CHRISTINA NILSSON. SEPARATELY, THE SALE INCLUDES A PHOTOGRAPH OF TSAR NICHOLAS II TAKEN DURING HIS CORONATION PROCESSION IN 1896 AND A LARGE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TSAR AND TSARINA FROM 1905 STANDING ON THE BALCONY OF AN UNIDENTIFIED BUILDING.

CAPE TOWN'S SAFEST HOUSE PUT ON THE MARKET


A BRITISH COUPLE FRUSTRATED WITH THE EVER ESCALATING CRIME RATES IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, HAVE BUILT A UNIQUE HOUSE THEY CLAIM IS BURGLAR-PROOF. EILEEN MIJLOF SAID SHE HAD LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES SHE WAS BURGLED IN AND AROUND HER HOME. SO WHEN SHE AND HER HUSBAND, JELLE, DECIDED TO MOVE, IT WAS TO A CUSTOM-DESIGNED Y-SHAPED FORTRESS THAT THE PAIR CLAIM IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK IN TO. UNUSUAL FOR MOST MIDDLE-CLASS SOUTH AFRICAN HOMES, THE PROPERTY AT THE FOOT OF TABLE MOUNTAIN DOES NOT HAVE A BURGLAR BARS, ALARMS, ELECTRIC FENCING OR TRELLIS SECURING DOORS, BECAUSE THE FIRST FLOOR IS NEARLY 50ft ABOVE GROUND. THE HOUSE LOOKS AS IF IT IS PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED ON TOP OF A SECURE GARAGE, BUT THE FOUNDATION IS 20ft DEEP, AND 10ft BY 40ft LONG. MIJLOF WHO IS ORIGINALLY FROM LIVERPOOL, SAID: 'WE FEEL VERY SAFE IN THE HOUSE. WE LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES WE GOT ROBBED IN OUR PRIVATE HOMES AND THE HOTEL WE RAN. THEY WERE NEVER VIOLENT, BUT IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH, WHICH IS WHY JELLE DECIDED HE WOULD BUILD THIS PLACE.' MIJLOF GOT THE IDEA TO CONSTRUCT THE TWO STORY HOUSE AFTER SITTING IN THE GROUNDS OF THE PROPERTY. 'I WAS SITTING BY THE TREES AND LOOKED UP AND SAW THE SQUIRRELS RUNNING UP AND DOWN THEM AND THE BIRDS SINGING. I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE SQUIRRELS GOT TO THE END OF BRANCHES, THEY LOOKED SECURE BECAUSE THEY KNEW NOTHING COULD FOLLOW THEM BECAUSE THEY'D BOTH FALL OFF. THE SQUIRRELS AND THE BIRDS LOOKED SAFE AND I THOUGHT WE SHOULD FEEL THE SAME.' HE COMPLETED THE HOUSE IN 2000, AND THE COUPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN MARRIED 20 YEARS, ARE NOW SELLING THE FORTRESS IN THE HIGGOVALE SUBURB TO MOVE TO THE WHALE-WATCHING TOWN OF HERMANUS. THE HOUSE, WHICH ENJOYS PANORAMIC VIEWS OF CAPE TOWN AND THE OCEAN BEYOND, IS ON THE MARKET FOR £1.1 MILLION.

CLASSIC CAR COLLECTOR TO SELL BATMOBILE AT AUCTION


AVID CAR COLLECTOR MARK PERKINS HAS HOARDED THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION OF MUST-HAVE MOVIE RELATED AUTOS, INCLUDING THE BATMOBILE, JAMES BOND'S ASTON MARTIN AND THE GHOSTBUSTERS 'ECTOMOBILE'. HIS AMAZING COLLECTION OF ICONIC SCREEN CARS IS UNMATCHED ANYWHERE, AND ALSO INCLUDES STARSKY AND HUTCH'S FORD TORINO, MR BEAN'S MINI AND EVEN DEL BOY'S RELIANT REGAL. HE HAS SPENT THE LAST 25 YEARS AMASSING A RANGE OF CARS THAT HAVE STARRED IN SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FILMS AND TELEVISION SERIES FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS AND HAS INSURED THE HOARD FOR £500,000. CLASSIC CARS CURRENTLY STORED IN THE BASEMENT OF HIS HOME IN ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, INCLUDE ORIGINALS OF THE FLINTSTONES CAR, BATMAN'S BATCYCLE, MR BEAN'S MINI, 007's ASTON MARTIN FROM THE FILM GOLDFINGER, AND DEL BOY'S RELIANT REGAL VAN. AND ALONGSIDE THE IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION ARE EXACT REPLICAS OF THE BATMOBILE, GHOSTBUSTERS' CADILLAC STYLE LIMO AND NODDY'S TOYLAND CAR. PERKINS HAS BUILT UP HIS COLLECTION OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, SCOURING THE WORLD TO FIND THE DISTINCTIVE FILM CARS. HE FOUND THE BATMOBILE IN INDIANA, THE FLINTSTONES CAR IN FLORIDA AND HAS JUST SECURED A 1967 PONTIAC GTO IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS MORE COMMONLY RECOGNIZED FROM THE MONKEYS. THE PROPERTY DEVELOPER SAID: 'IT IS A NICE SIDELINE HOBBY. WE LOOK ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR THEM. I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS NOW AND HAVE GOT A NICE COLLECTION OF VEHICLES WHICH I STORE IN MY BASEMENT, BUT I AM STARTING TO RUN OUT OF ROOM. IT'S ALL RIGHT TO HAVE A FERRARI OR A BENTLEY BUT IT'S NOT MY CUP OF TEA. CLASSIC CARS FROM FILMS AND UNUSUAL THINGS ARE MY HOBBY.' PERKINS HAS MADE THE TOUGH DECISION TO PART WITH HIS PRIZED BATMOBILE, WHICH HE BOUGHT IN 1988 AND CUSTOMIZED WITH THE HELP OF RENOWNED CUSTOM COACH BUILDER, BILL CHAPMAN. IT IS BASED ON A LINCOLN CONTINENTAL CHASSIS AND WAS BUILT TO A SIMILAR SPECIFICATION AS THE ORIGINAL CAR IN THE SIXTIES. IT IS GOING UNDER THE HAMMER IN AN AUCTION ON 2.JUNE IN SURREY AND IS EXPECTED TO FETCH IN THE REGION OF £40,000. 'IT IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE COLLECTING DUST. I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SELL IT, IT HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING', HE SAID. 'BUT CLASSIC CARS, AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, SHOULD BE DRIVEN TO BE ENJOYED, AND I'VE LOVED TAKING IT ON THE ROAD OVER THE YEARS. HOWEVER, I WILL HAVE LITTLE TIME TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE, AND SO SADLY IT'S TIME SOMEONE ELSE DERIVED PLEASURE OF OWNERSHIP.'

27.5.10

MARILYN MONROE'S GOWN FROM GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION


MARILYN MONROE'S ICONIC PINK SATIN GOWN FROM THE 'DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND' SEQUENCE IN GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES WILL HIGHLIGHT PROFILES IN HISTORY'S THREE MILLION DOLLAR HOLLYWOOD AUCTION 40, 10-12.JUNE. THE STUNNING GOWN WAS WORN BY MONROE AS THE GOLD-DIGGING 'LORELEI LEE' IN ONE OF CINEMA'S MOST MEMORABLE SONG AND DANCE SEQUENCES. THE GOWN IN ESTIMATED AT $150,000-$250,000. THE UNPARALLELED AUCTION INCLUDES NUMEROUS COLLECTIONS HIGHLIGHTED BY; AN INCREDIBLE COLLECTION FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ, AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF ELVIS PRESLEY CLOTHING, JEWELRY AND PERSONAL EFFECTS, AN IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF STOP-MOTION PUPPETS AND PROPS FROM TIM BURTON'S A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, A SUPERIOR COLLECTION OF STAR WARS ICONIC PROPS FROM THE ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATED STAR WARS PRODUCER GARY KURTZ AND AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF STAR TREK TRICORDERS, PHASERS, MEDICAL AND ENGINEERING DEVISES, ALIEN WEAPONRY AND OTHER 'TREK' INNOVATIONS. HOLLYWOOD'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE PROPS AND COSTUMES TO HIT THE AUCTION BLOCK WILL INCLUDE; THE WICKED WITCH OF TEH WEST'S HAT FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ, JOHNNY DEPP'S SCISSORHANDS FROM EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, DARTH VADER'S LIGHT SABER FROM STAR WARS: EPISODE VI - RETURN OF THE JEDI, JULIE ANDREWS' CARPET BAG FROM MARY POPPINS, A 'JEANNIE' BOTTLE FROM I DREAM OF JEANNIE, BRUCE LEE'S SIGNATURE 'KATO' HAT FROM THE GREEN HORNET AND AN UNPRECEDENTED COLLECTION OF OVER 300 STAR TREK LOTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.profilesinhistory.com

QUEEN ELIZABETH OPENS PARLIAMENT



QUEEN ELIZABETH PRESIDED OVER A HISTORIC DAY IN WESTMINSTER ON TUESDAY AS SHE OPENED PARLIAMENT FOR DAVID CAMERON AND NICK CLEGG'S NEW CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GOVERNMENT. IT IS THE 56th TIME HER MAJESTY HAS OPENED A NEW PARLIAMENTARY SESSION DURING HER REIGN, BUT THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS DONE IT FOR A COALITION GOVERNMENT. THE POMP AND CEREMONY BEGAN, AS TRADITION DICTATES, WITH THE MONARCH JOURNEYING IN THE IRISH STATE COACH FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, ACCOMPANIED BY THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. AHEAD OF HER, ESCORTED BY MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, TRAVELED THE REGALIA, THE IMPERIAL STATE CROWN, THE CAP OF MAINTENANCE AND SWORD OF STATE, IN THEIR OWN CARRIAGE. MEANWHILE. PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NICK CLEGG WALKED ON FOOT FROM DOWNING STREET TO JOIN OTHER MPs IN THE COMMONS. ON ARRIVAL, THE QUEEN DONNED THE IMPERIAL STATE CROWN AND PARLIAMENTARY ROBE AND LED THE CUSTOMARY PROCESSION TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS, WHERE ASSEMBLED GUESTS INCLUDED BARONESS THATCHER AND BRITAIN'S NEW FIRST LADY SAMANTHA CAMERON. AFTER SHE TOOK TO THE THRONE, THE DEPUTY GENTLEMAN USHER OF THE BLACK ROD SUMMONED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. WITH CAMERON, CLEGG AND OTHER MPs GATHERED IN THE LORDS, THE QUEEN DELIVERED HER SPEECH OUTLINING THE NEW GOVERNMENT'S PLANS FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. AMONG THE COALITION'S PROGRAMS OF 22 NEW BILLS SHE READ OUT WERE PLANS TO TACKLE THE BUDGET DEFICIT, SCRAP ID CARDS AND REFORM SCHOOLS, THE POLICE AND POLITICAL SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH READ BY THE QUEEN, THE SPEECH IS DRAWN UP BY THE GOVERNMENT AND APPROVED BY THE CABINET. THE PAGEANTRY ENDED WITH THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP RETURNING TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN THE ROYAL CARRIAGE, TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS PLAYING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. THE QUEEN HAS OPENED EVERY PARLIAMENT BUT TWO DURING HER 56 YEAR REIGN. THOSE WERE IN 1959 AND 1963, WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH PRINCE ANDREW AND PRINCE EDWARD.



GILES DEACON TO BECOME CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR UNGARO


IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF AN OPEN SECRET IN FASHION CIRCLES FOR WEEKS, BUT, TODAY IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE BRITISH DESIGNER, GILES DEACON IS TO JOIN THE FRENCH FASHION HOUSE OF EMANUEL UNGARO, AS CREATIVE DIRECTOR. DEACON WILL PRESENT HIS FIRST READY-TO-WEAR COLLECTION FOR THE BRAND AT THE PARIS SPRING/SUMMER PRET-A-PORTER SEASON IN OCTOBER. A CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS GRADUATE, DEACON LAUNCHED HIS OWN BRAND IN 2004, AFTER WORKING FOR TWO MAJOR LUXURY BRANDS, GUCCI AND BOTTEGA VENETA, IN MILAN. HE WAS NAMED BEST NEW DESIGNER OF 2004 AFTER DEBUTING HIS FIRST COLLECTION AT LONDON FASHION WEEK, AND RECEIVED THE TOP FASHION 'OSCAR', DESIGNER OF THE YEAR, IN 2006. IN 2009, HE SCOOPED THE PRESTIGIOUS FRENCH ANDAM GRAND PRIX. DEACON IS RENOWNED FOR A PLAYFUL, IRREVERENT APPROACH TO CONTEMPORARY GLAMOR. APART FROM DESIGNING HIS OWN LABEL COLLECTIONS, HE ALSO DOES A CAPSULE COLLECTION, CALLED GOLD, FOR THE BRITISH HIGH STREET RETAILER, NEW LOOK.

26.5.10

NATIONAL ART CENTER IN TOKYO PRESENTS POST IMPRESSIONISM: 115 MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSEE D'ORSAY'


THE NATIONAL ART CENTER IN TOKYO IS PRESENTING 'POST IMPRESSIONISM: 115 MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSEE D'ORSAY', AN EXHIBITION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER 115 STUNNING ICONIC MASTERPIECE PAINTINGS FROM THE LEGENDARY COLLECTIONS OF THE MUSEE D'ORSAY. FRANCE IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY WAS HOME TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF PAINTERS WHOSE FERTILE GENIUS WAS SHAPED BY THE ARTISTIC INNOVATIONS WROUGHT BY THE IMPRESSIONISTS. THROUGHOUT THE LATER 1880s AND 1890s, THESE PAINTERS, CEZANNE, VAN GOGH, GAUGUIN AND SEURAT, AMONG OTHERS USED THEIR OWN MODES OF EXPRESSION TO PRODUCE IMAGINATIVE WORKS THAT EARNED THEM A PLACE IN HISTORY AS THE POST-IMPRESSIONISTS. THAT ERA OF POST-IMPRESSIONISM SERVES AS THE FOCUS OF THE EXHIBITION. OVER THE YEARS, POST-IMPRESSIONISM HAS BEEN PORTRAYED AS A MOVEMENT THAT FORMED THE ANTITHESIS TO IMPRESSIONISM AND SET THE STAGE FOR THE EMERGENCE OF AVANT-GARDE PAINTING OF THE 20th CENTURY. HOWEVER, THIS DEPICTION DOES NOT CONVEY THE IMMENSE DIVERSITY THAT CHARACTERIZED PAINTING IN THE POST-IMPRESSIONIST AGE, AN ERA EMPOWERED BY CRISSCROSSING STREAMS OF ART SPRINGING FORTH FROM THE CULTURAL TREASURE HOUSE THAT WAS FIN-DE-SIECLE PARIS. POST0IMPRESSIONISM ANNOUNCES A BREAK FROM IMPRESSIONISM, THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT WHICH OCCURRED IN FRANCE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE LATE 19th CENTURY. BY THE MID 1880s, ARTIST WERE EXPERIMENTING WITH EVEN MORE RADICAL IDEAS. VAN GOGH'S INTENSE, RICHLY COLOURED SURFACES COMMUNICATE EMOTIONALLY THROUGH THE ARTIST'S EXPRESSIVE MANIPULATION OF PAINT. GAUGUIN'S MONUMENTAL, DECORATIVE AND OFTEN EXOTIC WORKS STAND FOR A NEW AND AT TIMES BRUTAL AESTHETIC DIRECTNESS. CEZANNE'S MASTERY OF THE GENRES OF STILL LIFE, LANDSCAPE AND PORTRAITURE FULFILLS HIS OWN PROPHETIC PROMISE TO 'ASTONISH WITH AN APPLE'. THESE ARTISTS ENCAPSULATE THE CHALLENGES TO PAINTING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI-FACETED AVANT-GARDE AT THE TIME; POINTILLISM, NEO-IMPRESSIONISM, SYNTHETISM, SYMBOLISM, SCHOOL OF PONT-AVEN, CLOISONNISM, THE NABIS AND INTIMISM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nact.jp

O'KEEFFE PAINTING DONATED TO FLORIDA MUSUEM


AN ANONYMOUS DONOR HAS SURPRISED A FLORIDA MUSEUM WITH A VALUABLE GIFT; A GEORGIA O'KEEFFE PAINTING. 'GRAY HILLS PAINTED RED, NEW MEXICO' WAS RECENTLY HUNG ON A GALLERY WALL AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IN ST PETERSBURG. MUSEUM DIRECTOR JOHN SCHLODER TOLD THE ST PETERSBURG TIMES A WOMAN CALLED AND ASKED IF THE MUSEUM WANTED TO SEE HER O'KEEFFE PAINTING, AND THINGS PROGRESSED FROM THERE. THE DONOR DOESN'T WANT TO BE NAMED, BUT SHE TOLD SCHLODER SHE LOVES VISITING THE MUSEUM AND WANTED IT TO HAVE HER O'KEEFFE PAINTING. THE PAINTING FROM 1930 HAS BEEN OWNED BY SEVERAL PRIVATE COLLECTORS. SCHLODER SAYS THE MUSEUM NEVER COULD HAVE AFFORDED IT. O'KEEFFE'S PAINTINGS FROM THAT ERA HAVE SOLD IN RECENT YEARS FRO ANYWHERE FROM $2 MILLION TO $6 MILLION.

QUEEN ELIZABETH VISITS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW



THE QUEEN ADDED A STUNNING TOUCH OF BLUE PAISLEY TO THE SPECTACULAR PALATE OF COLOURS ON SHOW AT THIS YEARS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW. HER MAJESTY AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WALKED AMID THE LUSH GARDENS IN THE AFTERNOON SUNSHINE DURING A GLITTERING SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE SHOW AHEAD OF ITS PUBLIC OPENING ON FRIDAY. PRINCE AND PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AND THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER JOINED THE QUEEN TO TAKE IN THE SPECTACLE OF A SHOW THAT HAS BEEN HAILED AS THE MOST DAZZLING IN YEARS. DESPITE CONCERNS THAT THE CHELSEA WOULD FAIL TO BLOOM FULLY AFTER THE COLDEST WINTER IN 31 YEARS, THE UNSEASONABLY WARM SPELL IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE SHOW HAS BROUGHT OUT A RIOT OF COLOUR INTO BLOOM. STEPHEN BENNETT, DIRECTOR OF THE SHOW, SAID THAT THE HARSH WINTER HAD BEEN 'ABSOLUTE HELL' FOR GROWERS, BUT ADDED: 'WE HAVE THE EARLY STUFF HERE BECAUSE IT WAS COLD, AND ALL THE SUMMER STUFF HAS LEAPT INTO BLOOM.' ABOUT £20 MILLION WORTH OF JEWELS WERE INSTALLED IN THE GLITTERING 'ACE OF DIAMONDS GARDENS', THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE SHOW'S HISTORY, AHEAD OF THE QUEEN'S ARRIVAL. THEY WERE REMOVED BEFORE THE PUBLIC OPENING OVER SECURITY FEARS. THE ROYAL PARTY ALSO VISITED A GARDEN BUILT IN HONOUR OF PROFESSOR STEPHEN HAWKING BY THE MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION, WHICH CENTERED AROUND A DARK SWIRLING WATER FEATURE MEANT TO REPRESENT A BLACK HOLE. PROFESSOR HAWKING, THE EMINENT SCIENTIST WHO SUFFERS FROM MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE, WAS GREETED WARMLY BY THE QUEEN AS SHE ATTENDED THE EVENT TO UNVEIL HIS GARDEN. THE MONARCH ALSO VISITED THE EDEN PROJECT'S PLACES OF CHANGE GARDEN, THE LARGEST EVER TO BE BUILT AT CHELSEA, WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED BY A GROUP OF PRISONERS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS LONG BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANNUAL HORTICULTURAL ATTRACTION AND ITS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN REGULAR VISITORS FOR DECADES. THE ARRAY OF CELEBRITIES IN ATTENDANCE WITH THE QUEEN INCLUDED HELEN MIRREN AND JERRY HALL, AND MODEL TWIGGY WAS PRESENTED WITH A BOUQUET OF NEWLY-BRED HYBRID 'TWIGGY' ROSES.

ROLLS ROYCE PICNIC CABINET SET



ROLLS ROYCE RECENTLY UNVEILED A NEW LAVISH ACCESSORY FOR THEIR LUXURY AUTOMOBILES. THE ROLLS ROYCE PICNIC CABINET SET, WHICH WAS MADE ON SPECIAL REQUEST BY AN ANONYMOUS CUSTOMER, IS MADE OF WOOD AND LEATHER AND CONTAINS CROCKERY AND CUTLERY TO ENTERTAIN FOUR GUESTS. THE 60cm HIGH CABINET FOLD DOWN TO REVEAL A CUTTING BOARD WITH KNIVES. THE PRESTIGIOUS ROLLS ROYCE EMBLEM ON THE FRONT OF THE CABINET. AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH ROLLS ROYCE PRIVATE COMMISSION.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE'S FORTH PLINTH DISPLAY SHIP IN A BOTTLE



MORE THAN 200 YEARS AFTER THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, ADMIRAL LORD NELSON WAS REUNITED WITH HIS FLAGSHIP RECENTLY. A 1:30 SCALE REPLICA OF HMS VICTORY, IN A HUGE ACRYLIC BOTTLE, JOINED NELSON'S COLUMN IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED ON THE EMPTY FOURTH PLINTH. THE ONLY DEVIATION FROM THE ORIGINAL IS THE 37 SAILS, WHICH ARE DECORATED WITH PATTERNS SYMBOLIC OF AFRICAN IDENTITY AND INDEPENDENCE. THEY ARE THE TRADEMARK OF THE ARTIST, YINKA SHONIBARE. BORN IN LONDON BUT RAISED IN NIGERIA FROM THE AGE OF THREE UNTIL HE RETURNED TO STUDY ART, HE HAS INCORPORATED THEM IN THE MODEL TO 'REFLECT THE STORY OF MULTICULTURALISM IN LONDON'. IN KEEPING WITH TRADITION, HE REMAINED TIGHT LIPPED ABOUT EXACTLY HOW THE SHIP WAS PLACED ON THE PLINTH, 11.4ft LONG AND 7.7ft TALL, INSIDE A 15ft BOTTLE. THE INSTALLATION IS THE LATEST IN THE ROLLING PROGRAM OF CONTEMPORARY ART COMMISSIONS FRO THE FORTH PLINTH IN LONDON AND WILL BE ON DISPLAY FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. IT REPLACES SIR KEITH PARK'S STATUE OF A BATTLE OF BRITAIN HERO, AND ANTHONY GORMLEY'S WORK, ONE AND ANOTHER, WHICH SAW 2,400 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SPEND AN HOUR ON THE PLINTH. HORATIO NELSON WAS KILLED ON BOARD HMS VICTORY DURING THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR ON 21.OCTOBER.1805.

GERMAN OFFICIAL SAYS NEFERTITI BUST SHOULD STAY IN GERMANY


GERMANY'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS THE 3,300 YEAR OLD BUST OF QUEEN NEFERTITI THAT HAS BEEN IN A BERLIN MUSEUM FOR DECADES IS IN GERMANY LEGALLY AND COULD BREAK IF MOVED TO EGYPT. EGYPT'S CHIEF HAD SAID HE WILL FORMALLY DEMAND THE RETURN OF THE BUST OF THE 14th CENTURY BC MONARCH BECAUSE IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF EGYPT WITH FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO WESTERWELLE SAID RECENTLY THE CASE IS STILL OPEN BUT THAT THE GERMAN EXPERTS BELIEVE EVEN LENDING THE STATUE TO EGYPT COULD ENDANGER IT. GERMANY HAS DECLINED PAST EGYPTIAN REQUESTS FOR THE BUST'S RETURN, SAYING IT WAS TOO FRAGILE TO MOVE. EGYPT IS CAMPAIGNING TO RETRIEVE THOUSANDS OF ANTIQUITIES SPIRITED OUT DURING EGYPT'S COLONIAL PERIOD AND AFTERWARD.

ARCHEOLOGISTS UNEARTHE 57 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TOMBS


ARCHEOLOGISTS HAVE UNEARTHED 57 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TOMBS, MANY OF WHICH HOLD AN ORNATELY PAINTED WOODEN SARCOPHAGUS WITH A MUMMY INSIDE, EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES SAID RECENTLY. THE OLDEST TOMBS DATE BACK TO AROUND 2750 BC DURING THE PERIOD OF EGYPT'S FIRST AND SECOND DYNASTIES, THE COUNCIL SAID IN A STATEMENT. TWELVE OF THE TOMBS BELONG TO THE 18th DYNASTY WHICH RULED EGYPT DURING THE SECOND MILLENNIUM BC. THE DISCOVERY THROWS NEW LIGHT ON EGYPT'S ANCIENT RELIGIONS, THE COUNCIL SAID. EGYPT'S ARCHAEOLOGY CHIEF, ZAHI HAWASS, SAID THE MUMMIES DATING BACK TO THE 18th DYNASTY ARE COVERED IN LINEN DECORATED WITH RELIGIOUS TEXTS FROM THE BOOK OF THE DEAD AND SCENES FEATURING ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DEITIES. ABDEL RAHMAN EL-AYDI, HEAD OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MISSION THAT MADE THE DISCOVERY, SAID SOME OF THE TOMBS WITH RELIGIOUS TEXTS THAT THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS BELIEVED WOULD HELP THE DECEASED TO CROSS THROUGH THE UNDERWORLD. EL-AYDI SAID ONE OF THE OLDEST TOMBS IS ALMOST COMPLETELY INTACT, WITH ALL OF ITS FUNERARY EQUIPMENT AND A WOODEN SARCOPHAGUS CONTAINING A MUMMY WRAPPED IN LINEN. IN 31 TOMBS DATING TO AROUND 2030-1840 BC, ARCHEOLOGISTS DISCOVERED SCENES OF DIFFERENT ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DEITIES, SUCH AS FALCON-HEADED HORUS, HATHOR, KHNUM AND AMUN, DECORATING SOME OF THE TOMBS. THE COUNCIL SAID THE FINDINGS WERE UNEARTHED AT LAHOUN, IN FAYOUM, SOME 70 MILES SOUTH OF CAIRO. LAST YEAR, SOME 53 STONE TOMBS DATING BACK TO VARIOUS ANCIENT PERIODS WERE FOUND IN THE AREA.

25.5.10

LOUIS VUITTON PREPARES GRAND OPENING OF LONDON'S NEW BOND STREET 'MAISON'


LOUIS VUITTON IS READYING ITSELF FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT DATE IN ITS 125 YEAR ASSOCIATION WITH LONDON, THE OPENING, NEXT WEEK OF ITS NEW BOND STREET 'MAISON' IN THE HEART OF THE WEST END. THE LOUIS VUITTON UK FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUE WILL RIVAL THE LV STORE ON THE CHAMPS ELYSEES IN PARIS. THE NEW LONDON LV MAISON HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY THE NEW YORK BASED ARCHITECT, PETER MARINO, WHO ALSO WORKED ON THE LUXURY BRAND'S CHAMPS ELYSEES MAISON. IT FEATURES EYE-DAZZLING HIGHLIGHTS SUCH AS A TWO STORY WALL OF TRUNKS, TO SHOWCASE THE LV TRADITION OF WORKING IN LEATHER, AND A GLASS AND LED STAIRCASE. THE 15,000sqft STORE IS DESIGNED TO REFLECT THE 21st CENTURY MOOD OF LONDON AND BRING TOGETHER INNOVATION, HERITAGE AND FASHION, 'ALL VALUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO LOUIS VUITTON'. MARINO'S MASTER-PLAN WAS TO CONCEIVE THE STORE AS THE HOME OF A COLLECTOR WHO LOVES ONLY THE BEST AND MOST RARE. THE GROUND FLOOR IS DEVOTED TO LOUIS VUITTON ACCESSORIES AND WILL INCLUDE ORIGINAL ARTWORKS FROM WELL KNOWN NAMES SUCH AS RICHARD PRINCE, AND TAKASHI MURAKAMI, BOTH OF WHO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH LOUIS VUITTON IN THE PAST, AS WELL AS SEPARATE CIRCULAR ZONES FOR COSTUME JEWELRY AND JEWELRY. GLASS STAIRS TO THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR WILL LEAD TO THE MEN'S UNIVERSE. THE FIRST FLOOR IS DEVOTED TO WOMENSWEAR AND SHOES, AND WILL ALSO HOUSE A 'LIBRARIES' OF THE BEST OF BRITISH CONTEMPORARY ART BOOKS, AND BESPOKE COMMISSIONS BY THE LIKES OF ANISH KAPOOR, CHRIS OFILI AND GARY HUME. THE STORE'S SECOND FLOOR WILL BE PRIVATE CLIENTS SUITES, ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY SPECIAL INVITATION. MORE THAN 300 GUESTS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE GALA OPENING ON 25.MAY. THE LOUIS VUITTON MAISON, AT 17-20 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON, WI, WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON 28.MAY.

SOTHEBY'S TO OFFER BHARTI KHER'S 'THE SKIN SPEAKS A LANGUAGE NOT ITS OWN'


SOTHEBY'S LONDON, ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE OFFERING FOR SALE BHARTI KHER'S CELEBRATED SCULPTURE 'THE SKIN SPEAKS A LANGUAGE NOT ITS OWN', ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC AND MOST TALKED ABOUT WORKS OF ART BY A CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ARTIST AND THE MASTERPIECE OF THE LEADING FEMALE ARTIST OF HER GENERATION. AWE-INSPIRING IN ITS SCALE, DETAIL AND BEAUTY, THE LIFE-SIZE FEMALE INDIAN ELEPHANT, WILL BE OFFERED IN SOTHEBY'S CONTEMPORARY ART EVENING AUCTION ON 28.JUNE. THE WORK APPEARS AT AUCTION FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 2006 AND IS ESTIMATED AT £700,000-1,000,000. JAMES SEVIER, DIRECTOR AND SPECIALIST, SOTHEBY'S CONTEMPORARY ART DEPARTMENT, SAID: 'THIS IS A WORK WHICH TOOK BHARTI KHER TEN MONTHS TO CREATE, EVERY FOLD AND RECESS OF THE SUNKEN FORM IS METICULOUSLY CONTOURED BY THE INTRICATELY ARRANGED PATTERNS OF THOUSANDS OF BINDIS THAT ORGANICALLY SWARM ACROSS THE BEAST IN A SECOND SKIN. IT IS INDIA'S IDENTITY IN ALL ITS GLORIOUS COMPLEXITIES THAT IS THE HERO OF THIS MASTERPIECE AND THE SCULPTURE REMAINS A BEACON OF INDIA'S AVANT GARDE ART SCENE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 21st CENTURY. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE OFFERING THIS MASTERPIECE, WHICH IS NOT ONLY AN EXCLUSIVE WORK OF ART IN ITS OWN RIGHT, BUT ALSO AN ICON OF CONTEMPORARY INDIAN CULTURE AND ART.' BROUGHT TO IT KNEES IN A SEEMINGLY UNTENABLE POSITION, SIMULTANEOUSLY PEACEFUL AND PAINFUL, THE SKIN SPEAK A LANGUAGE NOT OF ITS OWN IS A VISION THAT ENGENDERS EXTREME PATHOS FROM THE VIEWER; IS SHE RISING OR IS SHE FALLING, RESTING OR EXPIRING, LIVING OR DYING. KHER COMBINES TWO SYMBOLS OF INDIAN CULTURE, THE BINDI AND THE ELEPHANT,IN A POWERFULLY EMOTIVE SCULPTURE WHICH LEAVES THE VIEWER ASKING WHETHER THIS IS A VISION OF INDIA ON THE RISE OR AN INDIA EXHAUSTED BY ITS OWN RAPID MODERNIZATION. CONFRONTED WITH THIS SCULPTURE LADEN WITH SYMBOLISM, KHER LEAVES IT OPEN TO INTERPRETATION. MADE IN KHER'S STUDIO IN DELHI, THE SKIN SPEAKS A LANGUAGE NOT ITS OWN, ONE OF THREE UNIQUE VARIATIONS PLUS THE ARTIST PROOF, ELOQUENTLY ARTICULATES INDIA'S DILEMMAS.

24.5.10

BANG BY MARC JACOBS


A LUSH FRAGRANT EXPLOSION FOR MEN IS COMING WITH A NEW COLLECTION BY ICONIC FASHION DESIGNER MARC JACOBS. BANG WAS CREATED FOR A 'CONTEMPORARY GUY, EVEN IF HE ISN'T YOUNG, HAS A YOUNGER SPIRIT'. JACOBS CREATED THE NAME FIRST AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPOSITION IS COOPERATION WITH COTY FOLLOWED. 'I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LOVE', SAID JACOBS. 'I PARTICULARLY LIKE THE SPICE NOTES, ESPECIALLY PEPPER, SO THAT BECOME A STARTING POINT.' BANG WAS CREATED BY ANN GOTTLIEB OF SUCH NOTES AS BLACK, WHITE AND PINK PEPPER. A HEART IS ENRICHED WITH MASCULINE WOODY NOTES, WHILE THE BASE INCLUDES ELEMI RESIN, AROMATIC BENZOIN, VITIVER, WHITE MOSS AND PATCHOULI. THE FRAGRANCE WILL APPEAR EXCLUSIVELY AT BLOOMINGDALE'S AND AT MARC JACOBS' OFFICIAL BOUTIQUES IN JULY AND WILL BE AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE FROM SEPTEMBER.

THE STUNNING ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FEATURES MARC JACOBS POSING NAKED ON A BED MADE OF SILVER MYLAR, WITH A LARGE PERFUME FLACON PLACED BETWEEN HIS LEGS. JACOBS APPEARED IN THE UNIQUE CAMPAIGN AFTER HIS BUSINESS PARTNER ROBERT DUFFY SUGGESTED HIM TO ADVERTISE HIS FIRST PERFUME FOR MEN BY HIMSELF. 'MY IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS, I DON'T KNOW. BUT THEN I CAME TO SEE THAT IT MADE SENSE. MEN'S FRAGRANCE, UNLIKE WOMEN'S FRAGRANCE IS VERY PERSONAL.'

WORLD'S RAREST STAMP SELLS AT AUCTION


THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE STAMP HAS BEEN SOLD FOR WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE A RECORD AMOUNT AT A RECENT AUCTION SHROUDED IN SECRECY. THE TRESKILLING YELLOW HAS BEEN EXPECTED TO SELL FOR UP TO £1.7 MILLION. BUT THE EXACT PRICE PAID WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN THE SMALL SWEDISH RECTANGULAR PRIZE, THE WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE OBJECT BY WEIGHT, WAS SOLD TO A GROUP OF MYSTERY BUYERS IN A TELEPHONE AUCTION IN GENEVA ON SATURDAY. 'IT IS STILL WORTH MORE THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE STAMP INCLUDING THE EVEN OLDER 2 PENNY POST OFFICE MAURITIUS BLUE THAT SOLD FOR £970,000 IN 1993', SAID AUCTIONEER DAVID FELDMAN. HE SAID THE TRESKILLING YELLOW WAS LAST DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC A WEEK AGO AT THE LONDON 2010 FESTIVAL OF STAMPS. HE ADDED THAT BOTH THE PRICE AND IDENTITY OF THE BUYERS, WHO TOOK PART IN THE TELEPHONE AUCTION AGAINST A SINGLE RIVAL BIDDER, WOULD LIKELY BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE EVENTUALLY. FELDMAN SAID THE AUCTION 'HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THE BUYERS CLEARLY KNEW SO MUCH THEY PREPARED TO PAY'. THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN HAS MADE PEOPLE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT BIDDING FOR SUCH PRICEY ITEMS, HE SAID. AT THE SAME TIME, STAMPS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING SEEN AS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HE ADDED. THE TRESKILLING YELLOW HAS CHANGED HANDS AT LEAST ONCE SINCE 1996, BUT LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE LAST OWNER THAT SHE OR HE HAD TO SELL THE STAMP BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN PUT UP AS FINANCIAL COLLATERAL. THE FIRST COLLECTOR TO OWN THE STAMP IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A SWEDISH SCHOOLBOY, WHO FOUND IT IN 1885 AMONG A PILE OF LETTERS LEFT BY HIS GRANDPARENTS. THE TRESKILLING YELLOW IS 'ONE OF ABOUT HALF DOZEN HIGHLY NOTORIOUS STAMPS IN THE WORLD', ACCORDING TO NOTED STAMP EXPERT ROBERT ODENWELLER. THE 1856 BRITISH GUIANA 1 CENT MEGENTA IS THE BEST KNOWN OF ALL UNIQUE STAMPS, BUT HAS BEEN LOCKED AWAY IN A VAULT SINCE 1980 WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT FOR NEARLY ONE MILLION US DOLLARS BY CHEMICAL FORTUNE HEIR JOHN DU PONT, HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING A 13 TO 30 YEAR SENTENCE FOR THIRD DEGREE MURDER.

23.5.10

GETTY MUSEUM DEBUTS CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY FOR AUGSBURG CABINET


TO SHOWCASE ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX OBJECTS IN ITS COLLECTION, THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM WILL DEBUT CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY TO EXPLORE A 17th CENTURY DISPLAY CABINET FROM AUGSBURG, GERMANY. USING AUGMENTED REALITY (AR), VISITORS TO THE GETTY'S WEBSITE WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO THE FASCINATING OBJECT. THE AUGSBURG DISPLAY CABINET, OR KABINETTSCHRANK, IS THE CENTERPIECE OF ONE OF FOUR NEWLY REINSTALLED GALLERIES IN THE MUSEUM'S NORTH PAVILION. A STUNNING PIECE OF FURNITURE, IT SERVED AS A REPOSITORY FOR RARE AND EXOTIC OBJECTS SUCH AS MEDALS, GEMS AND SHELLS. DISPLAYED ON A RENAISSANCE MARBLE TABLE, EACH OF THE CABINET'S FOUR SIDES ARE OPEN TO REVEAL ITS UNEXPECTEDLY COMPLEX SERIES OF DRAWERS, DOORS, AND CUPBOARDS. A FOLDING MEDAL DISPLAY CASE CONTAINS A COLLECTION OF GEMS, RINGS, COINS AND MEDALS FROM THE MUSEUM'S SCULPTURE AND DECORATIVE ARTS AND ANTIQUITIES COLLECTIONS, WHILE A MIRRORED DOOR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE REFLECTS THE VIEWER. THE AR FEATURE ALLOWS USERS TO EXPERIENCE THE AUGSBURG CABINET VIA A 3-D OBJECT OVERLAY ON A LIVE VIDEO FEED FROM THE VIEWER'S WEBCAM, IN THIS CASE, A SIMULATION OF THE CABINET. THE MODEL SPINS, TILTS, AND RESPONDS AS THE VIEWER INTERACTS WITH IT, CREATING THE SENSE OF PARTICIPATION. THE AUGMENTED REALITY EXPERIENCE WAS CREATED BY THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION INFORMATION & ACCESS DEPARTMENT, CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE MEANS TO PRESENT OBJECTS IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION TO EMPOWER VISITORS TO DIRECT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORKS OF ART.
TO EXPLORE THE AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY, AND EXPLORE THE AUGSBURG DISPLAY CABINET, VISIT www.getty.edu/collectorscabinet.

ABSOLUT BROOKLYN


BROOKLYN NOW JOINS THE RANKS OF CITIES WITH THEIR OWN BRANDED ABSOLUT VODKA, INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS (BLACK PEPPER AND MANGO), LOS ANGELES (BLUEBERRY, ACERLOA CHERRY, ACAI BERRY AND POMEGRANATE) AND BOSTON (BLACK TEA AND ELDERFLOWER). ABSOLUT BROOKLYN WAS CONCEIVED WITH THE HELP OF SPIKE LEE, A NATIVE OF THE BOROUGH (THE HOUSE NUMBER ON THE STOOP DEPICTED ON THE BOTTLE'S LABEL, NO.165, IS SUPPOSEDLY HIS ADDRESS). ABSOLUT HAS PROMISED TO DONATE $50,000 FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE LIMITED-EDITION BOTTLING TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S EFFORTS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE, GREEN HOMES IN BEDFORD-STUYVESANT. THE VODKA IS SAID TO HAVE 'A FRESH AND DISTANT CHARACTER OF RIPE APPLES WITH A SLIGHT HINT OF GINGER', ACCORDING TO THE PRESS RELEASE. AND THE BOTTLE'S ICONIC LARS OLSSON SMITH MEDALLION HAS BEEN ALTERED TO LOOK LIKE LEE WITH GLASSES AND A BASEBALL CAP. THE ABSOLUT BROOKLYN IS AVAILABLE AT MOST LIQUEUR SHOPS WITH AN ESTIMATED PRICE OF $29.99.