16.10.10

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO ACQUIRE COURT ARTIST'S COLLECTION


MARILYN CHURCH DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO ASK BERNARD MADOFF, MARTHA STEWART, WOODY ALLEN AND JOHN GOTTI TO SIT FOR THEIR PORTRAITS. SHE SIMPLY FOUND A GOOD SEAT AND PULLED OUT HER PAD, THEN GOT PAID. SOON, THE NEW YORK COURTROOM ARTIST'S 3,500 SKETCHES COULD BE HEADING TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WHICH SAID WEDNESDAY THAT IT PLANNED TO ACQUIRE THEM AND IS FINALIZING AGREEMENTS WITH CHURCH. 'IT'S A GREAT SPECTRUM OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON IN OUR CULTURE AND HAVING A FRONT ROW SEAT ON THAT', CHURCH SAID IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WEDNESDAY WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. CHURCH HAS DONE SKETCHES FOR VARIOUS NEWS ORGANIZATION OVER THE YEARS, BEGINNING AS A FREELANCER FOR WABC-TV IN 1973 AND LATER INCLUDING THE AP AND THE NEW YORK TIMES. THE LIST OF THE FAMOUS, AND THE INFAMOUS, IN HER REPERTOIRE IS LONG, INCLUDING DAVID BERKOWITZ, 'THE SON OF SAM KILLER' WHO TERRORIZED NEW YORK IN THE 1970s; AMY FISHER, KNOWN AS 'THE LONG ISLAND LOLITA'; AND THE FANATICAL BLIND ISLAMIC EXTREMIST ACCUSED OF CONSPIRACY OMAR ABDEL RAHMAN. CELEBRITIES ARE AMONG THE HARDEST TO SKETCH BECAUSE THEIR FACES ARE WIDELY FAMILIAR, CHURCH SAID. SHE FOUND STEWART, THE DOMESTIC DOYENNE CONVICTED IN 2004 OF LYING ABOUT A STOCK SALE BEFORE IT PLUNGED, AMONG THE MOST CHALLENGING TO DRAW BECAUSE OF HER BEAUTY. 'IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO READ CHARACTER THERE, MORE DIFFICULT THAN DRAWING MADOFF BECAUSE ALL THE FEATURES ARE SO PERFECT', SHE SAID. SHE ALSO FOUND ALLEN, WHO WAS ACCUSED BY MIA FARROW OF MOLESTING THEIR 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HARD TO DRAW. 'IN THAT CASE, THERE WERE TWO FAMOUS PEOPLE', SHE SAID. 'YOU HAVE TO DRAW WITH A DEAD-ON LIKENESS. IF YOU MISS, IT'S PRETTY BAD.' WHAT MADE IT EASIER WAS THAT IT WAS A NON-JURY TRAIL, MEANING SHE COULD SIT UP CLOSE, IN THE JURY BOX. 'THERE ARE NO PROVISIONS FOR ARTISTS TO SIT', SHE SAID. CHURCH OFTEN OVERCAME SUCH OBSTACLES BECAUSE OF HER PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY, SHE SAID, CAPTURING IN HER MIND'S EYE THE DEFENDANTS' FEATURES THE MINUTE THEY WALKED INTO THE COURTROOM. CHURCH MADE HER OFFER OF A 'COMBINED PURCHASE AND GIFT' TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, SAID SARA DUKE, CURATOR OF POPULAR AND APPLIED GRAPHIC ART. ALL HER DRAWINGS WILL COME OUT OF COPYRIGHT UPON HER DEATH, AT WHICH TIME HER WORK WILL BE ACCESSIBLE VIA COMPUTER, DUKE SAID. CHURCH SAID SHE WAS THRILLED TO BE GIVING HER WORKS TO THE LIBRARY. 'I CAN'T IMAGINE A BETTER HOME FOR MY WORK', SHE SAID. 'IT'S A CHALLENGE TO KEEP THEM ALL AND KEEP THEM WELL-PRESERVED.'

'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR PRESIDENT' BIRTHDAY CAKE RELIC TO BE AUCTIONED


WHAT IS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY PIECES OF JFK-RELATED MEMORABILIA, AND HENCE 20th CENTURY POP CULTURE, EVER TO SURFACE, THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL CAKE SIDE DECORATION FROM PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY'S 29.MAY.1962 BIRTHDAY CAKE, WILL BE SOLD AT PUBLIC AUCTION IN DALLAS ON 17.NOVEMBER. THE PIECE IS AN UNLIKELY SURVIVOR FROM THE FAMOUS NIGHT MARILYN MONROE FAMOUSLY SANG 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR PRESIDENT' TO JFK AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AS A GIANT CAKE WAS BROUGHT IN WITH GREAT FANFARE. THE SIDE DECORATION, WHICH CARRIES A PRE-AUCTION ESTIMATE OF $5,000, IS BEING OFFERED AS PART OF HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES NOVEMBER GRAND FORMAT AMERICAN & POLITICAL MEMORABILIA AUCTION, TAKING PLACE IN-PERSON AT THE COMPANY'S DALLAS HEADQUARTERS, AS WELL AS LIVE ON LINE AT HA.com/Historical. THE AUCTION FEATURES AN IMPORTANT SELECTION OF JOHN F KENNEDY ITEMS ASSEMBLED TO MARK THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS 1960 ELECTION, INCLUDING TREASURES SUCH AS A GOLD PRESENTATION WATCH WORN BY JFK THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, AND WHAT MAY WELL BE THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF KENNEDY'S TRADEMARK ROCKING CHAIR TO COME WITH AN AUTHENTICATION FROM THE KENNEDY FAMILY. THE DECORATION IS BEING OFFERED BY THE FAMILY OF DECORATED NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT DETECTIVE PATRICK 'PATTY' LARKIN. LARKIN, WHO WAS WORKING SECURITY DETAIL THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT, TOOK A SHINE TO THE PIECE, AND WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME TO GET IT OUT AND BACK TO HIS HOME, WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST 48 YEARS. LARKIN'S WIDOW, LOIS, WHO WAS DATING THE DETECTIVE AT THE TIME, WAS AT THE EVENT WITH HER SISTER AND A FRIEND. IN FACT, THE REASON LARKIN WANTED THE CAKE TOPPER WAS AS A SURPRISE FOR HIS THEN-GIRLFRIEND. THE PIECE COULD BE SAID TO BE MORE THAN HISTORY NOW, AS IT IS A POTENT RELIC OF ONE OF THE MOST GLAMOROUS AND ICONIC EVENTS IN MODERN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY. IT WAS NOT PRESERVED IN A SPIRIT OF REVERENCE, HOWEVER, BUT MERELY A CURIOSITY THE FAMILY SHUFFLED FROM RESIDENCE TO RESIDENCE OVER THE YEARS, OCCASIONALLY TAKING IT OUT ON THANKSGIVING OR ST PATRICK'S DAY TO GET A LAUGH OR AN OCCASIONAL SHAKE OF THE HEAD FROM FRIENDS. THE SURVIVAL OF THE DECORATION IS A FANTASTIC STORY IN AND OF ITSELF, CONSIDERING THAT THE FAMILY MOVED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS. ITS SOJOURN BEGAN IN MANHATTAN, AND THEN THROUGH SUBSEQUENT RESIDENCES AS THE FAMILY GREW, TO ITS LOCATION ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, BEFORE FINALLY MAKING ITS WAY TO HERITAGE AUCTIONS, WHERE IT WILL NOW FIND A HOME WITH THE HIGHEST BIDDER.

BONHAMS TO SELL RARE JEWELED QUILL PEN


A RARE COMMEMORATIVE JEWELED SILVER-GILT PRESENTATION QUILL PEN CREATED IN 1867 BY THE SAZIKOV FIRM IN ST PETERSBURG WILL BE OFFERED BY BONHAMS IN THEIR RUSSIAN SALE ON 1.DECEMBER. IT IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £80,000 – 100,000. FORMED AS A QUILL, ENCRUSTED WITH SEED PEARLS AND EMERALDS, THE EXTRAORDINARY PEN WAS PRESENTED ON 13.JUNE.1867 TO PRINCE ALEKSANDER GORCHAKOV BY THE WIVES OF ST PETERSBURG ARISTOCRATS TO COMMEMORATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS SERVICE T THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. THE SIX DATES ENGRAVED ON THE REVERSE SIDE MARK THE ASCENDING STEPS IN THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF A LEGENDARY DIPLOMAT, STATESMAN AND PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN. AS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL FOREIGN MINISTERS IN EUROPE, GORCHAKOV TOOK PART IN EVERY IMPORTANT DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATION, TREATY AND FOREIGN POLICY INITIATIVE THAT SHAPED RUSSIA'S STANDING IN EUROPEAN POLITICS DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY. DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PROTECTING RUSSIA'S FOREIGN INTERESTS, GORCHAKOV DEVOTED HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO RAISING THE PRESTIGE OF RUSSIA ON THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA. HE HAS AN ENDURING REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND RESPECTED DIPLOMATS OF THE 19th CENTURY. THE JEWELED TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, DECORATED WITH GORCHAKOV'S MONOGRAM UNDER THE PRINCELY CROWN AND FITTED IN THE ORIGINAL BOX WITH THE FAMILY CREST, SYMBOLIZED MANY EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE REMARKABLE RUSSIAN STATESMAN.

15.10.10

ELTON JOHN'S MOTHER TO SELL MEMORABILIA AT AUCTION


IF YOU WERE THE MOTHER OF AN INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN ROCK STAR, WHAT MEMORABILIA WOULD YOU KEEP FROM HIS CAREER? NOW, IF YOU WERE MOVING TO A NEW HOME, WHAT WOULD YOU SELL? ON 19.OCTOBER, ELTON JOHNS FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID LIVE ONLINE ON MEMORABILIA FROM THE COLLECTION OF SHELIA FAREBROTHER, MOTHER OF THE ICONIC CELEBRITY. THE AUCTION IS BEING HOSTED BY THE NOTABLE UK AUCTION HOUSE GORRINGES AND WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ONLINE BY THE BOSTON-BASED ARTFACT.COM, THE WORLD'S LEADING ONLINE AUCTION PORTAL, AND ITS UK SISTER INVALUABLE.COM. HIGHLIGHTING THE SALE IS A PAIR OF RARE GOLD CARTIER 'CAPTAIN FANTASTIC' BROOCHES. AS A STRUGGLING YOUNG MUSICIAN, ELTON ASSUMED THE MONIKER OF CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AS AN ON-STAGE PERSONA, PAIRED WITH HIS LYRICIST PARTNER BERNIE TAUPIN. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL CONCEPT ALBUM 'CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY' CHRONICLES THIS EARLY PERIOD IN THEIR MUSICAL CAREER. EACH BROOCH IS CAST IN 18 CARAT GOLD WITH RED ENAMEL LETTERING AND THE PAIR IS ESTIMATED AT £8,000-£12,000. AS RENOWNED FOR HIS MUSIC AS HIS OUTRAGEOUS FASHION SENSE, ELTON JOHN HAS SHOWCASED A WIDE VARIETY OF UNIQUE GARMENTS BOTH ON AND OFF STAGE. INCLUDED IN THE AUCTION ARE TWO SILK VERSACE SUITS BY GIANNI VERSACE, ONE IN CREAM AND THE OTHER IN LAVENDER. TWO VERSACE TUXEDOS, COMPLETE WITH SATIN COLLARS, ARE ALSO BEING OFFERED IN THE UNUSUAL HUES OF CANARY YELLOW AND DEEP PURPLE. BIDDERS WILL JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO TAKE HOME ONE OF THESE VIBRANT EXAMPLES OF ELTON'S EVER-DIVERSIFYING WARDROBE. A BEVY OF GOLD AND PLATINUM DISCS, VIP PASSES AND TOUR JACKETS FROM THROUGHOUT ELTON'S CAREER HIGHLIGHT THE AUCTION'S MEMORABILIA OFFERINGS. THE COMMEMORATIVE DISCS REPRESENT MANY OF THE MUSICIAN'S CHART-TOPPING HITS, INCLUDING A PLATINUM DISC FOR THE FIRST MILLION SALES OF THE 1973 ALBUM 'GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD' AND A MULTI-PLATINUM DISC COMMEMORATING 11 MILLION SALES OF 'CANDLE IN THE WIND'. FAREBROTHER HAS DECIDED TO SELL HER COLLECTION FOLLOWING HER RECENT MOVE TO A NEW HOME ON THE SOUTH COAST OF ENGLAND.

PRADA TO LAUNCH 'MADE IN...' COLLECTION


PRADA HAS CREATED A UNIQUE NEW PROJECT THAT HONORS GLOBAL LUXURY. BASED ON THE IDEA THAT IN THE EARLY DECADES OF THE 20th CENTURY, MIUCCIA PRADA'S GRANDFATHER, THE VISIONARY MARIO PRADA, TRAVELED THE WORLD IN TIRELESS PURSUIT OF IDEAS AND INSPIRATION, THE NEW 'MADE IN...' PROJECT FEATURES COLLECTION FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 'PRADA MADE IN SCOTLAND' IS A COLLECTION OF TRADITIONAL TARTAN WOOL KILTS. 'PRADA MADE IN INDIA' FEATURES ENTIRELY HANDMADE GARMENTS FROM THE WORKSHOPS THAT SPECIALIZE IN CHIKAN, AN ANCIENT FORM OF INDIAN EMBROIDERY, AS WELL AS MULTICOLORED BALLERINA FLATS, SANDALS AND HANDBAGS THAT EMPLOY AN EQUALLY SOPHISTICATED TRADITIONAL WEAVING TECHNIQUE. 'PRADA MADE IN JAPAN' TAKES THE IDEA TO DENIN WITH A COLLECTION OF JEANS PRODUCED BY DOVA, THE WORLD'S MOST SOPHISTICATED DENIN MANUFACTURER. 'THE PRADA MADE IN JAPAN' JEANS CAN BE CUSTOM ORDERED IN FOUR DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF CLOTH AND SEVEN DIFFERENT WASHES. 'PRADA MADE IN PERU' IS A COLLECTION OF ALPACA WOOL KNITWEAR USING ARTISANAL TECHNIQUES FROM THE MOST TRADITIONAL WORKSHOPS OF THE PERUVIAN 'CAMPESINOS'. THE COLLECTIONS ARE IDENTIFIED BY SPECIAL LABELS DEDICATED TO EACH COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THE COLLECTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN PRADA BOUTIQUES NEXT YEAR.

BUCERIUS KUNST FORUM PRESENTS 'MARC CHAGALL: LIFELINES'


IN THE FALL OF 2010, THE BUCERIUS KUNST FORUM, HAMBURG, GERMANY, IS SHOWING OVER 150 STUNNING WORKS BY MARC CHAGALL. 'LIFELINES', THE EXHIBITION PRESENTS NUMEROUS PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND PRINTS BY CHAGALL FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM IN JERUSALEM, WHICH CAN BE SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GERMANY. THE MUSEUM HOLDS MAJOR WORKS FROM THE COLLECTION OF IDA CHAGALL, THE ARTIST'S DAUGHTER, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER COLLECTORS. FOR THE EXHIBITION AT THE BUCERIUS KUNST FORUM, THE COLLECTION OF THE ISRAEL MUSEUM HAS BEEN COMPLEMENTED BY SELECTED WORKS FROM GERMAN AND EUROPEAN COLLECTIONS. THE EXHIBITION 'MARC CHAGALL: LIFELINES' EXAMINES THE WAY IN WHICH PERSONAL EXPERIENCES FOUND THEIR WAY INTO CHAGALL'S ART. AT THE CENTER OF THE EXHIBITION IS CHAGALL'S LOVE FOR HIS WIFE BELLA, WHICH CHARACTERIZED HIS LIFE AND CAN BE SEEN AS A CENTRAL THEME IN HIS MANY IMAGES OF LOVERS. THE AREA IS SURROUNDED BY SECTIONS SHOWING PORTRAITS, SELF-PORTRAITS AND SCENES FROM JEWISH LIFE IN THE VITEBSK SHTETL. THE ILLUSTRATIONS THAT CHAGALL CREATED FOR TWO BOOKS WRITTEN BY HIS WIFE FORM THE STARTING POINT OF THE SECTION DEDICATED TO HER AND HER COLLABORATION WITH CHAGALL. FOCUS HAS ALSO BEEN PLACED ON WORKS WHERE CHAGALL EXAMINED THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST, GIVING INSIGHT INTO HIS UNDERSTANDING OF HIMSELF. ANOTHER SECTION IS DEDICATED TO JEWISH RELIGION AND HISTORY IN THE WORKS OF CHAGALL. IT EXAMINES THE WAY HE DEALT WITH THE BIBLE AND HIS REACTION TO THE HOLOCAUST. FOLLOWING THE BUCERIUS KUNST FORUM'S MONOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS DEVOTED TO PICASSO, RODIN AND MATISSE, MARC CHAGALL: LIFELINES CONTINUES THE SERIES OF SHOWS DEDICATED TO FRENCH ARTISTS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.buceriuskunstforum.de

14.10.10

RARE AUDREY HEPBURN STAMP SHEET TO BE AUCTIONED FOR CHARITY


AUDREY HEPBURN LEFT AN INDELIBLE IMPRESSION, AN IMPRINT OF GRACIOUS COMPASSION AND RESPECT, WHICH ENDURES IN A FASHION AS TIMELESS AS HER HER HEART. IN 2002 THE GERMAN MINISTRY OF FINANCE DECIDED TO HONOR HEPBURN WITH A STAMP AND ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE AUDREY HEPBURN CHILDREN'S FUND (AHCF). DUE TO AND INTERNAL BREAKDOWN THE PRINTING OF THE 14 MILLION STAMPS FOR THE GERMAN POST WAS ORDERED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THE CONTRACTUAL APPROVALS FROM THE AHCF. THE AHCF, UNAWARE OF THE PRINTING, ORDERED THE ENTIRE STOCK DESTROYED...BUT FOR THREE SHEETS, I KEPT BY THE MINISTRY, I BY THE PRINTER AND ONE LOCATED RECENTLY IN A FILE IN THE OFFICE OF SEAN HEPBURN FERRER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AHCF. THESE STAMPS ARE TODAY, BY AGREEMENT WITH THE MINISTRY, THE ONLY UN-POSTED SPECIMENS AVAILABLE FOR SALE (5 POSTMARKED STAMPS WERE SOLD AT AUCTION FOR THE PRICES RANGING FROM 50,000 TO 125,000 EUROS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT SOMEONE HIGH UP INSIDE THE MINISTRY PICKED A SINGLE SHEET HOT OFF THE PRESS AND SENT LETTERS TO FRIENDS). THE MINT CONDITION SHEET OF 10 STAMPS IS THE OBJECT OF UNPRECEDENTED DESIRABILITY AND UNIQUE VALUE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE OF MODERN PHILATELY. THE MINIMUM RESERVE IS SET AT A RECORD 500,000 EUROS. THE AUDREY HEPBURN STAMP IS ESTIMATED TO REACH CLOSE TO A MILLION EUROS ON THE FINAL HAMMER. 100% OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO CHARITY THROUGH THE AHCF AND UNICEF. THE AUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON 16.OCTOBER IN BERLIN AND WILL PROVIDE 300 SEATS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RESERVED IN ADVANCE. THE DEMAND AND REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SO NUMEROUS AND HAS ALREADY GONE TO A 'WAITING LIST'.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT briefmarken-schlegel.de

CHRISTIAN LACROIX DESIGNS BOTTLE FOR CHIVAS 18 YEAR


ICONIC FASHION DESIGNER CHRISTIAN LACROIX AND CHIVAS HAVE RECENTLY TEAMED UP FOR A SPECIAL EDITION CHIVAS REGAL 18 YEAR OLD RELEASE. FOLLOWING ON FROM THE LAUNCH OF THE CHIVAS 12 YEAR OLD MAGNUM BY CHRISTIAN LACROIX LAST YEAR, THE NEW EDITION OF CHIVAS 18 YEAR OLD WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SELECTED TRAVEL RETAIL OUTLETS FROM NOVEMBER. CHIVAS REGAL 18 YEAR OLD BY CHRISTIAN LACROIX FEATURES A LAVISH, BROCADE PRESENTATION BOX IN FRENCH JACQUARD, WITH A MIRRORED INTERIOR, WHILE THE FAMILIAR CHIVAS LABEL ON THE BOTTLE IS ALSO EMBROIDERED IN JACQUARD. THE BOTTLE ITSELF FEATURES AND INTRICATE 'METALLIC' DESIGN ECHOING THAT OF LACROIX'S WORK ON THE CHIVAS 12 YEAR OLD MAGNUM. ONLY 3,000 BOTTLES OF THE LACROIX'S 18 YEAR OLD WILL BE AVAILABLE, WITH AROUND ONE-THIRD ALLOCATED TO THE LUXURY DUTY-FREE MARKET AT A RETAIL PRICE OF $495.

JOHN LENNON MONUMENT UNVEILED


JOHN LENNON'S SON JULIAN AND FIRST WIFE CYNTHIA UNVEILED A MONUMENT TO THE LATE SINGER RECENTLY, AND SAID THE TIME FOR MOURNING THE FORMER BEATLE WAS OVER. THE PRESENTATION OF A $350,000 18 FOOT STRUCTURE, DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PEACE, WAS ONE OF SEVERAL EVENTS BEING HELD AROUND THE WORLD TO CELEBRATE ONE OF MUSIC'S MOST INFLUENTIAL SINGERS AND SONGWRITERS WHO WAS MURDERED IN NEW YORK IN 1980 AT THE AGE OF 40. INTERNET SEARCH SITE GOOGLE PAID TRIBUTE TO LENNON WITH A HAND-DRAWN LOGO AND MINI-VIDEO ON HIS HIT 'IMAGINE'. MANHATTAN PLANNED A BENEFIT CONCERT AND LENNON'S WIDOW YOKO ONO PERFORMED ALONGSIDE THEIR SON SEAN AS THE PLASTIC ONO BAND IN REYKJAVIK. CYNTHIA AND JULIAN LENNON LOOKED ON IN LENNON'S BIRTHPLACE LIVERPOOL AS A CHOIR PERFORMED HIS MUSIC. A CROWD OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE GATHERED IN CHAVASSE PARK FOR THE EVENT. 'I THINK THE MOURNING IS OVER FOR JOHN', SAID CYNTHIA, WHO WAS MARRIED TO LENNON BETWEEN 1962 AND 1968. 'I THINK IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.' MUSICIAN JULIAN ADDED: 'I THINK MOST THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID. WE COME HERE WITH OUR HEARTS TO HONOR DAD AND TO PRAY FOR PEACE AND SAY THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE CELEBRATIONS TODAY.' AS ONE HALF OF THE SONGWRITING PARTNERSHIP IN THE BEATLES ALONGSIDE PAUL MCCARTNEY, LENNON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE BAND'S CATALOG, INCLUDING SEMINAL HITS LIKE 'SHE LOVES YOU', 'I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND' AND 'A HARD DAY'S NIGHT'. THE BAND IS WIDELY CREDITED AS BEING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN POP HISTORY, AND LENNON WENT ON TO MAKE HIS MARK AS A SOLO ARTIST AFTER THE GROUP SPLIT IN 1970 WITH CLASSIC SONGS INCLUDING 'IMAGINE'. LENNON REMAINS BIG BUSINESS, AND THE ANNIVERSARY, JUST MONTHS BEFORE THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH, HAS SEEN THE RELEASE OF A NEW WAVE OF LENNON-RELATED MERCHANDISE AND MUSIC.

13.10.10

DEMI MOORE TO SELL TWO PAINTINGS AT AUCTION


DEMI MOORE IS SELLING TWO 19th CENTURY EUROPEAN PAINTINGS AT AUCTION, INCLUDING A FRENCH WORK THE ACTRESS SAYS INSPIRED HER BECAUSE OF THE ARTIST'S DEPICTION OF STRONG WOMEN. WILLIAM BOUGUEREAU'S 'FRERE AT SOEUR', AN OIL PAINTING OF A YOUNG WOMAN TENDERLY HOLDING HER BABY BROTHER, COULD FETCH UP TO $1.5 MILLION AT SOTHEBY'S ON 4.NOVEMBER. IT WAS PAINTED IN 1887 BY THE FRENCH ARTIST WHOSE WORK IS ENJOYING RENEWED INTEREST. MOORE'S OTHER PAINTING 'MERE ET SES ENFANTS' BY BELGIAN PAINTER ALFRED STEVENS, IS ESTIMATED TO BRING UP TO $200,000. THE ACTRESS ACQUIRED THE WORKS IN 1995 AT A CHRISTIE'S AUCTION, PAYING $178,500 FOR 'FRERE AR SOEUR' AND $200,500 FOR THE STEVENS PAINTING. 'I FIND BOUGUEREAU TO BE PARTICULARLY ENGAGING FOR ME PERSONALLY AND HAVE CHOSEN TO HOLD ON TO A SMALLER PIECE TO CARRY WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE YEARS', SAID THE STAR KNOWN FOR HER WORK IN SUCH FILMS AS 'GHOST', 'INDECENT PROPOSAL' AND 'A FEW GOOD MEN'. BOUGUREAU WAS AWARDED THE PRIX DE ROME IN 1850, WHICH ENABLED HIM TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT ITALY. HIS STUDY OF CLASSICAL SCULPTURE IS EVIDENT IN THE POSE THE FIGURE STRIKES AND THE DRAPE OF HER SKIRT IN THE LARGE WORK, WHICH MEASURES 6 FEET BY NEARLY 3 FEET. STEVEN PAINTED SEVERAL VERSIONS OF 'MERE ET SES ENFANTS', INCLUDING ONE COMMISSIONED BY THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO SAILORS LOST AT SEA AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE ONE IN MOORE'S POSSESSION WAS PAINTED IN 1883 AND SHOWS A MOTHER IN A CREAM-COLOURED RUFFLED SKIRT SMILING AT HER INFANT WHILE HER OLDEST DAUGHTER STANDS AND LOOKS OUT TO SEA. A STEVENS' RETROSPECTIVE AT THE VAN GOGH MUSEUM IN AMSTERDAM LAST YEAR DESCRIBED HIM AS ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN ARTIST IN PARIS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY. THE TWO PAINTINGS WILL BE SOLD WITH OTHER 19th CENTURY MASTERWORKS, INCLUDING SIR LAWRENCE ALMA-TADEMA'S 'THE FINDING OF MOSES'. IT WAS PAINTED IN 1902 WHEN THE BRITISH ARTIST WAS IN EGYPT. IT IS BEING SOLD BY A PRIVATE COLLECTOR BUT WAS ONCE OWNED BY 'CANDID CAMERA' CREATOR ALLEN FUNT.

MOET & CHANDON BAR BOY


THE BAR BOY WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 1963 BY VERNER PANTON AND WAS CONSIDERED AS A SYMBOL OF THE 60s. THE NEW VERSION, SPECIALLY EDITED FOR MOET & CHANDON, HAS BLACK LACQUERED COATING AND LEATHER INTERIOR. THE LOWER COMPARTMENT, WHICH CONTAINS THREE BOTTLES OF GRAND VINTAGE MOET & CHANDON (GRAND VINTAGE 2002, GRAND VINTAGE COLLECTION 1992 AND GRAND VINTAGE COLLECTION 1982), COOLS A BOTTLE TO 10° IN 15 MINUTES. THE MIDDLE COMPARTMENT HAS FOUR CRISTAL FLUTES INSIDE, ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR GRAND VINTAGE BY RIEDEL. THE UPPER COMPARTMENT IS DESIGNED FOR ACCESSORIES.

RARE BONHAMS TO SELL SILVER FROM FABLED EGGER'S COLLECTION


A 17th CENTURY GERMAN SILVER-GILT TABLE DECORATION IN THE FORM OF A SHIP, ESTIMATED AT £20,000-25,000, WITH A TRAGIC AND POIGNANT HISTORY APPEARS AT AUCTION IN BONHAMS SILVER SALE IN LONDON ON 3.NOVEMBER. IT IS BEING SOLD BY THE VIENNESE BORN HUNGARIAN ARISTOCRAT, COUNT FERDINAND ORSSICH DE SLACETICH, AND IS ONLY ONE OF TWO KNOWN SURVIVING PIECES FROM THE FABULOUS EGGER SILVER COLLECTION CONFISCATED BY THE GESTAPO IN VIENNA IN 1944 AND SOLD ANONYMOUSLY BY THE NAZIS AT AUCTION IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. THE SPECTACULAR 150 PIECE COLLECTION HAD BEEN AMASSED BY A JEWISH COUPLE, FANNY AND ERNST EGGER, WHO WERE ARRESTED IN 1944 AND SENT WITH THE REST OF THEIR FAMILY TO A CONCENTRATION CAMP WHERE THEY DIED SOMETIME BEFORE THE END OF THE WAR. FERDINAND ORSSICH WAS FANNY AND ERNST'S STEP GRANDSON, HIS FATHER, WHO WAS NOT JEWISH, HAD MARRIED THE EGGER'S DAUGHTER. HE ACQUIRED THE SHIP WHEN A FRIEND OF THE EGGERS BOUGHT IT, UNWITTINGLY, AT THE '44 DECEMBER AUCTION, AND RETURNED IT ONCE HE REALIZED WHERE IT HAD COME FROM. TECHNICALLY KNOWN AS A NEF, THE SHIP WAS MADE BY JERONYMOUS GILG IN AUGSBURG IN THE 1620s. ELABORATELY AND BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED, IT FEATURES SIX FIGURES, FOUR FIRING RIFLES, AT THE REAR AND TWO FURTHER FIGURES IN THE RIGGING AND IS RAISED ON FOUR WHEELS SO IT CAN BE ROLLED ALONG THE TABLE. NEFS, WHICH DATE FROM THE 13th CENTURY, ORIGINALLY HAD A PRACTICAL PURPOSE TO HOLD SALT AND PEPPER, NAPKINS OR CUTLERY. THE LATER BECAME PURELY ORNAMENTAL AND WERE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON AT THE TABLE AS A STATUS SYMBOL. THE ONLY OTHER PIECE FROM THE EGGER COLLECTION EVER TO HAVE RESURFACED WAS A SILVER CUP FOUND IN A VIENNESE MUSEUM BY AN AUSTRIAN COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING ART WORKS IN PUBLIC HANDS STOLEN DURING WORLD WAR II. IT WAS RETURNED TO THE FAMILY BUT ALL THE OTHER PIECES ARE PRESUMED TO BE IN PRIVATE HANDS. A SURVIVING CATALOG FROM THE 1944 AUCTION GIVES SOME IDEA OF THE IMPORTANCE AND GREAT VALUE OF THE COLLECTION.

PAPAL GIFT TO QUEEN ELIZABETH ON DISPLAY IN HOLYROODHOUSE


THE GIFT PRESENTED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN DURING HIS RECENT STATE VISIT TO EDINBURGH HAS GONE ON DISPLAY AT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE. THE RARE MANUSCRIPT, KNOWN AS THE LORSCH GOSPELS, IS A MAGNIFICENT ILLUMINATED GOSPEL BOOK COLLECTION WRITTEN 1,200 YEARS AGO. SUMPTUOUSLY ILLUSTRATED, IT INCLUDES IMAGES MORE THAN 400 PAGES WRITTEN ENTIRELY IN GOLD INK ON VELLUM. THE FACSIMILE EDITION PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN COMBINES ALL PARTS OF THE MANUSCRIPT IN ONE VOLUME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE HUNDRED YEARS, COMPLETE WITH REPRODUCTIONS OF THE IVORY COVERS. THE MANUSCRIPT WAS WRITTEN IN THE EARLY 9th CENTURY AT THE COURT OF THE EMPEROR CHARLEMAGNE IN AACHEN, GERMANY, AND WAS FIRST RECORDED IN THE IMPERIAL ABBEY OF LORSCH AROUND 860. THE BINDING OF THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT WAS MOUNTED WITH IVORY PANELS DEPICTING THE VIRGIN AND CHILD WITH ST JOHN AND THE PROPHET ZACHARIAH, AND THE FIGURE OF CHRIST. THE MANUSCRIPT REMAINED AT LORSCH ABBEY UNTIL 1556 BUT WAS SPLIT INTO TWO BEFORE IT LEFT THE ABBEY AND AT SOME POINT THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS WERE ALSO REMOVED. THE BACK COVER IS NOW IN THE VATICAN LIBRARY AND THE FRONT COVER IS IN THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON. THE QUEEN WELCOMED HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI TO THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE ON HIS FIRST PAPAL VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM LAST MONTH. THE QUEEN RECEIVED THE POPE FOR A PRIVATE AUDIENCE AND EXCHANGE OF GIFTS IN THE MORNING DRAWING ROOM. THE QUEEN PRESENTED THE POPE WITH A FACSIMILE EDITION OF DRAWINGS BY HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER IN THE ROYAL COLLECTION.

12.10.10

BANKSY CREATES 'THE SIMPSONS' EPISODE


THE ALWAYS CLEVER AND OFTEN SUBVERSIVE OPENING SEQUENCE FOR 'THE SIMPSONS' TOOK A DARKER THAN USUAL TURN WITH SUNDAY'S EPISODE, DEPICTING THE ANIMATION PROCESS FOR THE FOX CARTOON SERIES AS SWEATSHOP DRUDGERY PERFORMED BY AN EXPLOITED ASIAN UNDERCLASS. CREATED BY THE STREET ARTIST AND ACTIVIST BANKSY, THE SEQUENCE BEGAN WITH THE SIGHT OF HOMETOWN SPRINGFIELD COVERED WITH GRAFFITI, AND TAGGED BY BANKSY HIMSELF. THEN, WHEN THE SIMPSON FAMILY GATHERS ON THEIR LIVING ROOM COUCH, THAT IMAGE BECOMES A REFERENCE SHOT OF LEGIONS OF WORKERS IN THE GRIM INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX WHERE THEY PAINT CARTOON CELLS AND CHURN OUT SIMPSONS MERCHANDISE. THE ENTIRE ENTERPRISE IS HOUSE IN A DREARY-LOOKING FACTORY SPRAWL SURROUNDED BY BARBED WIRE AND IDENTIFIED BY THE LOOMING 20th CENTURY FOX LOGO AND SEARCHLIGHTS. THROUGH ITS LONG HISTORY, 'THE SIMPSONS' HAS NEVER HESITATES TO LAMPOON ITS NETWORK BOSSES AND OTHER FOX PROGRAMMING. BUT SUNDAY'S SELF-INFLICTED JAB WAS INSPIRED BY THE FACT THAT MUCH OF THE ROTE PRODUCTION WORK FOR EACH SIMPSONS EPISODE IS INDEED OUTSOURCED FROM THE SERIES' LA CREATIVE HUB TO STUDIOS IN SOUTH KOREA. THE SEQUENCE'S MASTERMIND, BANKSY, IS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE IN STREET ART WHO IS KNOWN FOR TRAVELING THE WORLD AND ANONYMOUSLY LEAVING HIS SIGNATURE PIECES IN PUBLIC AREAS WHILE REFUSING TO REVEAL HIS REAL NAME. ON MONDAY. SIMPSONS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AL JEAN SAID HE HAD HIT ON THE IDEA OF INVITING BANKSY TO CREATE A SO-CALLED 'COUCH GAG' AFTER SEEING THE FILM HE DIRECTED, 'EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP', WHICH WAS RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE SIMPSONS CASTING DIRECTOR MANAGED TO TRACK DOWN THE FAMOUSLY HARD TO REACH ARTIST, AND A FEW MONTHS LATER HIS WORK WAS SUBMITTED. ALTHOUGH JEAN SAID THE SEGMENT WAS 'TONED DOWN A LITTLE' FOR AIRING, 'THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL FROM THE NETWORK IN TERMS OF NOTES OR DELAYS. 'FOX HAS A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO MAKE FUN OF ITSELF AND BE GRACIOUS', HE SAID.

THE QUEEN NAMES CUNARD'S NEW LINER



THE QUEEN HAS OFFICIALLY NAMED CUNARD'S 92,000-TON QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER IN A GLITTERING CEREMONY IN SOUTHAMPTON TODAY. THE NAMING, BEFORE HUNDREDS OF INVITED GUESTS ON THE QUAYSIDE AT THE VESSEL'S HOME PORT, FOLLOWING A TOUR OF THE SHIP BY THE QUEEN. BUILT AT THE FINCANTIERI MONFALCONE SHIPYARD NEAR TRIESTE IN ITALY, THE VESSEL FEATURES MEMORABILIA FROM CUNARD'S FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER AS WELL AS FROM THE SECOND SHIP TO BEAR THE NAME, THE QE2. ON BOARD THE NEW SHIP THE QUEEN SAW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, A PORTRAIT OF HER PAINTED BY BURNLEY-BORN ISOBEL PEACHY, WHO IS BELIEVED TO BE THE YOUNGEST WOMAN COMMISSIONED TO PAINT THE MONARCH. THE PAINTING SHOWS THE QUEEN WEARING A NECKLACE AND EARRINGS, FORMERLY BELONGING TO QUEEN VICTORIA, WHICH SHE WORE AT THE CORONATION IN 1953. CAPABLE OF CARRYING 2,068 PASSENGERS AND 996 CREW, THE NEW, 16-DECK QUEEN ELIZABETH IS 964ft LONG AND CAN TRAVEL AT A SPEED OF AROUND 27mph. FEATURES INCLUDE AN 18ft PANEL CREATED BY THE QUEEN'S NEPHEW VISCOUNT LINLEY, ART DECO INTERIORS ECHOING THE 1930s' GREAT AGE OF OCEAN LINERS, AND A SHOPPING AREA FEATURING NAMES SUCH AS FORTNUM & MASON AND HARRIS TWEED. UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN CHRIS WELLS WHO EARLIER SERVED ON THE QEII AND CUNARD'S FLAGSHIP QUEEN MARY 2 (QM2), THE NW QUEEN ELIZABETH ALSO HAS AN 832-SEAT THEATER WHERE PASSENGERS WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH WEST END-STYLE SHOWS. THE SHIP LEAVES TOMORROW ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE, A 13-NIGHT SAILING WHICH INCLUDES STOPS AT LISBON, TENERIFE AND MADEIRA. TICKETS FOR THE FIRST VOYAGE WENT ON SALE ON 1.APRIL.2009 AND WERE ALL SNAPPED UP WITHIN 30 MINUTES. CUNARD'S FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH LINER WAS LAUNCHED ON THE CLYDE IN SCOTLAND IN 1938 BY THE THEN QUEEN ELIZABETH, LATER THE QUEEN MOTHER, WITH THE PRESENT QUEEN, THEN 12 YEARS OLD, LOOKING ON. THE QE2 WAS LAUNCHED ON THE CLYDE BY THE QUEEN IN 1967. SHE WAS OFFICIALLY NAMED THE QM2 IN A CEREMONY AT SOUTHAMPTON IN 2004. WHILE THE FIRST QUEEN MARY SHIP, LAUNCHED BY QUEEN MARY IN 1934, LIVES ON AS A FLOATING HOTEL AND TOURIST ATTRACTION IN LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, THE FIRST QUEEN ELIZABETH MET AN UNHAPPY FATE. SOLD TO A BUSINESSMAN, THE VESSEL CAUGHT FIRE AND SANK IN HONG KONG HARBOR IN 1972. IN SERVICE WITH CUNARD FROM 1969, THE QE2 WAS PART OF THE COMPANY'S FLEET UNTIL BEING SOLD TO A DUBAI PROPERTY COMPANY ON 2008.

FAMILY PAINTING COULD BE WORTH OVER £188 MILLION


WHEN THEIR CHILDREN KNOCKED IT OFF THE WALL WITH A WAYWARD TENNIS BALL, THE KOBER FAMILY WRAPPED UP THE PAINTING THEY KNEW AS 'THE MIKE' AND SHOVED IT BEHIND THE SOFA. THERE IT REMAINED FOR THE NEXT 27 YEARS, IGNORED AND FORGOTTEN ALONG WITH THE FAMILY LEGEND THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY PAINTED MY MICHELANGELO. NOW, HAVING FINALLY CONSULTED THE EXPERTS, THE KOBERS ARE REELING WITH THE NEWS THAT IT DOES INDEED APPEAR TO BE GENUINE, AND COULD BE THE ART FIND OF THE CENTURY. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN WHISKED OUT OF THEIR MODEST HOME IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AND PUT IN A SAFE, WITH A POSSIBLE PRICE TAG OF £188 MILLION. ANTONIO FORCELLINO, AN ITALIAN ART RESTORER AND HISTORIAN, IS CONVINCED THE PAINTING IS GENUINE AND WAS STAGGERED WHEN HE WAS SHOWN IT BY MARTIN KOBER. A SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE JESUS AND MARY INCLUDING INFRARED AND X-RAY EXAMINATIONS SHOWED THAT THE ARTIST HAD MADE A SERIES OF ALTERATION AS HE CHANGED HIS MIND. NEAR THE MADONNA'S RIGHT KNEE OF THE 25in BY 19in WOOD PANEL IS ALSO AN UNFINISHED PORTION, WHICH IS STRONG EVIDENCE OF ITS ORIGINALLY. 'THE EVIDENCE OF UNFINISHED PORTIONS DEMONSTRATES THAT THIS PAINTING NEVER, NEVER, NEVER COULD BE A COPY OF ANOTHER PAINTING', FORCELLINO SAID. 'NO PATRON PAYS IN THE RENAISSANCE FOR AN UNFINISHED COPY.' AS HE WENT TO THE KOBERS' HOME, FORCELLINO WAS SKEPTICAL BUT WAS LEFT OPEN-MOUTHED BY WHAT HE SAW. 'IN REALITY THIS PAINTING WAS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE VERSIONS HANGING IN ROME AND FLORENCE', HE SAID. IT APPEARS THAT MICHELANGELO PAINTED THE PICTURE IN 1545 FOR HIS FRIEND VITTORIA COLONNA, SOME 45 YEARS AFTER HIS FAMOUS 'PIETA' OF MARY HOLDING JESUS AT ST PETER'S BASILICA IN ROME. SHE GAVE IT TO HER LADY IN WAITING CALLED GERTRUDE YOUNG, THE SISTER IN LAW OF KOBER'S GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER, AND SHE SENT IT TO THE US IN 1883 WHERE IT HAS REMAINED EVER SINCE. KOBER FINALLY GOT AROUND TO LOOKING INTO THE PAINTING'S HISTORY IN 2003 WHEN HE RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE. HE HAD IT RESTORED TO REMOVE 500 YEARS OF WEAR AND TEAR , CONTACTED AUCTION HOUSES AND SCHOLARS AND EVENTUALLY PERSUADED FORCELLINO TO COME AND SEE IT. 'IT WASN'T THE STORY THAT HAD SCARED ME, BUT THAT IT HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO HEATING COMMONLY FOUND INSIDE A MIDDLE-CLASS HOME', FORCELLINO SAID. HE EXPLAINED THAT IN 1886, RESPECTED MICHELANGELO BIOGRAPHER HERMAN GRIMM HAD SEEN THE PAINTING AND SAID IT WAS AN ORIGINAL. FURTHER EVIDENCE INCLUDES A LETTER IN THE VATICAN LIBRARY DISCUSSING A PIETA PAINTING FOR COLONNA, HE SAID. RECENT MICHELANGELOS THAT HAVE COME UP FOR SALE HAVE REACHED OVER £12 MILLION, ALTHOUGH THOSE AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK COULD FETCH WELL OVER £200 WERE THEY TO BE UP FOR SALE.

11.10.10

PIERRE FERRAND RELEASES CENTURY OLD COGNAC


PIERRE FERRAND, ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF COGNAC HOUSES IN FRANCE SPECIALIZING IN OLD COGNACS FROM THE COVETED GRANDE CHAMPAGNE REGION THAT ARE NOT BLENDED WITH LESSER VARIETIES, HAS COME OUT WITH A NEW 100 YEAR OLD BOTTLING. THE LIMITED EDITION L'HOMMAGE DE PIERRE FERRAND WAS BORN OF COGNAC DISTILLED PRIOR TO WORLD WAR I STORED IN THE SHADE OF FERRAND'S LOGIS D'ANGEAC CELLAR FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. BOTTLED IN AN EXQUISITELY CRAFTED, NUMBERED CRYSTAL CARAFE, ONLY 10 BOTTLES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE US BY SPECIAL ORDER FOR THE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE OF $3,000 APIECE. THE AGED SPIRIT HAS TAKEN ON A BEAUTIFUL DARK SHIMMERING BRONZE COLOUR AFTER ITS LONG REPOSE IN ITS WOODEN CASK. EXCEPTIONALLY SMOOTH, IT HAS AROMAS OF PRUNE AND CANDIED FRUITS. EACH BOTTLE COMES IN A WOODEN CASE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. 'WE WANTED TO OFFER SOMETHING SUPREMELY SPECIAL FROM OUR CELLARS', NOTED ALEXANDRE GABRIEL, PRESIDENT/OWNER OF COGNAC FERRAND. 'WE CHOSE A BEAUTIFUL BOTTLE TO CONTAIN THIS RARE COGNAC, BUT, THE TASTE IS EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE BOTTLE.'

ST DUPONT SAMOURAI COLLECTION


THE ST DUPONT SAMOURAI COLLECTION IS THE LATEST LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION FROM ST DUPONT. THE COLLECTION IS INSPIRED BY EXCEPTIONAL WARRIORS OF JAPAN AND THE SUPERB SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR WEAPONS WHICH FEATURES DARK BLUE AND HINTS OF DEEP RED EVOKING NOBLE BLOOD. THE COLLECTION COMPRISES OF A NEO-CLASSIQUE LARGE AND PRESIDENT FOUNTAIN PEN, ROLLER AND BALLPOINT AND A LIGNE 2 LIGHTER. THE ITEMS HAVE A DARK BLACK RIBBON FINISH WITH A JAPANESE INSPIRED DESIGN AND WILL INCLUDE A UNIQUE SAMOURAI PRESTIGE LIGHTER AND PEN, ONLY EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHTY PIECES OF EACH ITEM WILL BE MADE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THE ST DUPONT BOUTIQUES.

10.10.10

ACQUIRES ALBERT MOORE STUDY FOR A SUMMER NIGHTWALKER GALLERY


AS THE END OF THE BRITISH SUMMER COMES TO A CONCLUSION STUDY FOR A SUMMER NIGHT', AN EXQUISITE DRAWING BY ENGLISH PAINTER ALBERT MOORE (1841-93), GOES ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE WALKER ART GALLERY FROM 13.OCTOBER TO 10.DECEMBER. THE DRAWING, ACQUIRED FOR THE GALLERY WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE ART FUND CHARITY, IS REUNITED WITH AN ACCOMPANYING PREPARATORY WATER COLOUR AND THE FINAL OIL PAINTING, BOTH FROM THE GALLERY'S PERMANENT COLLECTION. SEEN TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL THREE GIVE A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO MOORE'S WORKING METHODS AND HIS CONSTANT EXPERIMENTATION. THE DRAWING WAS THE EARLIEST IN THE SERIES, FOLLOWED BY THE WATERCOLOUR WITH THE FINAL OIL FINISHED AND EXHIBITED AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY IN 1890. MOORE LAID DOWN THE IDEAS IN THE INITIAL SKETCH AND USED THE WATERCOLOUR TO MARK UP A GRID SO THAT HE COULD SIZE UP THE STUDY TO OIL PAINTING DIMENSIONS. THE WORKS REVEAL MOORE MADE SEVERAL CHANGES TO THE COMPOSITION, BUT THAT THE VIVID COLOURS REMAINED CONSTANT: PRIMROSE YELLOW AND NOCTURNAL BLUE. AS A RENOWNED MEMBER OF THE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT, IN WHICH ARTISTS SOUGHT TO COMBINE COLOUR AND MOOD IN HARMONIOUS UNITY, MOORE'S INTENTION IN 'A SUMMER NIGHT' WAS TO 'PLEASE THE SENSES'. THE ART FUND IS THE NATIONAL FUND RAISING CHARITY FOR WORKS OF ART. THE FUND GAVE £5,000 TO HELP THE WALKER PURCHASE THE DRAWING IN 2009. STEPHAN DEAUCHAR, DIRECTOR OF THE ART FUND, SAID: 'THIS IS A WONDERFULLY ATMOSPHERIC DRAWING, FULL OF LIFE AND MOVEMENT. WE'RE THRILLED THAT THE SET OF THE THREE WORKS IS NOW COMPLETE, AND THAT THIS DRAWING CAN NOW BE ADMIRED ALONGSIDE THE WATERCOLOUR SKETCH AND FINAL PAINTING.' THE OIL PAINTING 'A SUMMER NIGHT' WAS BOUGHT BY LIVERPOOL COUNCIL IN 1890, WHICH OBTAINED IT WHEN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER BACKED OUT. BUSINESSMAN SIR RUSSELL-COTES HAD PLANNED TO DISPLAY IT IN THE RECEPTION OF HIS LARGE HOTEL IN BOURNEMOUTH BUT HIS WIFE OBJECTED TO THE NUDES. THE PAINTING WAS VERY DECORATIVE AND FULL OF DETAIL. THE COMPOSITION WAS INSPIRED BY GREEK CULTURE, PARTICULARLY THE PORTLAND VASE FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUM.

FENICE MILANO DIVA ROLLS-ROYCE


FENICE MILANO HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED THEIR NEW DIVA TUNING PROGRAM FOR THE ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST. THE STUNNING FENICE'S DIVA EDITION HAS REDRESSED THE GHOST HOOD, GRILLE, SIDE SILLS, WING MIRRORS AND MORE IN 24 CARAT GOLD, REPEATING THE TREATMENT INSIDE THE CABIN WHICH IS ALSO 'TREATED' TO LEATHER, ALCANTRA MICROSUEDE AND TEAK VENEER TRIM.

THE HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND ACQUIRES BOURNE WATERCOLOUR


THE HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND, BOSTON, MASS, RECENTLY ACQUIRED A PAINTING BY NEW ENGLAND ARTIST GERTRUDE BEALS BOURNE (1868-1962). THE BEAUTIFUL WATER COLOUR DEPICTS GERTRUDE BEALS BOURNE'S STUDIO, CREATED FOR HER BY HER HUSBAND, ARCHITECT FRANK BOURNE, IN 'SUNFLOWER CASTLE', THEIR HOUSE ON BOSTON'S BEACON HILL. THE BOURNES MOVED IN RIGHT AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE IN 1904 AND LIVED THERE UNTIL 1962. KNOWN FOR PAINTING GARDENS AND COLONIAL REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE, BOURNE'S WORK WAS SHOWN AT SUCH VENUES AS TE BOSTON ART CLUB, THE NEW YORK WATER COLOUR CLUB, THE AMERICAN WATER COLOUR CLUB, THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART, AND THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. THE VAST COLLECTIONS OF HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND'S LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES PROVIDE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTATION FOR NEW ENGLAND'S CULTURAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY. ITS HOLDINGS INCLUDE PHOTOGRAPHS, ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS, MANUSCRIPTS, EPHEMERA, PRINTS AND ENGRAVINGS, ARTWORK AND BOOKS. VISIT HistoricNewEngland.org TO EXPLORE THE ONLINE COLLECTION OF MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND MORE. HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND IS THE OLDEST, LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL HERITAGE ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION. THE FACILITY BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE WHILE PRESERVING THE PAST FOR EVERYONE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THE AUTHENTIC NEW ENGLAND EXPERIENCE FROM THE 17th CENTURY TO TODAY. HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND OWNS AND OPERATED 36 HISTORIC HOMES AND LANDSCAPES SPANNING FIVE STATES. THE ORGANIZATION SHARES THE REGION'S HISTORY THROUGH VAST COLLECTIONS, PUBLICATIONS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS, MUSEUM PROPERTIES, ARCHIVES AND FAMILY STORIES THAT DOCUMENT MORE THAN 400 YEARS OF LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND.