METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART TO PRESENT 'THE WORLD OF KHUBLAI KHAN'

A NEW EXHIBITION FEATURING MASSIVE STATUES, DRAGON-SHAPED ROOF RIDGE ORNAMENTS AND ART FROM THE YUAN DYNASTY GIVES VISITORS A GLIMPSE OF ANCIENT CHINA THAT FIRST WESTERNERS WOULD HAVE SEEN 700 YEARS AGO. 'THE WORLD OF KHUBLAI KHAN: CHINESE ART IN THE YUAN DYNASTY', AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART FEATURES 200 WORKS OF ART. MANY ARE BEING SHOWN OUTSIDE OF CHINA FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT FOCUSES ON AN ERA SPANNING THE BIRTH IN 1215 OF KHUBILAI KHAN, GENGHIS KHAN'S GRANDSON AND THE MONGOL FOUNDER OF THE YUAN DYNASTY, TO ITS FALL IN 1368. 'AS YOU ENTER THE GALLERIES, YOU'LL DISCOVER THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF KHUBILAI KHAN, IN A SENSE, AS MARCO POLO DID', SAID THOMAS CAMPBELL, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM. KHUBILAI KHAN WAS THE EMPEROR WHO WELCOMED MARCO POLO TO CHINA IN 1275. THE SHOW, WHICH OPENS ON TUESDAY AND RUNS THROUGH 2.JANUARY, IS THE MUSEUM'S LARGEST EXHIBIT ABOUT ASIAN ART SINCE 'CHINA: DAWN OF A GOLDEN AGE' IN 2004. TWO 10 FOOT TALL, 8,000 POUND STATUES OF YUAN DYNASTY OFFICIALS WELCOME VISITORS TO THE EXHIBIT, WHICH INCLUDES PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, GOLD AND SILVER, TAPESTRIES, CERAMICS AND RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR PIECES MEANT TO GIVE VISITORS A FLAVOR OF EVERYDAY LIFE. ALL OF THE PIECES ILLUSTRATE A TASTE IN ANCIENT CHINA FOR FINE ART, SUCH AS CERAMIC CONTAINERS FOR TRANSPORTING WINE AND ELABORATE JEWELRY. THE ECLECTIC STYLES REFLECT THE UNIFICATION OF CHINA UNDER THE YUAN DYNASTY, WHICH KHUBILAI KHAN FOUNDED IN 1271, AND THE INFLUX OF ARTISANS FROM ACROSS THE MONGOL EMPIRE. THE YUAN DYNASTY INCLUDED WHAT IS NOW MODERN DAY MONGOLIA, TIBET AND NORTHERN CHINA. ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING ELEMENTS OF THE EXHIBITION IS THE DEPICTION OF THE YUAN DYNASTY AS A RELIGIOUS MELTING POT TOLERANT OF DAOISTS, NESTORIAN CHRISTIANS FROM SYRIA, AND INDIAN TRADERS, WHO WERE ABLE TO BUILD HINDU TEMPLES.

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL FORBES COLLECTION OF VINTAGE TOYS

THE FORBES COLLECTION OF MINIATURE VINTAGE TOYS SOLDIERS AND BOATS, FROM KINGS AND QUEENS TO LUXURY OCEAN LINERS AND WARSHIPS, IS GOING ON THE AUCTION BLOCK IN DECEMBER. THE CHARMING COLLECTIBLES HAVE BEEN ON VIEW FOR 25 YEARS IN A SERIES OF DIORAMAS AND VIGNETTES IN THE LOBBY OF THE FORBES MAGAZINE FIFTH AVENUE HEADQUARTERS IN GREENWICH VILLAGE. TOTALING 7,500 PIECES CRAFTED FROM THE 1870s THROUGH THE 1950s, THEY WILL BE SOLD IN 250 LOTS ON 17.DECEMBER AT SOTHEBY'S. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BRING AN ESTIMATED $3 MILLION TO $5 MILLION. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS IS A 37 INCH LONG REPLICA OF THE CUNARD LINE'S LUSITANIA OCEAN LINER COMPLETE WITH TWO LEAD SEAMEN, A SEATED PASSENGER AND FIVE PAIRS OF LIFEBOATS. THE MAGAZINE'S LATE PUBLISHER, MALCOLM FORBES, PAID $28,600 FOR IT AT A SOTHEBY'S AUCTION IN 1983. AT THE UPCOMING AUCTION, THE VINTAGE TOY IS ESTIMATED TO BRING $100,000 TO $200,000. A CAST-IRON FRENCH GAS-POWERED ARMORED GUNBOAT WITH ZINC AND BRONZE DETAILS IS THE LARGEST TOY IN THE COLLECTION. FORTY SEVEN INCHES LONG, IT IS A REPLICA OF A 19th CENTURY BATTLESHIP AND THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF ITS KIND, SOTHEBY'S TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN ANNOUNCING THE SALE. IT COULD BRING $200,000 TO $300,000. COMPANY VICE-PRESIDENT ROBERT FORBES SAID HE AND HIS BROTHERS DECIDED TO PART WITH THE COLLECTION TO GIVE 'OTHERS A CHANCE TO OWN THEM, COLLECT THEM, AND MAYBE EVEN WIND THEM UP ON A POND OR TWO AND WATCH THEM GO.' THE FAMILY AUCTIONED A SELECTION OF THE TINY TOYS FOUR YEARS AFTER FORBES' DEATH IN 1990, BRINGING A TOTAL OF $393,415 AT SOTHEBY'S. WHAT'S LEFT, INCLUDING INCH-HIGH AZTECS AND CONQUISTADORS, INDIANS SURROUNDED BY A STAGECOACH AND FOX HUNTERS, IS BEING SOLD IN DECEMBER.

SOTHEBY'S OPENS RETAIL WINE SHOP

SOTHEBY'S HAS SOLD WINE AT AUCTION FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOW IT HAS RECENTLY OPENED A RETAIL STORE. THE AUCTION HOUSE BOUGHT OUT AULDEN CELLARS, THE RETAIL WINE STORE ON THE GROUND LEVEL FLOOR OF ITS HEADQUARTERS AT 1334 YORK AVENUE ON MANHATTAN'S UPPER EAST SIDE. THE NEW STORE WAS DESIGNED BY DEANNA KUHLMANN-LEAVITT OF KUHLMANN LEAVITT INC, AND OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF WINE FROM $13.95 TO $40,000 PER BOTTLE. WHEN SOTHEBY'S FIRST STARTED WINE AUCTIONS IN NEW YORK IN 1994, STATE LAW REQUIRED AUCTION HOUSES TO PARTNER WITH A STORE THAT HAD HELD A STATE LIQUOR LICENSE FOR 10 YEARS. DECANTER REPORTS THAT SOTHEBY'S FIRST PARTNERED WITH SHERRY-LEHNAMM. WHEN THAT RELATIONSHIP ENDED IN LATE 1999, SOTHEBY'S FOUND ANOTHER LICENSEE AND THE RESULTING STORE WAS NAMED AULDEN CELLARS. TEH ONLINE STORE CAN SHIP AROUND HALF OF TEH US. THERTE ARE PLANS TO EXPAND THE CONCEPT TO OTHER LOCATIONS IF TEH SOTHEBY'S WINE SHOP IS A SUCCESS.

COCTEAU AND PICASSO ARTWORKS MAKE OVER £500,000

A COLLECTION OF DRAWINGS, PASTELS AND CERAMICS BY THE FRENCH POET, FILMMAKER, PLAYWRIGHT AND NOVELIST, JEAN COCTEAU, BROUGHT TOGETHER BY THE LATE BUSINESS TYCOON AND FOUNDER OF GUCCI TIMEPIECES, SEVERIN WUNDERMAN, MADE A REMARKABLE £430,000 RECENTLY AT BONHAM'S, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, WITH 90% SOLD BY VALUE. JUST AN EARLIER, A SELECTION OF PRINTS, CERAMICS AND SILVER BY THE ARTISTIC MASTER OF THE 20th CENTURY, PABLO PICASSO, FETCHED A TOTAL OF £220,812, WITH 85% SOLD BY VALUE. COCTEAU MET PICASSO IN 1915 AND THE PAIR REMAINED CLOSE FRIENDS FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS. THEIR ARTISTIC RELATIONSHIP CAN BE CHARACTERIZED BY TWO COMMENTS: ACCORDING TO ARNAUD, PICASSO WAS 'FOREVER AT THE HEART OF COCTEAU'S CREATIVE PANTHEON', WHILE PICASSO WAS ONCE HEARD TO COMMENT THAT 'COCTEAU IS THE TAIL OF MY COMET'. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SALE WERE TWO SILVER PLATES THAT HE CREATED IN THE MID 1950s. JOUEUR DE FLUTE ET CAVALIER FETCHED £21,600 AND DORMEUR SOLD FOR £19,200. THE HIGHEST SELLING CERAMIC WAS A PLATTER ENTITLED TETE DE CHEVRE DE PROFIL WHICH SOLD FOR £12,000 AND THE TOP SELLING PRINT WAS LE CAVALIER, WHICH FETCHED £6,240. THE BEST-SELLER IN THE COCTEAU SALE WAS JEUNE FILLE DE MILLY WHICH WAS PAINTED AT THE HOUSE BOUGHT WITH JEAN MARAIS IN MILLY-LA-FORET IN 1947. IT SOLD FOR £48,000 AGAINST A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £8,000 TO £12,000. ALTHOUGH FAMOUS FOR HIS FILMS (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ORPHEUS), NOVELS (LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES) AND PLAYS (LA BEL INDIFFERENT), COCTEAU ALSO PRODUCED THOUSANDS OF ARTWORKS IN HIS LIFETIME, IN PART BECAUSE HE FOUND ART THERAPEUTIC. WORKING IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS, FROM CERAMICS TO OILS AND PASTELS, HE COMMENTED: 'ART IS NOT A PASTIME BUT A PRIESTHOOD.' USING A RANGE OF CELEBRITY FRIENDS AS SUBJECTS, FROM ARTISTS AND WRITERS, SUCH AS PICASSO, JEAN HUGO AND GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE, TO STARS OF THE THEATRICAL WORLDS INCLUDING DIAGHILEV, JOSEPHINE BAKER AND EDITH PIAF, HIS IRONIC CARICATURES GIVE A SNAPSHOT OF THE BEST OF THE EARLY 20th CENTURY ARTISTIC OUTPUT THAT REVOLVED AROUND COCTEAU AND HIS CIRCLE. THEY ALSO PROVIDED AMUSEMENT TO MANY, INCLUDING COCO CHANEL WHO SUGGESTED HE TURN HIS HAND TO FASHION DESIGN. WUNDERMAN WAS HIS BIGGEST FAN AND IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTOR OF WORKS BY JEAN COCTEAU. HE KEPT THE MAJORITY IN HIS COTE D'AZUR CHATEAU WHICH INCLUDED A SUITE IN WHICH THE ENTIRE SITTING AREA AND BEDROOM WERE COVERED FROM FLOOR TO CEILING IN THE ARTIST'S DRAWINGS. PROCEEDS FROM THE JEAN COCTEAU SALE GO TO THE SEVERIN WUNDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION, A CHARITY THAT SUPPORTS RESEARCH INTO INCURABLE DISEASES.

PALAZZO STROZZU TO PRESENT BRONZINO EXHIBITION

AGNOLO DI COSIMO, KNOWN AS BRONZINO (1503-1572), WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST ARTISTS IN THE HISTORY OF ITALIAN PAINTING. COURT ARTIST TO COSIMO I DE' MEDICI, HIS WORK EMBODIED THE SOPHISTICATION OF THE MANNERISM STYLE. 'BRONZINO, ARTIST AND POET AT THE COURT OF THE MEDICI', ON VIEW AT THE PALAZZO STROZZU IN FLORENCE FROM 24.SEPTEMBER THROUGH TO 23.JANUARY, WILL BE THE VERY FIRST EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO HIS PAINTED WORK. BRONZONI CONVEYED THE ELEGANCE OF THE MEDICI COURT IN HIS WORK WITH THE 'NATURALNESS' AND, AT THE SAME TIME, AUSTERE BEAUTY. FLORENCE IS THE PERFECT SETTING FOR THE MONOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION ON BRONZONI. THE SON OF A BUTCHER, NOT ONLY WAS HE BORN AND DIED HERE, THE CITY HOUSES SOME OF HIS GREATEST MASTERPIECES, PARTICULARLY IN THE UFFIZI BUT ALSO IN OTHER MUSEUMS AND CHURCHES. THE LANDMARK EXHIBITION, WITH LOANS FROM THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT MUSEUMS, PRESENTS 63 WORKS ATTRIBUTED TO BRONZONI, AND 10 TO BRONZONI AND HIS WORKSHOP, ALONG WITH OTHERS BY HIS MASTER PONTORMO, WITH WHOM HE HAD CLOSE TIES THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. BRONZONI'S PAINTINGS, WITH THEIR SCULPTURAL DEFINITION, WILL BE SHOWN ALONGSIDE SCULPTURES BY SUCH 16th CENTURY MASTERS AS BENVENUTO CELLINI, TRIBOLO, BACCIO BANDENELLI AND PIERINO DA VINCI, WHO WERE FRIENDS AND WITH WHOM HE EXCHANGED SONNETS. THE EXHIBITION CONCLUDES WITH A NUMBER OF WORKS BY ALESSANDRO ALLORI, HIS FAVORITE PUPIL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.palazzostrozzi.org

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY ACQUIRES ISABELLA BLOW PORTRAIT

A CACOPHONY OF STUFFED ANIMALS DRAMATICALLY SPOT-LIT ONTO A WALL TO FORM A PORTRAIT SILHOUETTE OF THE LATE FASHION ICON ISABELLA BLOW HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY. THE UNUSUAL PORTRAIT MADE OF 15 TAXIDERMY ANIMALS (INCLUDING BIRDS, A RAT AND A SNAKE), WOOD AND FAKE MOSS, TOGETHER WITH A HEEL FROM ONE OF BLOW'S OWN MANOLO BLAHNIK SHOES AND HER TRADEMARK LIPSTICK, IS A VIVID COMBINATION OF SCULPTURE, INSTALLATION AND LIGHT PROJECTION. IN THE RESULTING SILHOUETTE OF A HEAD, ISABELLA BLOW APPEARS TO BE WEARING ONE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY HATS DESIGNED FOR HER BY PHILLIP TREACY, WHICH OFTEN FEATURED TAXIDERMY. THE ARTISTS WERE FASCINATED BY WHAT THEY SAW AS BLOW'S GOTHIC QUALITY AND CHOSE TO DEPICT HER HEAD AS THOUGH ON A STAKE, INCORPORATING A RAVEN AND THE SPECIES OF RAT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLACK DEATH. THE WORK HAS BEEN DONATED TO THE GALLERY BY THE ESTATE OF ISABELLA BLOW, WHO DIED IN 2007, AND THE ARTISTS TIM NOBLE AND SUE WEBSTER WHO CREATED IT FROM LIFE ON 2002. THE RESULT OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP WITH BLOW, THIS IS THE ONLY PORTRAIT BY THE ARTISTS OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THEMSELVES. AS A JOURNALIST, STYLIST AND MUSE, ISABELLA BLOW (1958-2007) WAS A LEADING FIGURE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FASHION IN THE 1990s AND 2000s. SHE IS CREDITED WITH DISCOVERING AND PROMOTING THE CAREERS OF IMPORTANT BRITISH DESIGNERS INCLUDING ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, HUSSEIN CHALAYAN, THE WORLD'S LEADING MILLINER PHILIP TREACY, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHER JUERGEN TELLER.

HARRODS TO SELL HIGHLAND PARK 50 YEAR

ORKNEY'S MYTHIC DISTILLERY IS RELEASING THEIR OLDEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS DRAM, CHRISTENED, THE HIGHLAND PARK 50 YEAR OLD, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM HARRODS, KNIGHTSBRIDGE, TILL THE END OF OCTOBER. THE HIGHLAND PARK 50 YEAR IS A VATTING OF FIVE REFILL OAK CASKS DISTILLED IN 1960. THE SINGLE MALT APPEALS TO TE WHISKEY ENTHUSIAST WITH ITS NATURAL MAHOGANY COLOUR, RICH AND SPICY TANNINS, AND MUSCOVADO SUGAR FLAVORS. THE FINE MALT RESIDES IN A 750cl BOTTLE DESIGNED SPECIALLY BY RENOWNED JEWELRY FIRM MAEVE GILLIES OF MAEVONA, NEW YORK. THE EXQUISITE BOTTLE IS HANDCRAFTED FROM STERLING SILVER. THE HIGHLAND PARK 50 YEAR OLD IS A LIMITED EDITION, RESTRICTED TO 275 EXCLUSIVE BOTTLES, WITH A PRICE OF £10,500.

RALPH LAUREN TO LAUNCH JEWELRY COLLECTION AT NEW YORK FLAGSHIP

AS IT OPENS A NEW FLAGSHIP STORE AT 888 MADISON AVE IN NEW YORK CITY IN OCTOBER, RALPH LAUREN WILL ALSO DEBUT RALPH LAUREN FINE JEWELRY IN A WATCH AND JEWELRY SALON THAT WILL BE PART OF THE RETAILER'S 'LIFESTYLE CONCEPT', DESIGNED TO GIVE SHOPPERS A RICHLY EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE. THE MANHATTAN FLAGSHIP WILL BE 'ONE OF THE MOST GLAMOROUS AND LARGEST RALPH LAUREN STORES IN THE WORLD, FULLY DEDICATED TO WOMEN'S LUXURY OFFERINGS AND HOME COLLECTIONS', THE COMPANY SAID IN A RECENT RELEASE. THE IDEA IS TO SHOWCASE THE RALPH LAUREN TIMEPIECES COLLECTIONS, AND NOW JEWELRY, IN A DEDICATED SPACE FULLY DEVOTED TO THE PRECIOUS PRODUCTS, WITHIN THE WORLD OF RALPH LAUREN. EACH PIECE OF JEWELRY IN THE NEW COLLECTION IS HANDCRAFTED USING PRECIOUS MATERIALS AND INTRICATE FINISHING TECHNIQUES, FROM GRACEFULLY SET PAVE CHAINS AND ROMANTIC CHANDELIER EARRINGS TO A DAZZLING DIAMOND 'RL' MONOGRAM ADORNING LUSTROUS PEARL STRANDS, THE RELEASE SAID. AS IS THE CASE FOR THE BRAND'S WATCHES, THE VISION FOR RALPH LAUREN JEWELRY IS TO BE THE 'BEST IN CLASS' AMONG THE WORLD'S HIGH-END BRANDS, OFFERING DISTINCTIVE DESIGN AND THE HIGHEST QUALITY.

TASENDE GALLERY PRESENTS 'BOTERO IN LOS ANGELES'

NEW WORK BY FERNANDO BOTERO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE EXHIBIT BOTERO IN LOS ANGELES PRESENTED BY TASENDE GALLERY, WEST HOLLYWOOD, THROUGH 15.SEPTEMBER THROUGH 30.OCTOBER. THE NINE PAINTINGS, SIX DRAWINGS AND FOUR SCULPTURES COMPRISING THE SHOW WERE CREATED DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS. THEY INCLUDE FAMILY PORTRAITS, CIRCUS THEMES, WOMEN, HORSES AND STILL LIFES. EARLY IN HIS CAREER BOTERO FOUND INSPIRATION IN THE WORK OF RENAISSANCE PAINTER PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA. 'THE WAY IN WHICH THIS GREAT ARTIST ACHIEVED FULLNESS OF FORM, SPATIAL ORGANIZATION AND PERFECT CHROMATIC HARMONY ASTONISHED ME...COLOUR MARRIED WITH FORM TO TRANSMUTE INTO AN IDEAL ABSTRACTION.' VOLUME SUGGESTED BY FORM IS THE ESSENCE OF THE ARTIST'S PAINTING AND SCULPTURE. IN HIS CATALOG ESSAY, PETER SELZ DESCRIBED THE ARTIST'S STYLE: 'FOR BOTERO HIS UNIQUE PLASTIC DISTORTION BECAME HIS PERSONAL STYLE. ITS CALM AND VOLUMINOUS MONUMENTALITY TO WHICH HE REFERS AS 'SENSUAL EXUBERANCE' REMAINED A CONTRAST THAT HE EMPLOYED. NO MATTER WHAT THE SUBJECT.'

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD TO LAUNCH WATCH COLLECTION

ICONIC BRITISH FASHION DESIGNER VIVIENNE WESTWOOD IS TO LAUNCH A COLLECTION OF WATCHES AT BASELWORLD 2011. WESTWOOD HAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH ZEON WATCHES, WHICH WILL DESIGN, MARKET AND DISTRIBUTE THE TIMEPIECES UNDER THE VIVIENNE WESTWOOD BRAND NAME. A SPOKESPERSON FOR ZION SAID; 'WE ARE EXCITED TO BE WORKING WITH THE ICONIC VIVIENNE WESTWOOD BRAND AND DESIGN AND PRODUCE WHAT WILL BE A STUNNING WATCH COLLECTION.' THE WATCH COLLECTION, CONSISITING OF A RANGE OF LADIES AND MEN'S WATCHES, WILL RETAIL BETWEEN £100 AND £500 AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN STORES FROM FALL 2011. VIVIENNE WESTWOOD WATCHES WILL BE OFFERED INITIALLY THROUGH SELECT, HIGH-END UK DEPARTMENT STORES AND VIVIENNE WESTWOOD BOUTIQUES, BEFORE MOVING INTO SIMILAR RETAIL OUTLETS ACROSS EUROPE, THE USA AND ASIA.

GUERNSEY'S TO SELL PRINCESS DIANA SWAN LAKE SUITE

GUERNSEY'S AUCTION HOUSE HAS ANNOUNCED THE HISTORIC ADDITION OF THE MAGNIFICENT SWAN LAKE SUITE, INCLUDING A DIAMOND NECKLACE WORN BY PRINCESS DIANA ON HER LAST OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT. FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE 'DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES SWAN LAKE SUITE', THE STUNNING DIAMOND AND PEARL NECKLACE IS THE ONLY KNOWN PIECE OF JEWELRY WORN BY DIANA THAT IS EVER LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE. THE NECKLACE IS COMPOSED OF 214 DIAMONDS AND SEVEN SOUTH SEAS PEARLS, ALL SET IN PLATINUM, DESIGNED WITH INPUT FROM PRINCESS DIANA, BY THE DISTINGUISHED ENGLISH FIRM, GARRARD, THE CROWN JEWELERS. THE PRINCESS WORE THE NECKLACE 3.JUNE.1997 TO THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL BALLET. FOLLOWING THE BALLET, SHE RETURNED THE JEWELS TO GARRARD SO EARRINGS COULD BE MADE TO COMPLEMENT THE NECKLACE. THE EARRINGS WERE COMPLETED DURING THE SUMMER OF 1997, ONLY SHORTLY BEFORE HER TRAGIC DEATH. PRINCESS DIANA'S SWAN LAKE SUITE WILL BE AMONG OTHER RARE AND MEANINGFUL ITEMS FEATURED IN THE ICONIC OBJECTS AUCTION, PRESENTED BY GUERNSEY'S 24.SEPTEMBER AT NEW YORK'S PARK AVENUE ARMORY.

LOUIS VUITTON TRAVEL GUIDE 2011

FRENCH LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE LOUIS VUITTON RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS NEW PROMOTION FOR THE 2011 EDITION OF THEIR ICONIC CITY GUIDE. IN THE STUNNING VIDEO, WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE TANTALIZING PARISIAN DELICACY: THE SAINT-HONORE PASTRY. SINCE 1998 VUITTON HAS BEEN GIVING THEIR VIEW OF FASHION, DESIGN, THE ARTS AND GASTRONOMY. EACH GUIDE HIGHLIGHTS THE LATEST TRENDS AND OFFERS UNIQUE AND USEFUL ADVICE FOR THE TRAVELER. DESIGN AND PACKAGING OF THESE CHIC GUIDES WAS INSPIRED BY THE LOUIS VUITTON VINTAGE LUGGAGE LABEL FOUND ON THEIR HOLIDAY TRUNKS. THE GUIDES ARE DARK BROWN TO REFLECT LV's SIGNATURE STYLE WITH POPS OF BRIGHT NEON COLOUR LIKE PISTACHIO GREEN, ROSEWOOD AND MAGENTA. INSIDE YOU'LL NOT ONLY FIND THE BEST ADDRESS BOOK FOR YOUR SELECTED CITY, BUT ALSO EASY TO READ MAPS AND HELPFUL ILLUSTRATIONS. THE 2011 EUROPEAN EDITION BOX SET WILL BE RELEASED ON 15.OCTOBER AND WILL FEATURE SEVEN NEW CITIES INCLUDING OXFORD AND PORTO CERVO

QUEEN ELIZABETH II POSES FOR CUNARD PORTRAIT COMMISSION

THE QUEEN HAS POSED FOR A NEW PORTRAIT IN THE SAME DIAMOND NECKLACE AND EARRINGS THAT SHE WORE FOR HER CORONATION. THE JEWELRY, MADE FOR QUEEN VICTORIA, APPEARS IN A STUNNING PAINTING COMMISSIONED FOR THE LAUNCH OF A CRUISE SHIP. IT WAS PAINTED BY ISOBEL PEACHY, WHO AGED 31 IS THE YOUNGEST FEMALE ARTIST FOR WHOM THE MONARCH HAS SAT. SHE WAS COMMISSIONED BY CUNARD, THE SHIPPING COMPANY, WHO WILL DISPLAY THE PORTRAIT ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER. TEH QUEEN WILL SEE THE FINISHED PORTRAIT FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN SHE NAMES THE SHIP AT A CEREMONY NEXT MONTH IN SOUTHAMPTON. TEH PICTURE, SET IN THE YELLOW DRAWING ROOM IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE, SHOWS TEH QUEEN DRESSED IN A PALE BLUE GOWN. IT IS UNDERSTOOD SHE POSED FOR THREE SITTINGS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE PORTRAIT. PEACHY, AN AWARD-WINNING PORTRAIT ARTIST, HAD NEVER BEEN COMMISSIONED TO PAINT A ROYAL PORTRAIT BEFORE. SHE SAID: 'AT MY INTERVIEW WITH CUNARD, I ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW I WOULD APPROACH AN IMPORTANT COMMISSION, BUT IT WAS ONLY AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW THAT THE SUBJECT WAS REVEALED AS THE QUEEN. THIS WAS BOTH A CHOCK AND A MARVELOUS SURPRISE.' IN ORDER TO KEEP THE IDENTITY OF THE PORTRAIT SECRET WHILE IT WAS BEING COMPLETED PEACHY WAS UNABLE TO WORK IN HER USUAL SHARED STUDIO. INSTEAD SHE FINISHED THE PICTURE FROM THE ATTIC OF HER MOTHER'S HOME IN WEST LONDON. CUNARD TRADITIONALLY COMMISSIONS SCULPTURES OR PORTRAITS TO BE KEPT ON BOARD EACH SHIP NAMED BY A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. THE ARTIST OSWALD BIRLEY PAINTED THE LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER TO HANG ON THE ORIGINAL QUEEN ELIZABETH WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1940 AND LATER SOLD IN 1968. A BUST OF THE CURRENT WAS COMMISSIONED FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 (QE2) FROM OSCAR NEMON IN 1969. THE SHIP WAS SOLD IN 2008 BUT THE BUST WAS KEPT. IT WILL BE DISPLAYED ALONGSIDE THE NEW PORTRAIT ON THE NEW QUEEN ELIZABETH SHIP WHOSE MAIDEN VOYAGE WILL BE A COMMERCIAL CRUISE TO THE CANARIES. TEH PORTRAIT WILL BE DISPLAYED IN PROMINENT POSITION IN THE GRAND LOBBY OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH.

WALLACE AND GROMIT TO APPEAR ON CHRISTMAS STAMPS

THEY ARE ALREADY CHRISTMAS REGULARS WHETHER IT IS ON TV OR EMBLAZONED ON THAT GIFT OF PAJAMAS, NOVELTY MUG OR TIE. BUT THIS FESTIVE SEASON THERE REALLY WON'T BE ANY ESCAPE FROM ICONIC WALLACE AND GROMIT. THE ANIMATED INVENTOR, WHOSE GADGETS NEVER QUITE WORK ACCORDING TO PLAN, AND HIS LONG-SUFFERING DOG, WILL BE DELIVERING THEIR BRAND OF UNIQUE HUMOR FROM THE ENVELOPES OF MILLIONS OF CHRISTMAS CARDS. CHARACTERS WILL APPEAR ON FIVE SEASONAL STAMPS. ON SECOND-CLASS MAIL, WALLACE LETS RIP WITH THE CAROLS AS GROMIT RAISES AN EYEBROW (AND NO DOUBT THANKS HIS LUCKY STARS FOR HIS EAR MUFFS). ON THE FIRST-CLASS STAMP, THE DOG POSTS HIS OWN STACK OF LETTERS, WHILE ON THE 60p STAMP, THE PAIR DECORATE A CHRISTMAS TREE. GROMIT STAGGERS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF AN ENORMOUS CHRISTMAS PUDDING ON THE 97p STAMP, AND ON THE £1.46, HE RECEIVES THAT CLASSIC CHRISTMAS SWEATER...WHICH LOOKS A LITTLE ON THE LARGE SIZE. ANIMATOR NICK PARK HAD TO DEVELOP THE SCENES FIRST, THEN THEY WERE SHRUNK TO FIT THE STAMPS. PHILIP PARKER, OF THE ROYAL MAIL, SAID THE TASK WAS A 'LABOR OF LOVE'. 'KEEN-EYED COLLECTORS ARMED WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS WILL SEE THE ENVELOPE BEING POSTED ON THE FIRST-CLASS STAMP FEATURES THE ACTUAL FIRST-CLASS STAMP', HE ADDED. ROYAL MAIL PUBLISHES STAMPS WITH RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR THEMES IN ALTERNATE YEARS. 2010 IN THE TURN FOR SECULAR DESIGNS. BUT STAMPS FEATURING THE MADONNA AND CHILD ARE ALSO ON SALE AT ALL ROYAL MAIL VENUES.

HERMES OPENS NEW CHINESE BRAND SHANG XIA

HERMES HAS OPENED ITS FIRST BOUTIQUE FOR ITS NEW BRAND SHANG XIA, A BOLD STRATEGY THAT HIGHLIGHTS CHINA'S GROWING IMPORTANCE TO LUXURY GOODS COMPANIES. 'WE ARE VERY MOVED, THIS IS LIKE THE BIRTH OF A CHILD', HERMES CHIEF EXECUTIVE PATRICK THOMAS SAID AHEAD OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE SHOP IN SHANGHAI. THE STORE, A PICTURE OF MINIMALIST CHIC, OFFERS CLOTHING, HOME FURNISHINGS, SHOES AND TABLEWARE, A COLLECTION INSPIRED BY TEA, AND MADE FROM TRADITIONAL ASIAN MATERIALS SUCH AS BAMBOO, CASHMERE AND PORCELAIN. IN FRONT OF THE STORE, ARTISANS PUT THEIR SKILLS ON DISPLAY FOR THE WIDELY ANTICIPATED OPENING, MAKING TEA CUPS ENVELOPED IN AN INTRICATE WEB OF WOVEN BAMBOO. SHANG XAI, WHOSE NAME MEANS 'UP DOWN' IN MANDARIN, AIMS TO BOOST WHAT THOMAS TOLD AFP LAST MONTH WAS 'VERY STRONG GROWTH' IN MAINLAND CHINA, HONG KONG, MACAU AND TAIWAN, COLLECTIVELY NOW THE COMPANY'S 'PRINCIPAL MARKET'. 'THE IDEA IS TO BRING THE HERMES PHILOSOPHY TO CHINA, TO CREATE A CHINESE HERMES', THOMAS TOLD AFP. THE BRAND, WHICH WILL BE RUN AS A SEPARATE ENTITY, PRESENTS A UNIQUE CHINA STRATEGY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FASHION HOUSE: BUILDING A BRAND FROM SCRATCH AROUND A BLEND OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN. 'IF SHANG XAI BECOMES A COMPETITOR TO HERMES, THAT WOULD BE A SUCCESS', SAID THOMAS, WHO ADDED HE IS PLANNING TO OPEN THE NEW LABEL'S STANDALONE STORE IN PARIS, WITHOUT OFFERING A SPECIFIC DATE. THE BRAND'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR JIANG QIONGER, A SHANGHAI-BASED, IS MANAGING A TEAM OF ABOUT 20 ARTISANS WHO WILL BRING TO LIFE THE DESIGN TEAM'S VISION. SALES OF LUXURY GOODS IN MAINLAND CHINA HIT AN ESTIMATED $8.6 BILLION IN 2008, ACCORDING TO THE CONSULTING FIRM BAIN & COMPANY. WHEN PURCHASES BY CHINESE PEOPLE ABROAD ARE FACTORED IN, THE MARKET WAS WORTH $20 BILLION. CHINA IS FORECAST TO BECOME THE WORLD'S TOP BUYER OF LUXURY GOODS BY 2015, ACCORDING TO THE CONSULTING FIRM PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS.

RITZ-CARLTON LAUNCHES LOYALTY PROGRAM

LUXURY HOTEL CHAIN RITZ-CARLTON HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED ITS NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM, REVEALING SOME OF THE HIGH-END NAMES IT HAS PARTNERED WITH. RITZ-CARLTON REWARDS GOES 'FAR BEYOND PROVIDING COMPLIMENTARY STAYS AND AIRLINE FLIGHTS', OFFERING A BROAD SELECTION OF UNIQUE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES. FASHION NAMES ALREADY CONFIRMED FOR THE PROGRAM INCLUDE CLOTHING BRAND VERA WANG AND LUXURY RETAILER NEIMAN MARCUS. MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO REDEEM POINTS FOR PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHERS AND TRAVEL EXPERIENCES FROM ABRECROMBIE AND KENT. MUCH LIKE COMPETING PROGRAMS AS INTERCONTINENTAL'S PRIORITY CLUB OR HILTON HHONORS, GUESTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO REDEEM POINTS FOR FLIGHTS. 'NO OTHER LUXURY HOTEL COMPANY COMES CLOSE TO PROVIDING SUCH A FULL RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO EARN AN REDEEM POINTS AND EXCEPTIONAL AND EXOTIC ADVENTURES', SAID RITZ-CARLTON BOSS HERVE HUMLER. RITZ-CARLTON HAS LONG SHIED AWAY FROM A LOYALTY CLUB, MAINTAINING THAT ITS CUSTOMERS WERE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF ITS PARENT CHAIN MARRIOTT AND WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED IN SUCH A PROGRAM. HOWEVER, WITH INDUSTRY ROOM RATES AND OCCUPANCY BADLY HIT BY THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IT SEEMS EVEN TOP-END BRANDS NEED TO FIND WAYS TO KEEP CASH-STRAPPED CUSTOMERS LOYAL.

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART TO PRESENT 'TITIAN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF VENETIAN PAINTING'

THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND (NGS), WILL PRESENT AN EXHIBITION OF 25 MASTERPIECES OF THE VENETIAN RENAISSANCE, 12 PAINTINGS AND 13 DRAWINGS, THAT WILL INCLUDE TWO OF THE GREATEST PAINTINGS OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE, TITIAN'S 'DIANA AND ACTAEON' AND 'DIANA AND CALLISTO'. THE TWO MONUMENTAL PAINTINGS HAVE NEVER BEFORE TRAVELED TO THE UNITED STATES. THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO INCLUDE PAINTINGS BY TINTORETTO, VERONESE AND LOTTO FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL GALLERIES. THE HIGH'S PRESENTATION OF 'TITIAN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF VENETIAN PAINTING: MASTERPIECES FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND' LAUNCHES A NEW COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HIGH AND NGS, WITH ADDITIONAL EXHIBITIONS CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. 'TITIAN AND THE GOLDEN AGE OF VENETIAN PAINTING: MASTERPIECES FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND' WILL PREMIERE AT THE HIGH, WHERE IT WILL BE ON VIEW FROM 6.OCTOBER THROUGH 2.JANUARY.2011. IT WILL THEN TRAVEL TO THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART AND THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON. IN ADDITION TO TITIAN'S 'DIANA' PAINTINGS, THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE 10 OTHER PAINTINGS THAT ILLUMINATE THE DEPTH OF THE NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND'S COLLECTION OF VENETIAN RENAISSANCE WORKS. THE PAINTINGS, AMONG THEM TITIAN'S 'VIRGIN AND CHILD WITH ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND AN UNIDENTIFIED MALE SAINT' AND 'VENUS RISING FROM THE SEA', LORENZO LOTTO'S 'VIRGIN AND CHILD WITH SAINTS JEROME, PETER, FRANCIS AND AN UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE SAINT', JACOPO TINTORETTO'S 'CHRIST CARRIED TO THE TOMB' AND JOCOPO BASSANO'S 'ADORATION OF THE MAGI', WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY 13 DRAWINGS BY TITIAN, VERONESE, TINTORETTO AND OTHER VENETIAN RENAISSANCE ARTISTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.high.org

SELFRIDGE'S TO OPEN WORLD'S LARGEST SHOE-DEPARTMENT

BRITISH DEPARTMENT STORE SELFRIDGES HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL BE OPENING THE WORLD'S LARGEST SHOE DEPARTMENT ON 23.SEPTEMBER. LOCATED ON THE AWARD-WINNING STORE'S SECOND FLOOR, THE SUPER-SIZED 'SHOE GALLERIES' WILL HOUSE MORE THAN 4,000 PAIRS OF SHOES FROM 120 BRANDS, INCLUDING 35 NEW LABELS AND MORE THAN 30 EXCLUSIVE STYLES DESIGNED JUST FOR THE RETAILER. DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT JAMIE FOBERT, THE GROUND-BREAKING SPACE WILL ALSO INCLUDE 11 'APARTMENT' BOUTIQUES FOR PREMIER LABELS (CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, JIMMY CHOO, CHANNEL, DIOR, FENDI, PRADA, GUCCI, TOD's, UGG, TOPSHOP, AND REPETTO), WHICH WILL BE DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE LABEL'S UNIQUE STYLE.
FOR INSTANCE, WHILE THE LOUBOUTIN APARTMENT IS MODELED AFTER THE DESIGNER'S PARIS HOME, REPETTO'S WILL BE INSPIRED BY A BALLET STUDIO, AND FENDI'S WILL BE BASED ON THE FASHION HOUSE'S ROMAN PALAZZO.

HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM PRESENTS 'THE IMMORTAL ALEXANDER THE GREAT'

NO OTHER KING FROM ANTIQUITY HAS SUCH A POWERFUL APPEAL TO THE IMAGINATION AS ALEXANDER THE GREAT (356-323 BC). NOR OTHER KING HAS BEEN SO OFTEN CITED AND DEPICTED AS AN EXAMPLE. THE EXHIBITION 'THE IMMORTAL ALEXANDER THE GREAT' WILL BE ON VIEW FROM 18.SEPTEMBER UNTIL 18.MARCH.2011 IN THE HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM, WITH OVER 350 MASTERPIECES, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS GONZAGA CAMEO FROM THE STATE MUSEUM THE HERMITAGE IN ST PETERSBURG. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY DUTCH MUSEUM HAS DEVOTED AN EXHIBITION TO ALEXANDER THE GREAT, HIS JOURNEY TO THE EAST, AND THE INFLUENCE OF HELLENISM. THE EXHIBITION SPANS A PERIOD OF ALMOST 2500 YEARS. IN THE HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM, THE 'IMMORTAL' ALEXANDER WILL BE BROUGHT TO LIFE FOR SIX MONTHS. ALEXANDER WAS BORN IN 356 BC AS THE SON OF KING PHILIP II OF MACEDONIA. IN BOYHOOD HE WAS TAUGHT BY ARISTOTLE, WHO WOULD BE AN ABIDING INFLUENCE ON HIM. AT TWENTY YEARS OF AGE ALEXANDER SUCCEED TO THE THRONE, FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S ASSASSINATION. TWO YEARS LATER HE EMBARKED ON THE GREAT EXPEDITION THAT WOULD SEAL HIS FAME. HIS CONQUESTS BROUGHT HIM INTO CONTACT WITH NUMEROUS COUNTRIES AND CULTURES: SYRIA, EGYPT, PERSIA, BACTRIA AND INDIA. HE FOUNDED HEW CITIES WHEREVER HE WENT, NAMING MANY OF THEM ALEXANDRIA. HIS ARRIVAL HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON LOCAL ARCHITECTURE, ART, LANGUAGE AND WAYS OF LIFE: IN THE COURSE OF TIME THEY ASSIMILATED AND DISPLAYED GREEK INFLUENCE, A PROCESS THAT BECAME KNOWN AS HELLENISM. THE GREEK SPHERE OF INFLUENCE WAS VAST: IT EXTENDED FROM ASIA MINOR TO INDIA, FROM EGYPT TO MONGOLIA. ALEXANDER'S NAME AND FAME HAS ENDURED DOWN TO THE PRESENT DAY. THE EXHIBITION IN THE HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM GIVES A PICTURE OF ALEXANDER HIMSELF AND OF THE GREAT CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC CHANGES THAT FOLLOWED IN THE TRAIN OF HIS CONQUESTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.hermitage.nl/nl