17.7.10

LEGAL SEAFOODS





IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST SEAFOOD THAT THE OCEANS HAVE TO OFFER OR THAT SPECIAL PLACE TO ENJOY SEAFOOD IN A FINE DINNING ATMOSPHERE LEGAL SEAFOOD IS THE PLACE TO EXPERIENCE BOTH. HAVING SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE IN BOSTON I HAVE COME TO RELISH THE MOMENTS WHEN I VISIT LEGAL SEAFOODS. FOUNDED IN 1950 WHEN GEORGE BERKOWITZ OPENED A FISH MARKET IN THE INMAN SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CAMBRIDGE, MASS. HE OPENED IT ADJACENT TO HIS FATHER HARRY'S GROCERY STORE LEGAL CASH MARKET WHERE CUSTOMERS WERE GIVEN 'LEGAL STAMPS' (FORERUNNERS OF THE S&H GREEN STAMPS) WITH THEIR PURCHASES. IT'S HERE THAT THE "LEGAL' NAME BECAME SYNONYMOUS WITH QUALITY AND FRESHNESS. IN 1968, THE BERKOWITZ FAMILY OPENED ITS FIRST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, RIGHT NEXT TO THE FISH MARKET. THE FISH WAS SIMPLY PREPARED, EITHER BROILED OR FRIED, AND SERVED ON PAPER PLATES AT COMMUNAL PICNIC TABLES. DESPITE THE LOW-KEY TRAPPINGS, THE FOOD WAS SECOND TO NONE AND WORD SPREAD QUICKLY. THE EARLY SUCCESS LED TO FURTHER EXPANSION AND NOW, SIX DECADES LATER WITH RESTAURANTS ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD, THE FAMILY PHILOSOPHY ENDURES: LEGAL SEA FOODS IS A FISH COMPANY IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS. GEORGE'S SON, ROGER, HAS BEEN AT THE HELM SINCE 1992 AND HAS EXPANDED THE BUSINESS INTO NEW MARKETS WHILE MAINTAINING THE COMPANY'S FOCUS ON ITS PROUD TRADITION AND CORE VALUES. LEGAL'S ONLINE OFFERINGS INCLUDE A NEW ENGLAND FEAST DINNER (FOR TWO), WHICH INCLUDES TWO FRESH LIVE LOBSTERS, A QUART OF CLAM CHOWDER, TWO BOSTON CREAM PIES, OYSTER CRACKERS, CLAW CRACKER KITS AND COOKING INSTRUCTIONS. THE MEAL WILL SET YOU BACK ABOUT $120 PLUS SHIPPING, FOR A TRUE NEW ENGLAND EXPERIENCE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.legalseafoods.com/

BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON TO BUT $11 MILLION NEW YORK ESTATE


BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON ARE REPORTEDLY CLOSING IN ON AN $11 MILLION 20-ACRE ESTATE NEAR NEW YORK AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR DAUGHTER CHELSEA'S WEDDING AT THE END OF THE MONTH. THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE ARE SET TO BECOME NEIGHBORS TO THE LIKES OF RICHARD GERE, MARTHA STEWART AND GLENN CLOSE IN BEDFORD HILLS, 40 MILES NORTH OF NEW YORK CITY. CLOVER HILL FARM HAS HIGH FENCES, TWO GUEST HOUSES AND SIX BEDROOMS IN THE MAIN 7,000 sqft MANSION, AMPLE ROOM FOR FUTURE GRANDCHILDREN AND THE SECRET SERVICE AGENTS THAT PROTECT THE FORMER FIRST FAMILY. THE HOME, WHICH FEATURES A WINE CELLAR, HEATED POOL, ARTIST STUDIO AND STABLE, HAS BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE BY PAUL WALLACE, WHOSE MANHATTAN PROPERTY FIRM THE BROADSTONE GROUP WAS DECLARED BANKRUPT IN MAY. SHORTLY BEFORE BILL CLINTON LEFT OFFICE TEN YEARS AGO HE AND HIS WIFE SPENT THE COMPARATIVELY SMALL SUM OF $1.7 MILLION ON A HOUSE IN CHAPPAQUA, NEW YORK. AT THE TIME THEY FOUND THE FUNDS HARD TO COME BY, BUT SINCE LEAVING WASHINGTON THEY HAVE AMASSED A FORTUNE OF MORE THAN $110 MILLION, THANKS MAINLY TO BOOK DEALS AND CLINTON'S POPULARITY AS A SPEAKER. THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS EVEN RESORTED TO RAFFLING HIMSELF OUT TO SUPPORTERS OF HIS WIFE'S FAILED PRESIDENTIAL BID IN AN ATTEMPT TO WHITTLE DOWN THE DEBT FROM HER CAMPAIGN, WHICH SHE PERSONALLY LENT $10 MILLION. THE NEW HOUSE DEAL COMES WITHIN DAYS OF CHELSEA CLINTON'S 31.JULY WEDDING TO MARC MEZVINSKY, WHICH HER MOTHER HAS SAID WAS 'TRULY THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW' AMID THE DEMANDS OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY.

NEW PLAYHOUSE PLANNED FOR SHAKESPEARE SITE


IN THE MIDDLE OF LONDON, A PLOT OF EARTH IS DUG ACROSS WITH TRENCHES AND STUDDED WITH OLD BRICKS. IF THE WORLD OF THEATER EVER HAD HALLOWED GROUND, THIS IS IT. IT'S THE SITE OF LONDON'S FIRST THEATER, WHERE WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS WERE PERFORMED AND WHERE THE BARD HIMSELF ONCE TROD THE BOARDS. ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO HAVE BEEN DIGGING HERE SINCE 2008 HAVE UNCOVERED A SECTION OF OUTER WALL AND FLOOR SURFACE FROM THE BUILDING, COMPLETED IN 1576 AND KNOWN SIMPLY AS THE THEATER, WHOSE TIMBERS WERE LATER USED TO BUILD THE GLOBE THEATER. NOW A LONDON DRAMA TROUPE PLANS TO ERECT A NEW BUILDING ON THE SITE, BRINGING LIVE PERFORMANCES BACK TO THE SPOT WHERE ELIZABETHAN DRAMA FLOURISHED MORE THAN 400 YEARS AGO. THIS WEEK ACTOR PAUL MCGANN STOOD AMID THE DIRT AND BRICKS AND RECITED THE PROLOGUE TO ROMEO AND JULIET, A PLAY HISTORIANS BELIEVE HAD ITS PREMIERE ON THE HISTORIC SITE AND IN WHICH SHAKESPEARE MAY HAVE TAKEN A SMALL ACTING ROLE. 'IT'S POSSIBLE THE PROLOGUE WAS SPOKEN BY SHAKESPEARE HIMSELF', MCGANN SAID. 'I HOPE SO. I WANT TO CHANNEL HIM.' FOR THEATER FANS, ESPECIALLY FOR ACTORS, THE SPOT IS SPECIAL. SHAKESPEARE'S INFLUENCE ON ENGLISH CULTURE IN INCALCULABLE, BUT RELATIVELY FEW PHYSICAL LINKS TO HIM REMAIN. TOURISTS CAN VISIT HIS BIRTH PLACE AND BURIAL PLACES IN THE TOWN OF STRATFORD-ON-AVON. IN LONDON, THERE'S A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GLOBE PLAYHOUSE WHERE HE WORKED NEAR ITS ORIGINAL SITE SOUTH OF THE RIVER THAMES. REMAINS HAVE BEEN FOUND NEARBY OF THE ROSE, ANOTHER ELIZABETHAN VENUE. NOWHERE ELSE BUT AT THE THEATER, HOWEVER, CAN ACTORS STAND EXACTLY WHERE THEIR ELIZABETHAN PREDECESSORS ONCE STOOD. THE REMAINS OF THE THEATER WERE DISCOVERED UNDERNEATH A VICTORIAN WAREHOUSE, WHICH UNLIKE MANY SIMILAR BUILDINGS HAD NO BASEMENT. THAT MEANT THE LAYERS BELOW HAD BEEN PRESERVED. THE TOWER THEATER COMPANY, AN 80 YEAR OLD AMATEUR TROUPE THAT HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR A PERMANENT HOME, BOUGHT THE SITE A FEW YEARS AGO AND ASKED MUSEUM OF LONDON ARCHAEOLOGISTS TO HAVE A LOOK. THE BRICKS WERE REMAINS OF A CURVED HALL, INDICATING A POLYGONAL BUILDING, A COMMON STYLE FOR ELIZABETHAN THEATERS. BESIDE THAT WAS A PATCH OF HARD-PRESSED GRAVEL, PART OF THE AREA WHERE THE 'GROUNDLINGS', THEATERGOERS HOLDING CHEAP STANDING-ROOM ONLY TICKETS, CROWDED TOGETHER TO WATCH PLAYS. EVEN OLDER REMAINS HAVE BEEN FOUND, IDENTIFIED AS PART OF THE BREWHOUSE FROM A MEDIEVAL PRIORY THAT ONCE STOOD ON THE SITE. THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS BELIEVE IT WAS STILL FUNCTIONING IN ELIZABETHAN TIMES, SERVING BEER TO THIRSTY THEATERGOERS. THEY HAVE ALSO DUG UP DRINKING VESSELS AND POTTERY SHARDS, INCLUDING A PIECE OF 16th CENTURY JUG WITH THE FACE OF AN ELIZABETHAN GENTLEMAN, DISTINCTIVE IN HIS RUFF AND POINTY BEARD. THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY THEY SHOULD BE FINISHED WITH THEIR EXCAVATIONS NEXT MONTH, AFTER WHICH TOWER THEATER HOPES TO BEGIN ERECTING A NEW THEATER ON THE SITE. THE COMPANY HAS PLANNING PERMISSION AND £4 MILLION. IT IS CAMPAIGNING TO RAISE £3 MILLIN MORE, BACKED BY CELEBRITY THESPIANS INCLUDING IAN MCKELLEN AND MICHAEL GAMBON, AND HOPES TO START CONSTRUCTION IN 2012.

LUCILLE BALL AUCTION TO GO AS SCHEDULED


AN AUCTION OF SOME OF THE LATE HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS AND COMEDIENNE LUCILLE BALL'S LOVE LETTERS AND AWARDS WILL GO AHEAD DESPITE A COURT RULING THAT IT COULD BE BLOCKED. LUCIE ARNAZ LUCKINBILL, THE DAUGHTER OF BALL AND HER FIRST HUSBAND DESI ARNAZ, WENT TO COURT IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SALE. A JUDGE IN LOS ANGELES AGREED TO BLOCK IT BUT IMPOSED A BOND OF $250,000 THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET A RESTRAINING ORDER ON THE AUCTION. HER LAWYER, RONALD PALMIERI, SAID THE AMOUNT WAS TOO HIGH AND COULD NOT BE MET. HE SAID: 'WE WON ON A LEGAL BASIS AND THE JUDGE TOOK IT AWAY FROM US ON AN ECONOMIC BASIS. THAT IS VERY SAD.' WHEN SHE DIED IN 1989 BALL WAS MARRIED TO HER SECOND HUSBAND GARY MORTON. HE WENT ON TO MARRY AGAIN AND THE ITEMS ARE BEING PUT UP FOR SALE BY HIS THIRD WIFE SUSIE MORTON. OTHER ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION INCLUDE A SILVER SPUR ROLLS-ROYCE AND THE ACTRESS'S ADDRESS BOOK. THEY HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE AUCTIONEERS AS A 'TROVE OF LUCY RELATED MATERIAL'. MORTON, A FORMER PROFESSIONAL GOLFER, SAYS THE ITEMS PASSED TO HER ON THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND IN 1999. SHE HAD HUNG ON TO THEM FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEIR HISTORY AND LEGACY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY SOUGHT A JUDGE'S ORDER THAT THE ITEMS WERE RIGHTFULLY HERS, ALLOWING THE SALE TO GO AHEAD IN BEVERLY HILLS THIS WEEKEND. LUCKINBILL IN TURN WENT TO COURT TO SEEK THE RESTRAINING ORDER. LUCKINBILL HAS CLAIMED THROUGH HER LAWYER THAT THE SALE 'PROSTITUTES' THE MEMORY OF HER MOTHER.

16.7.10

NEBRASKA CABLE TV NETWORK BUYS ROY ROGERS' HORSE TRIGGER


A NEBRASKA CABLE TV NETWORK PONIED UP $266,500 FOR ROY ROGERS' STUFFED AND MOUNTED HORSE, TRIGGER, AT AN AUCTION IN NEW YORK ON WEDNESDAY. THE MOVIE COWBOY'S FAITHFUL COMPANION WAS BOUGHT BY THE CABLE COMPANY RFD-TV IN OMAHA, NEB, AT A CHRISTIE'S AUCTION OF ITEMS FROM THE NOW CLOSED ROY ROGERS AND DALE EVANS MUSEUM IN BRANSON, MO. TRIGGER'S SALE PRICE OUTPACED THE ESTIMATE OF $100,000 TO $200,000 IT WAS EXPECTED TO FETCH, WITH MANY OTHER ITEMS ALSO SELLING FAR ABOVE ESTIMATE. RFD-TV'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER STEVE CAMPIONE SAYS ROGERS REFLECTS THE COMPANY'S VALUES. THE NETWORK AIRS MAINLY AGRICULTURAL, EQUINE AND COUNTRY LIVING PROGRAMMING. THE COMPANY'S OWNER, PATRICK GOTTSCH, WANTED TO BUY THE WHOLE ROGERS COLLECTION BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO WORK OUT A DEAL, CAMPIONE SAID. 'IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION A LITTLE TOO LATE', HE ADDED. 'BY THE TIME WE LINED UP THE RIGHT FINANCING AND KIND OF GOT OUR ARMS AROUND THE VALUE OF THE COLLECTION, IT WAS LITERALLY 24 HOURS AGO.' AUCTIONEER CATHY ELKIES SAID IT WAS THE 'MOST COLOURFUL, EMOTIONAL AND SENTIMENTAL' SALE SHE HAD EXPERIENCED IN HER 20 YEARS AT CHRITIE'S. MANY OF THE BIDDERS IN THE PACKED HALL CAME IN WESTERN ATTIRE AND COWBOY BOOTS, AND THERE WERE MORE THAN A FEW TEARS. ROGERS' SON ROY JR CRIED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SALE AS HE SPOKE OF THE FAMILY'S DECISION TO AUCTION ROY'S BELONGINGS. 'WE HOPE YOU GET A PIECE OF ROY AND DALE AND TAKE IT HOME AND YOU'LL PASS IT ON TO YOUR CHILDREN', HE SAID. ROY JR SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PUT THE COLLECTION P FOR AUCTION, BUT HE SAID ROGERS HAD TOLD THE FAMILY TO SELL THE MUSEUM COLLECTION IF IT STOPPED MAKING MONEY AND BECAME A BURDEN. 'YOU'RE SMILING OUT OF ONE SIDE OF THE FACE AND CRYING OUT THE OTHER', HE SAID. AS FOR TRIGGER'S NEW OWNER, CAMPIONE SAYS RFD-TV HOPES TO START ITS OWN WESTERN MUSEUM AND IS LOOKING TO BUY MORE ROGERS ITEMS. IN THE MEANTIME, TRIGGER WILL BE PUT TO PASTURE AT EITHER THE NETWORK'S OFFICE LOBBY OR GOTTSCH'S HOUSE UNTIL FINAL PLANS ARE MADE.

ITALIAN POLICE RECOVER HUNDREDS OF ANCIENT ARTIFACTS


ITALIAN POLICE RECENTLY MANAGED TO RECOVER HUNDREDS OF ANCIENT ARTIFACTS DURING AN OPERATION IN SWITZERLAND. VASES, BRONZE TOOLS AND MARBLE STATUES OF VENUS, SOME DATING AS FAR BACK AS THE 8th CENTURY BC, WERE AMONG 337 PIECES PUT ON TRIUMPHANT DISPLAY AT THE COLOSSEUM TODAY. THE PIECES ARE WORTH AN ESTIMATED £12.7 MILLION AND WERE RECOVERED FROM A VAST HORDE DISCOVERED IN SWITZERLAND LAST MONTH AFTER A TWO YEAR INVESTIGATION. ITALY HAS AGGRESSIVELY PURSUED THE RETURN OF ART AT SAYS WAS ILLEGALLY LOOTED FROM ITS SOIL AND SOLD TO MUSEUMS OR PRIVATE COLLECTIONS WORLDWIDE. THE PROBE CAME FROM AN INVESTIGATION INTO AN ITALIAN ART DEALER WHO WAS CONVICTED OF ART TRAFFICKING. THE OBJECTS WERE SEIZED IN GENEVA, PART OF A MASSIVE HAUL OF SOME 20,000 ARTWORKS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, THE ART SQUAD OF THE CARABINIERI POLICE SAID. AMONG THE ITEMS RETURNED WERE 'KRATERS', HUGE CASES USED TO MIX WINE AND WATER, STATUETTES AND DRINKING CUPS. POLICE SAY THE OBJECTS WERE LOOTED FROM THE SOUTHERN REGIONS AND, WILL REMAIN AT THE COLOSSEUM AFTER THEY ARE DISPLAYED THERE. AS PART OF ITS CAMPAIGN, ITALY HAS SECURED THE RETURN OF DOZENS OF ROMAN, GREEK AND ETRUSCAN ARTIFACTS IN DEALS WITH MUSEUMS INCLUDING THE MET AND CALIFORNIA'S J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM. IN EXCHANGE, ART OFFICIALS HAVE AGREED TO GIVE THE MUSEUMS LONG-TERM LOANS OF EQUALLY SIGNIFICANT TREASURES.

HEIRS BATTLE OVER LUCILLE BALL'S PERSONAL ITEMS BEFORE AUCTION


HEIRS OF THE LATE LUCILLE BALL AND HER SECOND HUSBAND ARE SPARRING OVER THE PLANNED AUCTION OF SOME OF THE COUPLE'S PRIZED POSSESSIONS, INCLUDING A ROLLS ROYCE AND SOME OF THE ACTRESS AWARDS. OTHER ITEMS ON THE AUCTION BLOCK ARE PHOTOS, SKETCHES, OTHER PERSONAL ITEMS AND LOVE LETTERS BETWEEN BALL AND GARY MORTON, THE COMEDIENNE'S SECOND HUSBAND. MORTON AND BALL WERE MARRIED UNTIL THE COMEDIENNE'S DEATH IN 1989. HE LATER REMARRIED, AND THE ITEMS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE SATURDAY WERE CONSIGNED TO HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES BY HIS WIDOW, SUSIE MORTON. SHE IS NOW LOCKED IN A BATTLE WITH LUCIE ARNAZ LUCKINBILL, THE DAUGHTER OF BALL AND HER FIRST HUSBAND AND 'I LOVE LUCY' CO-STAR, DESI ARNAZ, WHO WANT SOME OF THE ITEMS AND MOTHER'S AWARDS RETURNED. SUSIE MORTON SUED LUCKINBILL ON MONDAY TO SEEK A JUDGE'S RULING THAT THE AUCTION CAN PROCEED. LUCKINBILL SAID WEDNESDAY THROUGH HER ATTORNEY, RONALD J PALMIERI, THAT IF THE ITEMS SHE REQUESTED ARE NOT RETURNED, SHE WILL GO TO COURT FRIDAY MORNING AND TRY TO STOP THE AUCTION. LUCKINBILL WANTS THE RETURN OF SEVEN LOVE LETTERS, BALL'S ADDRESS BOOK, SOME PORTRAITS AND SEVERAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS BEING OFFERED FOR SALE, PALMIERI SAID. 'IT IS CLEAR THESE ARE PERSONAL EFFECTS EARNED BY A LIFETIME OF WORK BY SOMEONE OF GREAT STATURE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY', PALMIERI SAID IN A STATEMENT. 'TO DEMEAN THEIR TRUE NATURE, AND PROSTITUTE THEIR VALUE IN MONETARY TERMS, IS INSULTING TO MS. BALL'S MEMORY AND CONTRAVENES HER EXPRESS DESIRE THAT THESE ITEMS WERE TO BELONG TO HER DAUGHTER AFTER HER DEATH.' BOTH LUCKINBILL AND SUSIE MORTON SAY LUCKINBILL WAS ENTITLED TO HER MOTHER'S PERSONAL EFFECTS AS PART OF THE COMEDIENNE'S ESTATE PLANNING. BUT SUSIE MORTON'S LAWSUIT CONTENDS LUCKINBILL ABANDONED THE ITEMS WHEN THEY WERE DISTRIBUTED AFTER BALL'S DEATH. PALMIERI SAID THE ITEMS WOULD GO TO EITHER A MUSEUM NAMED AFTER HER MOTHER AND FATHER IN NEW YORK, OR ANOTHER MUSEUM WHERE THEY COULD BE SHOWN.

QUEEN'S STATE ROBE WILL BE DISPLAYED AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE


THE QUEEN'S 18ft ROBE OF STATE WILL GO ON PUBLIC DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PART ON AN EXHIBITION AT THE SUMMER OPENING OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE. THE CRIMSON VELVET ROBE WORN BY THE QUEEN AT THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT WILL BE THE CENTERPIECE OF THE DISPLAY, ALONGSIDE THE MACE AND GREAT SWORD OF STATE. THE ROBE, WHICH WEIGHS MORE THAN 151 lbs, WAS MADE FOR THE QUEEN'S CORONATION IN 1953. IT CONSISTS OF AN ERMINE CAPE AND A LONG VELVET TRAIN, MEASURING 18ft IN TOTAL. THE EXHIBITION RUNS FROM 27.JULY UNTIL 1.OCTOBER.

200 YEAR OLD VESSEL FOUND BURIED UNDER GROUND ZERO


THE SHIP WAS BURIED AS JUNK TWO CENTURIES AGO, LANDFILL TO EXPAND A BUSTLING LITTLE ISLAND OF COMMERCE CALLED MANHATTAN. WHEN IT RE-EMERGED THIS WEEK, SURROUNDED BY SKYSCRAPERS, IT WAS AND INSTANT TREASURE THAT POPPED UP FROM THE MUD NEAR GROUND ZERO. A 32 FOOT PIECE OF THE VESSEL WAS DISCOVERED IN SOIL 20 FEET UNDER STREET LEVEL, AMID NOISY BULLDOZERS EXCAVATING A PARKING GARAGE FOR THE FUTURE WORLD TRADE CENTER. NEAR THE SITE OF SO MANY GRIM FINDS, SEPT 11 VICTIMS' REMAINS, TWISTED STEEL AND VARIOUS OBJECTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE DAILY LIFE OF A ONCE-BUSY BUSINESS CENTER, THIS ONE WAS AS UNEXPECTED AS IT WAS THRILLING. HISTORIANS SAY THE SHIP, BELIEVED TO DATE TO THE 1700s, WAS DEFUNCT BY THE TIME IT WAS USED AROUND 1810 TO EXTEND THE SHORES OF LOWER MANHATTAN. 'A SHIP IS THE SUMMIT OF WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND UNDER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, IT'S EXCITING!', SAID MOLLY MCDONALD, AN ARCHAEOLOGIST WHO FIRST SPOTTED TWO PIECES OF THE HEWN, CURVED TIMBER, PART OF THE FRAME OF THE SHIP, PEEKING OUT OF THE MUDDY SOIL AT DAWN TUESDAY. BY THURSDAY, SHE AND THREE COLLEAGUES HAD DUG UP THE HULL FROM THE MUDDY PIT WHERE PARTS OF THE NEW TRADE CENTER ARE BEING BUILT. A STEEP, HANGING LADDER TREMBLED WITH EACH PRECARIOUS STEP DOWN INTO THE CHAOTIC MOUNDS OF DIRT AND MUD, DWARFED ALL AROUND BY THE MANHATTAN SKYLINE. PEOPLE SANK INTO THE WATERY MUD AS THEY WALKED AROUND THE SITE, GRASPING PIECES OF THE HISTORIC WOOD FOR SUPPORT, TOUCHING THE CENTURIES OLD SHIP THAT MAY HAVE ONCE SAILED THE CARIBBEAN, ACCORDING TO MARINE HISTORIAN NORMAN BROWER, WHO EXAMINED THE VESSEL THURSDAY. MCDONALD AND ARCHAEOLOGIST A MICHAEL PAPPALARDO MADE THE DISCOVERY ON TUESDAY AT ABOUT 6.15am, JUST AS THEY STARTED THEIR SHIFT OBSERVING CONSTRUCTION IN A PIT AT THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF GROUND ZERO. THE TWO WORK FOR AKRF, A NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRM HIRED TO DOCUMENT ARTIFACTS DISCOVERED AT THE TRADE CENTER SITE. THE VESSEL'S AGE WILL BE ESTIMATED AFTER THE PIECES THAT FIRST APPEARED ARE TESTED IN A LABORATORY THROUGH DENDROCHRONOLOGY, THE SCIENCE OF USING TREE RINGS TO DETERMINE DATES AND CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. ALSO UNKNOWN IS WHAT KIND OF WOOD WAS USED TO BUILD THE VESSEL. A 100 POUND IRON ANCHOR WAS FOUND A FEW YARDS FROM THE HULL, POSSILBLY FROM THE OLD VESSEL. THERE WERE ALSO TRACES OF HUMAN LIFE, 'PIECES OF SHOES ALL OVER', SAID MCDONALD, WHO HAD NO IDEA HOW THEY GOT THERE. TEH REMAINS OF THE SHIP WILL BE REMOVED IN THE COMING DAYS, BUT THE TIMBER IS SO DELICATE IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MUCH OF IT WILL REMAIN INTACT. THE SURROUNDING WATER ACTED AS A PRESERVER FOR THE WOOD FOR CENTURIES, MCDONALD SAID, BUT THE REMAINS BEGAN TO DETERIORATE IMMEDIATELY UPON CONTACT WITH OXYGEN. ANOTHER FASCINATING DETAIL MIGHT EMERGE AS WORK PROGRESSES; COINS TRADITIONALLY PLACED UNDER A VESSEL'S KEEL BLOCK AS A SYMBOL OF GOOD FORTUNE AND SAFE TRAVELS.

15.7.10

11 STOLEN PAINTINGS RETURNED TO PIRMASENS MUSEUM


IN A CEREMONY AT THE GOETHE INSTITUTE IN NEW YORK, US IMMIGRATION (INS) AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) DISPLAYED SOME OF THE 11 OIL PAINTINGS THAT WERE TAKEN BY A US SERVICEMAN FROM THE PIRMASENS AIR RAID SHELTER AFTER THE ALLIED INVASION OF GERMANY IN 1945. THE PAINTINGS ARE NOW ON THEIR WAY BACK HOME TO PIRMASENS MUSEUM IN GERMANY. ICE SPECIAL AGENT JAMES T HAYES JR THANKED THE GRAND-NIECE OF THE US SERVICEMAN, BETH ANN MCFADDEN, WHO ON INHERITING THE COLLECTION SOUGHT TO FIND OUT HOW HER GREAT-UNCLE HAD ACQUIRED THEM. SHE AND A FRIEND DISCOVERED THAT THE PAINTINGS WERE AMONG 40 IN THE PIRMASEN MUNICIPAL MUSEUM'S COLLECTION THAT WERE MISSING FROM A STORAGE AREA UNDER THE LOCAL SCHOOL BUILDING AFTER WORLD WAR II. THREE OF THE PAINTINGS ARE WORKS BY HEINRICH BUERKEL, A GERMAN PAINTER WHO WAS BORN IN PIRMASENS. 'HERD OF CATTLE', 'FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE' AND AN UNTITLED THIRD PAINTING ARE ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH $50,000. IN ADDITION, SEVEN OIL PORTRAITS BY LESSER-KNOWN ARTISTS DEPICTING THE CHILDREN OF LUDWIG IX ARE VALUED AT $4,000 EACH. AN ALOIS BROCH IS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH APPROXIMATELY $10,000. ALTHOUGH THE CITY OF PIRMASENS WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED IN AIR ATTACKS BY ALLIED FORCES ON MILITARY MANUFACTURING IN THE CITY, THE SCHOOLHOUSE, WHICH DOUBLED AS AN AIR RAID SHELTER, WAS LEFT STANDING. UNFORTUNATELY, ACCORDING TO MUSEUM OFFICIALS, EXTENSIVE LOOTING HAD RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 WORKS, 18 BY BUERKEL. MCFADDEN, THE GRAND-NIECE OF FORMER ARMY SARGENT HARRY GURSKY, CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE PAINTINGS' PROVENANCE AND DISCOVERED THE CONNECTION TO PRIMASENS. GURSKY, WHO DIED IN 1988, WAS STATIONED IN PRIMASENS AFTER THE INVASION. MCFADDEN CONTACTED GERMAN AUTHORITIES WHO INFORMED HER THAT ICE HAD AN OPEN INVESTIGATION. ON 2.FEBRUARY.2010, MCFADDEN SURRENDERED THE PAINTINGS TO ICE WHO WITH THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, FORMALLY SEIZED THEM. THE ICE AGENT CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS OF MCFADDEN AND OTHERS WHO KNEW GURSKY. THE STORIES WERE CONSISTENT WITH MCFADDEN'S BELIEF THAT MOST OF THE PAINTINGS WERE HIDDEN IN HER GREAT-UNCLE'S BASEMENT SINCE HE BROUGHT THEM BACK FROM GERMANY. SHE HAD ALSO INSISTED THAT A NEIGHBOR OF THE GURSKY'S MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED SOME PAINTINGS. THE ENSUING ICE INVESTIGATION CONFIRMED THAT GURSKY'S WIFE HAD GIVEN A FAMILY FRIEND SEVERAL PAINTINGS. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRIEND HAD ATTEMPTED TO SELL HER PAINTINGS AT SOTHEBY'S AUCTION HOUSE AND SOLD THREE THROUGH A PENNSYLVANIA AUCTION HOUSE. INVESTIGATION INTO THE SALE OF THOSE PAINTINGS IN ONGOING. ICE, THE LARGEST INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, HANDLES INVESTIGATIONS INTO CULTURAL PROPERTY AND STOLEN ART AND ANTIQUITIES THAT SHOW UP ON THE WORLD MARKET. ICE'S CULTURAL PROPERTY ART AND ANTIQUITIES UNIT HAS RETURNED MORE THAN 2,100 ITEMS TO MORE THAN 15 COUNTRIES SINCE 2003.

DA VINCI'S VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS TO GO ON DISPLAY


LEONARDO DA VINCI'S VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS IS TO GO ON DISPLAY IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY AFTER AN 18 MONTH RESTORATION PROJECT WHICH STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2008. THE DECISION TO RESTORE THE HISTORIC PAINTING CAME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF INTENSIVE STUDY OF LEONARDO'S WORK AND THAT OF HIS MILANESE ASSOCIATES AND ASSISTANTS, THE SO-CALLED LEONARDOESCHI, FROM WITHIN THE GALLERY'S COLLECTION. THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM EXAMINING THE PICTURES REINFORCED THE VIEW THAT 'THE VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS' COULD NOT BE APPRECIATED AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED. THE CLEANING PROCESS BEGAN BECAUSE SOME VARNISH THAT WAS APPLIED IN 1948-49 WAS PARTICULARLY UNSTABLE AND PRONE TO YELLOWING. FINE CRACKING IN THE VARNISH, AND ATMOSPHERIC DIRT WHICH HAD BECOME ABSORBED IN ITS WAXY SURFACE, MEANT THAT THE ABILITY OF THE VARNISH TO FULLY SATURATE THE PICTURE HAD BECOME SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. AS A RESULT THE SUBTLETY OF SHADING AND THE SENSE OF SPACE WERE MARKEDLY REDUCED, AND THE IMPACT OF THE GREAT WORK SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENED. THE VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS WILL BE DISPLAYED IN A NEW FRAME MADE BY PETER SCHADE, HEAD OF FRAMING AT THE GALLERY. THIS INCORPORATES PARTS, THE PILASTERS AND CORNICE, OF A NORTHERN ITALIAN FRAME OF ABOUT 1500, PURCHASED SPECIALLY IN ITALY IN 2009. SCHADE HAS ADDED THE MISSING ELEMENTS, REFERRING TO CARVED FRAMES EXECUTED BY GIACOMO DEL MAINO WHO CARVED THE ALTARPIECE INTO WHICH THE VIRGIN OF THE ROCKS WAS ORIGINALLY SET. THE NEW FRAME WILL THEREFORE EVOKE THE GILDED SETTING OF LEONARDO'S MASTERPIECE, ACCENTUATING ITS MUTED COLOUR SCHEME, THE ARTIST'S REVOLUTIONARY SYSTEM OF SHADOWING AND THE ELEMENTS OF HIS PICTORIAL 'RELIEF', ALREADY MADE SO MUCH MORE EVIDENT BY THE RESTORATION. NEWLY CLEANED AND FRAMED IN THIS WAY, THE VIRGIN'S LEFT HAND, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW SEEMS TO PROJECT INTO THE VIEWER'S SPACE.

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP STOLEN IN £150,000 HOME RAID


A COVETED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP TROPHY WAS STOLEN RECENTLY IN A £150,000 RAID ON A RACEHORSE OWNER'S HOME. THE ICONIC, SOLID GOLD CUP, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN THE RACING WORLD, WAS SNATCHED FROM THE HOME OF RAYMOND MOULD. THE THIEVES STRUCK AT THE MULTI-MILLIONAIRE PROPERTY TYCOON'S ELUSIVE COUNTRY HOUSE IN WORMINGTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, SOMETIMES AFTER MIDNIGHT. AS WELL AS THE GOLD CUP, WHICH IS WORTH AT LEAST £10,000, THEY MADE OFF WITH THE CHALLENGE CUP AND THE BRITANNIA HANDICAP CUP. ALSO STOLEN WERE SILVER AND BRONZE ANIMAL ORNAMENTS, A WOODEN AND GOLD CLOCK, TWO SILVER TROPHIES AND A CIGARETTE CASE. POLICE SAY THE HAUL WAS WORTH MORE THAN £150,000. THERE HAS BEEN A SPATE OF HOUSE THEFTS IN THE AREA RECENTLY AND IT IS NOT KNOWN YET WHETHER MOULD'S PROPERTY WAS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED FOR HIS RACING TROPHIES. A NEW GOLD CUP IS MADE EVERY YEAR, WITH THE WINNER GETTING TO KEEP THE TROPHY. MOULD'S HORSE CHARTER PARTY, RIDDEN BY RICHARD DUNWOODY, WON THE PRIZE IN 1988. THE OWNER'S CLOSE FRIEND, RACEHORSE TRAINER NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES, WHO WON THE TROPHY THIS YEAR, SAID: 'THEY'VE BROKEN INTO HIS HOUSE AND STOLEN IT.' HE REVEALED THAT MOULD WAS AWAY IN LONDON AT THE TIME OF THE RAID BUT HIS DAUGHTER KATY WAS THERE AND WAS 'TRAUMATIZED'. CHARTER PARTY BEAT CAVVIES CLOWN BY SIX LENGTHS IN THE COLOURS OF CLAIRE SMITH AND MOULD'S LATE WIFE JENNY TO TAKE THE CUP IN 1988. THE GOLD CUP IS THE MOST HIGHLY PAID, NON-HANDICAP CHASE IN THE UK, WITH A £500,000 PRIZE. GLOUCESTERSHIRE POLICE HAVE APPEALED FOR HELP IN TRACING THE TROPHY AND FOR ANYONE WHO SAW SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN THE AREA LAST NIGHT TO COME FORWARD.

14.7.10

MARILYN MONROE'S BRENTWOOD HOME FOR SALE




THE LOS ANGELES HOME THAT MARILYN MONROE WAS FOUND DEAD IN 48 YEARS AGO HAS GONE UP FOR SALE FOR $3.6 MILLION (£2.4m). LOCATED IN THE LUXURIOUS BRENTWOOD SUBURB, THE SPANISH REVIVAL HOME COMES COMPLETE WITH FOUR BEDROOMS, THREE BATHROOMS AND AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL. THE ACTRESS BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN 1962 FOR $90,000 (£59,000). SHE LIVED THERE FOR JUST SIX MONTHS BEFORE SHE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HER BEDROOM FROM AN OVERDOSE OF BARBITURATES. THE ONE-STORY PROPERTY, BUILT IN 1929, SPREADS LAVISHLY OVER 23<000 sqft OF LAND, AND IS DUBBED THE 'CROWN JEWEL' OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT IS LOCATED BEHIND TALL GATES ON A CUL-DE-SAC AND IS ADVERTISED ON THE WEBSITE OF DAVID OFFER OF PRUDENTIAL CALIFORNIA REALITY. THE WEBSITE DESCRIBES THE HOME AS A 'SPRAWLING AND VERY SPECIAL' PROPERTY, AFFORDING LOVELY VISTAS AND GREAT PRIVACY AND SECLUSION. IT IS ALSO IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAN VICENTE BOULEVARD WITH SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND A SUNDAY FARMERS' MARKET. THE CURRENT OWNER DID NOT PERMIT PRESS ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY BUT ALLOWED NEWS AGENCY AFP TO TAKE PHOTOS BEHIND TALL GATES ON THE SECLUDED STREET. GIVEN THAT MONROE MEMORABILIA IS HIGHLY COVETED, THE WEIGHTY PRICE TAG OF THE HOUSE COME AS NO SURPRISE. EVEN A BURIAL SPOT NEAR THE STAR'S LAST RESTING PLACE AT LA'S WESTWOOD VILLAGE MEMORIAL PARK WAS SOLD ON THE ONLINE AUCTION SITE EBAY IN 2009 FOR A STAGGERING $4.6 MILLION. MONROE DIED ON 5.AUGUST.1962 AT THE AGE OF 36. HER DEATH WAS CLASSIFIED AS A 'PROBABLE SUICIDE', BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE AND EVEN HOMICIDE HAVE NOT BEEN RULED OUT.

RIVIERA HOTEL & CASINO FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY


THE OWNER OF THE RIVIERA HOTEL & CASINO ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP HAS RECENTLY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION. RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORP FILED CHAPTER 11 UNDER A PRE-NEGOTIATED DEAL THAT WILL END UP TRANSFERRING THE OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY TO SECURED LENDERS. THE REORGANIZATION PLAN HAS THE APPROVAL OF A MAJORITY OF THE LENDERS HOLDING PARTS IN IT'S NEARLY $248 MILLION IN DEBT. THE RECENT FILING HAS NO IMPACT ON THE DAY TO DAY RUNNING OF THE RIVIERA HOTEL AND CASINO IN LAS VEGAS AND THE RIVIERA IN BLACK HAWK, COLORADO WHICH REMAIN OPEN. RIVIERA HOLDINGS LOST $4.5 MILLION AS REVENUE FELL IN THE FIRST QUARTER. WHILE ROOM OCCUPANCY WAS UP, THE AVERAGE ROOM RATE IS LAS VEGAS CONTINUED TO FALL AS THE HOTEL COMPETED WITH OTHER VENUES IN THE CITY WHICH ALSO HAVE BEEN DROPPING THEIR PRICES. LIKE MANY LAS VEGAS PROPERTIES, THE RIVIERA HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DROP IN TOURISM. THE PROPERTY ITSELF HAS ALSO SUFFERED BECAUSE OF ITS NORTH STRIP LOCATION. MANY OF THE CASINOS ON THE NORTHERN END OF THE STRIP HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN OR SOLD TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW BIGGER AND MORE OUTRAGEOUS RESORTS LEAVING UNATTRACTIVE GAPS ALONG THE GLITTERING BOULEVARD.

CHRISTIAN LACROIX NOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF LA MONNIE DE PARIS


RENOWNED FRENCH FASHION DESIGNER CHRISTIAN LACROIX'S NEW POSITION WON'T HAVE HIM WALKING DOWN ANY RUNWAYS WITH FASHION MODELS ANY TIME SOON. THE LUXURY DESIGNER WHOSE EPONYMOUS COUTURE LABEL WAS CLOSED DOWN, IS NOW THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF LA MONNIE DE PARIS (THE FRENCH MINT). THE INSTITUTION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING AND DESIGNING FRENCH EROS AND MEDALS AND IS ALSO A FAMOUS MUSEUM WITH AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF COINS AND MEDALS. ACCORDING TO WWD, LACROIX WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING LIMITED EDITION COINS AND MEDALS INCLUDING THE PACS MEDAL (THE FRENCH GAY MARRIAGE MEDAL) AND THE MARRIAGE MEDAL (FOR THOSE GETTING MARRIED UNDER FRENCH CIVIL LAW). THE DESIGNER IS KEEPING BUSY WITH OTHER PROJECTS, HE'S ALSO SET TO LEND HIS AMAZING TALENTS TO A NEW TRAM LINE IN MONTPELLIER WITH AN UNDERWATER THEME. MEANWHILE THE LACROIX BRAND FOES ON WITHOUT HIM. SACHA WALCKOFF IS THE NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT CHRISTIAN LACROIX. WALCKOFF WORKED IN THE COMPANY FOR YEARS AND HAS DESIGNED HIS FIRST COLLECTION OF MENSWEAR. THE COMPANY IS ALSO EXPANDING INTO HOME TEXTILES, SUNGLASSES AND STATIONARY.

BULGARI'S ISABELLA ROSSELLINI COLLECTION


BULGARI HAS RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH RENOWNED ACTRESS AND DIRECTOR ISABELLA ROSSELLINI TO CREATE A NEW LINE OF HANDBAGS APTLY CALLED THE ISABELLA ROSSELLINI COLLECTION. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, ROSSELLINI, DAUGHTER OF ACTRESS INGRID BERGMAN AND DIRECTOR ROBERTO ROSSELLINI, WORKED CLOSELY WITH BULGARI DESIGNERS TO CREATE A BAG THAT WOULD EXPRESS HER PERSONALITY. THE END RESULT IS THE ROSSELLINI BAG COLLECTION WHICH TAKES ITS INSPIRATION FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF FILM IN THE 1960s FOR WHICH HER PARENTS WERE FAMOUS FOR. THE HANDBAGS WILL BE OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF COLOURS AND MATERIALS, INCLUDING PATENT LEATHER, PONY HAIR AND CALFSKIN. THE STYLISH TWIST LOCK HAS AN ART DECO THEME MADE FROM OF SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES SUCH AS AMETHYST, AVENTURINE OR TIGER EYE. EACH VERSION WILL FEATURE A LINING WITH ROSSELLINI'S SIGNATURE AND SNAIL SKETCHES, AN HOMAGE TO HER PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION. ALL OF THE HANDBAGS ARE HAND-MADE IN THE BULGARI WORKSHOP IN FLORENCE, ITALY. THE BAGS WILL RANGE IN PRICE FROM $1,700 TO $2,600.

EDVARD MUNCH PRINT SELLS FOR £1,252,000


AN IMPRESSION OF EDVARD MUNCH'S CONTROVERSIAL WORK MADONNA HAS SOLD FOR AN AMAZING £1,252,000 AT BONHAM'S, TWICE ITS LOWER ESTIMATE OF £500,000. THIS MAKES IT THE MOST EXPENSIVE PRINT EVER SOLD IN THE UK AND THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE PRINT IN THE WORLD. ANOTHER MUNCH IMAGE, VAMPIRE II, SOLD IN OSLO IN 2007 AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MARKET FOR £1,256,000. THOUGHT TO BE THE FIRST HAND COLOURED VERSION OF THE ICONIC IMAGE, THE PRINT SHOWS THE MADONNA IN YELLOW AND WHITE SET AGAINST A HALO OF BLUE, GREEN AND RED. THE CENTRAL FIGURE IS SURROUNDED BY A BORDER CONTAINING SPERMATOZOA AND A FETUS IN A VIVID BLOOD RED. THE MODEL FOR THE MADONNA WAS MUNCH'S MISTRESS, DAGNY JUEL, A FEMME FATALE WHO, AFTER NUMEROUS ILL-FATED AFFAIRS, WAS SHOT DEAD BY A YOUNG LOVER IN A TBLISI HOTEL AGED JUST 33. MUNCH PRODUCED THE IMAGE IN SEVEN DIFFERENT STATES BETWEEN 1895 AND 1902 AND THE IMPRESSION SOLD WAS FROM THE FIRST STATE. IT IS IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION AND HAD BEEN IN THE SAME FAMILY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. MUNCH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE MOST RADICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ADVANCES IN PRINTMAKING AND THE IMPRESSION DATES FROM THE TIME WHEN HE TURNED INCREASINGLY TOWARDS GRAPHIC ART AS A MEANS OF EXPRESSION. ONLY A FEW HAND-COLOURED IMPRESSIONS OF MADONNA ARE KNOWN TO EXIST, MOST OF WHICH ARE NOW IN PUBLIC COLLECTION, AND IT IS VERY RARE FOR A PRINT OF SUCH HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE TO APPEAR ON THE OPEN MARKET.

13.7.10

DOM PERIGNON: A TRIBUTE TO ANDY WARHOL


DOM PERIGNON ONE OF THE WORLD'S FINEST LUXURY CHAMPAGNES RECENTLY PAID TRIBUTE TO ARTIST ANDY WARHOL, THE FOUNDER OF POP ART. IT IS THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY THAT DOM PERIGNON HAS REINTERPRETED ITS ICONIC LABEL BY DRESSING IT WITH SIX VIVID NEON COLOURS CHARACTERISTIC OF WARHOL'S RENOWNED PAINTINGS. TAKING INSPIRATION FROM WARHOL'S TALENT AND INNOVATION USE OF COLOURS, DOM PERIGNON HAS LAUNCHED SPECIAL EDITION BOTTLES OF THEIR FINE CHAMPAGNE IN SIX DIFFERENT COLOURS, WHICH INCLUDE BLUE, EMERALD GREEN, RED, LILAC, VIOLET, AND YELLOW. THE STUNNING LIMITED EDITION BOTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SPAIN AND THROUGH THE DOM PERIGNON WEBSITE. THE EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM WILL RUN UNTIL YEAR END.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND 14th CENTURY FRAGMENT


ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY A NEWLY DISCOVERED CLAY FRAGMENT FROM THE 14th CENTURY BC IS THE OLDEST EXAMPLE OF WRITING EVER FOUND IN ANTIQUITY-RICH JERUSALEM. DIG DIRECTOR EILAT MAZAR OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY SAYS THE 2-CENTIMETER LONG FRAGMENT BEARS AN ANCIENT FORM OF WRITING KNOWN AS AKKADIAN WEDGE SCRIPT. THE FRAGMENT INCLUDES A PARTIAL TEXT INCLUDING THE WORDS 'YOU', 'THEM' AND 'LATER'. IT PREDATES THE NEXT-OLDEST EXAMPLE OF WRITING FOUND IN JERUSALEM BY 600 YEARS, AND DATES ROUGHLY FOUR CENTURIES BEFORE THE BIBLE SAYS KING DAVID RULED A JEWISH KINGDOM FROM THE CITY. MAZAR SAID MONDAY THAT THE FRAGMENT LIKELY CAME FROM A ROYAL COURT AND SUGGESTED MORE COULD BE FOUND IN THE MOST ANCIENT PART OF JERUSALEM, LOCATED IN THE CITY'S PREDOMINANTLY PALESTINIAN EASTERN SECTOR.

THE WORLD'S FIRST 'LASAGNA SANDWICH' BY TESCO


TESCO HAS CREATED THE WORLD'S FIRST 'LASAGNA SANDWICH', A NEW 'SNACK' THAT COULD RIVAL THE MOST FATTENING TAKE-AWAY TREATS. THE LASAGNA SANDWICH, PROBABLY MOST SUITABLE AS A TREAT MADE FROM LEFTOVERS AFTER A LATE NIGHT OUT, HAS RECENTLY GONE ON SALE AT TESCO. THE SUPERMARKET CLAIMS THAT THE COLD SANDWICH IS A WORLD FIRST AND HAS BEEN PROMOTING IT AS A HEALTHY OPTION. PROMOTIONAL IMAGES OF THE SANDWICH RELEASED AHEAD OF ITS LAUNCH YESTERDAY SHOWED THE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PACKET DISPLAYING JUST 87 CALORIES AND 4.1g OF FAT -- BUT IN REALITY IT HAS 565 CALORIES, AND THE FAT CONTENT IS 26.9g. THE £2.50 SANDWICH IS MADE UP OF 'TWO THICK SLICES OF BREAD AND A FILLING OF DICED BEEF IN A TOMATO AND HERB SAUCE LAYERED WITH COOKED PASTA SHEETS AND A CREAMY CHEDDAR, RICOTTA AND MAYONNAISE DRESSING'. TESCO FOOD DEVELOPER AND SANDWICH CREATOR LAURA FAGAN SAID IT COULD BE EATEN AS A SNACK TO KEEP HUNGER AT BAY. 'WE THINK THE LASAGNA SANDWICH COULD BECOME THE FOOD OF CHOICE FOR ANYONE WANTING A SOLID SNACK BETWEEN MEALS', SHE SAID. 'THE INSPIRATION COMES FROM MY OWN STUDENT DAYS AND HOW CERTAIN FOODS COULD SOMETIMES TASTE MUCH BETTER THE NEXT DAY, SUCH AS PIZZA, LASAGNA AND EVEN CURRY.' TESCO SAID THE IMAGES SENT OUT TO PUBLICATIONS WERE A MOCK-UP AND THAT THE CORRECT NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION IS INCLUDED ON THE PACKS THAT WENT INTO STORES YESTERDAY.

THREE 17th CENTURY CERAMIC BOWLS DISCOVERED IN LONDON DIG


THREE 17th CENTURY CERAMIC BOWLS HAVE BEEN UNEARTHED IN AN ANCIENT QUARTER OF LONDON FREQUENTED BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE AND THEIR WORKMANSHIP RANKS WITH HIGH ART OF THE PERIOD, EXPERTS WHO FOUND THEM SAID ON MONDAY. THE RICHLY DECORATED HAND-PAINTED DELFWARE BOWLS WERE EXCAVATED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS FROM A RUBBISH PIT IN A YARD CLOSE TO SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL AND THE SITE OF OLD LONDON BRIDGE ON THE SOUTH BANK OF THE RIVER THAMES. THE GROUP CONSISTS OF A CHARGER DECORATED WITH TULIPS MADE IN THE 1660s, THE DECADE OF THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON, A BOWL DEPICTING A BOY TORMENTING A DOG WITH A STICK AND ANOTHER CELEBRATING THE MARRIAGE OF ONE NATHANIEL TOWNSEND, AN EMPLOYEE OF A LOCAL INDUSTRY, THE LEATHERSELLERS COMPANY, DATED 1674. THE BOWL IS ADORNED WITH THE CREST OF THE FIRM. THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE FOUND WAS SETTLED IN PRE-HISTORIC AND ROMAN TIMES AND WAS A BOISTEROUS PLACE IN THE 17th CENTURY FAMED FOR TAVERNS, BEAR-BAITING THEATERS AND BROTHELS. ROY STEPHENSON, HEAD OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS AT THE MUSEUM OF LONDON, SAID THE RICHLY DECORATED BOWLS SHOULD BE SEEN AS RARE PIECES OF FINE ART IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. 'THE THING ABOUT TIN-GLAZED WEAR IS EVERY PIECE IN UNIQUE BECAUSE IT IS PAINTED INDIVIDUALLY BY HAND', HE SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. THE TERM, 'DELFWARE' WAS USED FROM THE 18th CENTURY TO REFER TO TIN-GLAZED EARTHENWARE MADE IN BRITAIN, RATHER THAN THE PRODUCTS OF FAMOUS DUTCH CENTER OF DELFT. THE VESSELS, EACH ABOUT 30-35 cm IN DIAMETER, OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO A LONDONER'S LIFE AT THE TIME. THE BOWLS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISPLAYED ON A DRESSER IN A TYPICAL HOME. THE ARTIFACTS, FOUND IN PIECES AT A SITE BEING PREPARED FOR A CENTRAL LONDON RAIL EXTENSION, HAVE BEEN PAINSTAKINGLY RECONSTRUCTED AND WILL GO ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEUM'S NEW 'WAR, PLAGUE AND FIRE', GALLERIES WHICH OPENED IN MAY.

12.7.10

LOUIS VUITTON SAINT-TROPEZ



LOUIS VUITTON RECENTLY REDESIGNED ITS LUXURIOUS SAINT-TROPEZ BOUTIQUE AND TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION THE DESIGN HOUSE LAUNCHED AN EXCLUSIVE BEACH BAG EXCLUSIVE TO THE SAINT-TROPEZ STORE. THE STORE HAS BEEN DOUBLED IN SIZE WITH THE INTEGRATION OF AN ADJOINING SPACE, A FORMER HOUSE OF POTTERY, ON RUE GEORGES CLEMENCEAU. THE INTERIORS FEATURE DESIGNS INSPIRED BY CLASSIC MEDITERRANEAN GLAMOR: WOODEN DISPLAY CASES, STONE PAVED FLOORS AND SUNLIGHT FLOODING IN THROUGH LARGE WINDOWS THAT OPEN ONTO A PRIVATE GARDEN PAVED WITH PROVENCAL BRIQUETTES AND MEDITERRANEAN PLANTINGS. THE TWO-LEVEL STORE WILL SHOWCASE LUGGAGE, LEATHER GOODS, MEN'S WEAR, SHOES, RESORT CLOTHING AND SEVERAL EXCLUSIVE ITEMS. THE WOMENSWEAR ARE RESEMBLES A LUXURIOUS APARTMENT, INCLUDING A BEIGE-UPHOLSTERED SOFA AND ARMCHAIRS, AND DECORATED WITH FRAMED BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS. THE LUXURY FIRM ALSO COMMISSIONED WORLD-RENOWNED GRAFFITI ARTIST ANDRE TO CREATE A SERIES OF DRAWINGS TO BE EXHIBITED AT THE STORE. A LIMITED EDITION 30 REPRODUCTIONS OF 10 OF ANDRE'S DRAWINGS WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE AT THE STORE.

HERMES TIMEPIECES 2010 AD CAMPAIGN


FRENCH LUXURY HOUSE HERMES HAS UNVEILED ITS LATEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN SHOWCASING ITS WATCHES AGAINST A SERIES OF EQUESTRIAN-THEMED IMAGES. THE STUNNING SET OF ADVERTISEMENTS DEPICT HORSES IN A VARIETY OF DRAMATIC SCENES AND UNUSUAL LOCATIONS, RUNNING ALONGSIDE IMAGES OF THE WATCHMAKERS NEWEST MODELS. THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN BY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER TIM FLACH, AND EACH IMAGE IS SEPARATED BY THE BRAND'S RIBBON, WHICH READS: HERMES SELLIER - HERMES HOROLOGER.

HENNESSY X.O. METHUSELAM BY BERLUTI


COGNAC MAKER HENNESSY HAVE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH FRENCH COBBLERS BERLUTI TO CREATE AN EXCLUSIVE METHUSALEM OF THEIR FAMOUS X.O. COGNAC. THE METHUSALEM IS A SIX LITER BOTTLE CAREFULLY MADE FROM HAND AND HAND ENGRAVED WITH THE EDITION NUMBER. THE BOTTLE COMES IN A LEATHER BOUND WOODEN CHEST MADE BY BERLUTI FROM THE SAME TYPE OF LEATHER AS THEY USE FOR THEIR LUXURIOUS SHOES WHICH TAKES OVER SEVENTY HOURS TO CREATE. ONLY 150 WILL BE MADE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH BERLUTI.

11.7.10

THE RIJKSMUSEUM TO PRESENTS WORKS BY MARCEL DUCHAMP'S 'UNKNOWN' BROTHER GASTON DUCHAMP


IN ITS ANNUAL PRESENTATION IN THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM, THE RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM,IS SHOWING A SELECTION OF WORKS BY MARCEL DUCHAMP'S 'UNKNOWN' BROTHER GASTON DUCHAMP, WHO WENT BY THE PSEUDONYM OF JACQUES VILLON. JACQUES VILLON WAS A PAINTER AND GRAPHIC ARTIST WHOSE LEGACY INCLUDES ALMOST 700 PRINTS IN ADDITION TO PAINTINGS. FROM 1950 ONWARD HIS WORK EARNED INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM AND HIS PRINTS BECAME POPULAR COLLECTOR'S ITEMS. THE PRESENTATION FEATURES A RANGE OF GRAPHIC TECHNIQUES THAT VILLON USED, SUCH AS ETCHING, AQUATINT, DRYPOINT ENGRAVING AND LITHOGRAPHY. AFTER HIS TRAINING IN MONTMARTRE, VILLON SUCCUMBED TO THE INFLUENCE OF ARTISTS SUCH AS HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND THEOPHILE-ALEXANDRE STEINLEN. BETWEEN 1922 AND 1930 VILLON PRODUCED PRINTS INSPIRED BY DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS BY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS SUCH AS KEES VAN DONGEN, PIERRE BONNARD AND VINCENT VAN GOGH FOR PARISIAN ART DEALER BERNHEIM JEUNE. BUT AS VILLON'S WORK DEVELOPED, IT ULTIMATELY REVEALED A UNIQUE STYLE THAT IS SELDOM ENTIRELY ABSTRACT DESPITE BEING STRONGLY ABSTRACTING. THE EXHIBITION IS BUILT AROUND THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF MR AND MRS VAN DER VOSSEN-DELBRUCK, WHICH THE COUPLE BEQUETHED TO THE RIJKSMUSEUM'S PRINT ROOM.

NATIONALMUSEUM TO PRESENT 'STAGING POWER -NAPOLEON, KARL JOHN, ALEXANDER'


THIS AUTUMN, NATIONALMUSEUM, STOCKHOLM, IS JOINING FORCES WITH THE STATE HERMITAGE, ST PETERSBURG, TO PRESENT A MAGNIFICENT EXHIBITION 'STAGING POWER -NAPOLEON, KARL JOHN, ALEXANDER'. ON SHOW WILL BE A WEALTH OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS AND FINE ARTISAN WARES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE SOME CONNECTION WITH THE THREE PROTAGONISTS. IT IS A COLLECTION OF SOME 420 ITEMS, PORTRAITS, COSTUMES, JEWELRY AND OTHER WARES, ALL TELLING A STORY OF HONOR AND POWER. THE EXHIBITION IS ABOUT THE ART OF GOVERNING THROUGH ART. THE LIVES OF NAPOLEON, KARL JOHAN AND ALEXANDER ARE INTERWOVEN IN THE EARLY 19th CENTURY. NAPOLEON BONAPARTE WAS THE SOLDIER WHO SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODLESS COUP AND CROWNED HIMSELF EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE. JEAN-BAPTISTE BERNADOTTE WAS THE FIELD MARSHAL IN NAPOLEON'S ARMY WHO WAS CHOSEN AS HEIR TO THE SWEDISH THRONE AND ASSUMED THE NAME OF KARL JOHAN. ALEXANDER WAS BORN TO BE TSAR OF RUSSIA BUT ASCENDED THE THRONE UNDER COUP-LIKE CIRCUMSTANCES FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S ASSASSINATION. RELATIONS BETWEEN KARL JOHAN AND NAPOLEON HAD LONG BEEN COLD AND SOON DETERIORATED. IN NEED OF ALLIES, KARL JOHAN APPROACHED ALEXANDER, AND SWEDEN AND RUSSIA FORMED AN ALLIANCE AGAINST NAPOLEONIC FRANCE. EVENTUALLY IT WAS ALEXANDER WHO SUCCEEDED TO BREAK HIS EMPIRE. WAR AND INSECURITY DOMINATED DAILY LIFE IN THE EARLY 19th CENTURY. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION HAD OVERTURNED TRADITIONAL SOCIAL STRUCTURES, OPENING UP NEW CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. SOLDIERS WERE SEEN AS MODELS, IN ART AS WELL AS LIFE. ART WAS USED TO DEMONSTRATE LEGITIMACY BUT ALSO AS A MEANS OF GOVERNING, REFLECTING THE SELF-IMAGE AND CLAIMS OF THOSE IN POWER. NAPOLEON, KARL JOHAN AND ALEXANDER WERE ALL SKILLED AT USING ART TO STRENGTHEN THEIR POSITION. NOTHING WAS LEFT TO CHANCE, SO EVEN A SIMPLE OBJECT LIKE A TEA CUP OR TOOTHPICK CASE MIGHT CARRY A POLITICAL MESSAGE. SYMBOLS OF WAR ABOUNDED IN THE ARCHITECTURE, ARTS AND CRAFTS OF THE PERIOD, EVEN FINDING THEIR WAY INTO INTERIOR DESIGN. THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER TOPICS SUCH AS VISUAL MANIFESTATIONS OF POWER, INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND DYNASTIC FAMILY TIES, AND ART COLLECTING. THE EXHIBITION RUNS FROM 30.SEPTEMBER THROUGH 23.JANUARY.2011.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nationalmuseum.se/