4.12.10

REMBRANDT HOUSE MUSEUM PRESENTS CARAVAGGIO PAINTING


THE REMBRANDT HOUSE MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM, IS EXHIBITING AN ALMOST UNKNOWN PAINTING BY THE ITALIAN ARTIST CARAVAGGIO FROM 3.DECEMBER TO 13.FEBRUARY.2011. ST JOHN THE BAPTIST RECLINING COMES FROM A FOREIGN PRIVATE COLLECTION AND HAS INCREASINGLY BEEN ACCEPTED AS AN AUTHENTIC CARAVAGGIO BY EXPERTS SINCE ITS DISCOVERY IN 1976. THEY ALSO CONSIDER THE PAINTING TO BE THE VERY LAST WORK BY THE RENOWNED ITALIAN MASTER AND DATE IT TO 1610. THE WORK OF ART WILL BE SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME EXACTLY FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AFTER IT WAS PAINTED. THE PAINTING WILL BE EXHIBITED IN AN ICONIC SPACE: REMBRANDT'S STUDIO. REMBRANDT IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS CARAVAGGIO'S TRUE ARTISTIC HEIR. THE ARTISTS' POWERFUL DEPICTIONS OF STRONG EMOTIONS, DRAMATIC LIGHTING AND ASTONISHING REALISM SET THEM APART AS THE TWO GREAT GENIUSES OF BAROQUE PAINTING.

3.12.10

WHITE HOUSE UNVEILES HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD WHITE HOUSE


MICHELLE OBAMA AND WHITE HOUSE CHEF BILL YOSSES UNVEILED THE 2010 WHITE CHOCOLATE GINGERBREAD WHITE HOUSE WHICH, LIKE LAST YEAR'S, FEATURES MARZIPAN REPLICAS OF THE OBAMA FAMILY DOG BO, AND A WHITE HOUSE KITCHEN GARDEN. THE THEME FOR THE WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS 2010 IS 'SIMPLE GIFTS'. THE GINGERBREAD WHITE HOUSE WEIGHS 350 POUNDS AND 30 POUNDS OF HONEY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE BEEHIVE WAS USED TO MAKE THE GINGERBREAD. THIS YEAR'S HOUSE HAS CUTOUTS TO SHOW THE EAST ROOM AND THE STATE DINING ROOM. THE FIRST LADY ALSO DECORATED COOKIES WITH CHILDREN FROM MILITARY FAMILIES. THE SIMPLE GIFTS THEME IS SHOWN IN SOME OF THE DISPLAYS WHICH FOCUS ON CAPTURING A HOMESPUN CHARM. OTHER DECORATION INCLUDE MAGNOLIA AND OAK LEAF GARLANDS, AND PAPER WHITE FLOWER BLOSSOMS AND A 'MILITARY APPRECIATION TREE' DECORATED TO HONOR THE FIVE BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY IN THE EAST WING VISITOR'S ENTRANCE; WREATHS MADE OF NATURAL MATERIALS SUCH AS ORANGES, PEARS AND DRIED FLOWERS IN THE EAST COLONNADE; WHITE POINSETTIA TREES IN GARDEN PLANTERS AND GARLANDS OF WHITE POINSETTIAS IN TURQUOISE, PURPLE GREEN AND GOLD WITH A BIRD AND FLORAL THEME IN THE EAST ROOM; AND IN THE BLUE ROOM, THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS TREE, AN 18.5 FOOT DOUGLAS FIR ANCHORED TO THE CEILING TO KEEP IT FROM TIPPING OVER, WITH A THEME HONORING COUNTY AND STATE FAIRS.

WESTIN ST FRANCIS DISPLAYS SUGAR PALACE FOR HOLIDAYS


THE ICONIC WESTIN ST FRANCIS IN SAN FRANCISCO HAS CREATED A STUNNING EPICUREAN DELIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS, A 12 FOOT SUGAR CASTLE. IT WAS CREATED BY EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF, JEAN-FRANCOIS HOUDRE AND IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST SUGAR CASTLES. THE ROTATING MASTERPIECE IS DISPLAYED IN THE HISTORIC LANDMARK'S LOBBY. IT WAS INSPIRED BY A FRENCH CHATEAU FROM CHEF HOUDRE'S HOMETOWN OF BORDEAUX AND WEIGHS MORE THAN 1,200 POUNDS. THE CASTLE HAS MORE THAN 20 GRAND CIRCULAR TOWERS, APPROXIMATELY 30 ROOMS AND ILLUMINATED WINDOWS SURROUNDED BY SILVER SUGAR TREES, STARS AND SNOWFLAKES MADE OUT OF PASTILLAGE, CHOCOLATE BALLS IN BRILLIANT HOLIDAY COLOURS AND ELVES CONSTRUCTED OUT OF MARZIPAN. THE MAIN LOBBY OF THE HOTEL IS DECORATED WITH A 15 FOOT, GLIMMERING WHITE AND SILVER HOLIDAY TREE DECORATED IN ENERGY SAVING LED LIGHTS THAT DISPLAY CHANGING COLOURS. THE TOWER LOBBY HAS AN 18 FOOT TALL TREE AND THE FRONT DESK IS DECORATED WITH CLUSTERS OF BEAUTIFUL METALLIC APPLE GREEN AND GOLD GARLAND, PATCHES OF SNOW AND CLUSTERS OF DRIPPING LED ICICLE LIGHTS ADORNING THE LENGTH OF THE OVERHANG. THE SUGAR CASTLE WILL BE ON DISPLAY 24.NOVEMBER THROUGH 3.JANUARY.2011.

2.12.10

DITA VON TEESE COINTREAU COFFERT


INTERNATIONAL GLAMOUR GIRL AND ICONIC BURLESQUE QUEEN DITA VON TEESE IS ALSO THE FACE OF COINTREAU. NOW THE WORLD RENOWN CELEBRITY KNOWN FOR HER FAMOUS RETRO STYLE AND PROVOCATIVE PERFORMANCES IS TEAMING UP WITH COINTREAU FOR A SPECIAL HOLIDAY 2010 GIFT SET, THE COINTREAU COFFERT. THE DITA VON TEESE'S COCKTAIL COFFERT AND BOUDOIR SET IS A GIRLY PINK BOX THAT HOLDS A BOTTLE OF COINTREAU, TWO COCKTAIL GLASSES AND A CUSTOM DESIGNED SHAKER. THE POWDER PINK AND PEARL BOX HAS A MIRROR AND A TRAPDOOR FOR CONCEALING OTHER TREASURES. IT SELLS FOR $299.

LEE HARVEY OSWALD'S TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION


FOR THE JFK-ASSASSINATION CONSPIRACY JUNKIE WHO HAS EVERYTHING: LEE HARVEY OSWALD'S COFFIN, BODY NOT INCLUDED. A LOS ANGELES AUCTION HOUSE SAID ON TUESDAY IT WOULD SELL THE SIMPLE PINE COFFIN IN WHICH THE SUSPECTED ASSASSIN OF PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY WAS BURIED FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. BIDDING WILL START AT $1,000, BUT THE ITEM IS EXPECTED TO FETCH STRONG INTEREST FROM MUSEUMS AND COLLECTORS OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORABILIA WHEN IT GOES ON THE BLOCK ON 16.DECEMBER. 'THERE'S JUST A LOT OF INTEREST IN KENNEDY AND ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIS ASSASSINATION', SAID LAURA YNTEMA, AUCTION MANAGER AT SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA-BASED NATE D SANDERS. THE COFFIN WAS UNEARTHED IN OCTOBER 1981 AFTER A LEGAL DISPUTE BETWEEN OSWALD'S WIDOW, MARINA, AND HIS BROTHER, ROBERT. MARINA SUCCESSFULLY SOUGHT AN EXHUMATION TO TEST A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT A LOOKALIKE RUSSIAN AGENT HAD BEEN BURIED IN HER HUSBAND'S PLACE, ACCORDING TO THE AUCTION HOUSE. A MEDICAL EXAM SHOWED THE BADLY DECOMPOSED BODY WAS INDEED OSWALD'S, AND HE WAS RETURNED TO SHANNON ROSE HILL MEMORIAL PARK IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, IN A NEW CASKET. THE ORIGINAL COFFIN, WHICH HAD SUFFERED EXTENSIVE WATER DAMAGE, IS BEING SOLD BY BAUMGARDNER FUNERAL HOME, THE LOCAL UNDERTAKER WHICH HANDLED THE RE-INTERNMENT.

1.12.10

PICTURE BOUGHT JUST FOR FRAME SELLS FOR $78,000


A STUNNING WATERCOLOUR OF CANADIAN INDIAN TOTEMS SOLD AT BONHAMS IN TORONTO RECENTLY FOR $78,000, COMPLETING A HUGE ROUND-TRIP THAT TOOK THE PICTURE PAINTED IN WESTERN CANADA TO THE WEST COUNTRY IN ENGLAND, AND THEN BACK TO CANADA. CHARLES LANNING, BONHAMS REGIONAL DIRECTOR IN DEVON, SAYS: 'THE PICTURE WAS BROUGHT TO US AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED FOR ITS FRAME AT A LOCAL DEVON AUCTION. WHEN THE BUYER TOOK IT HOME HE RESEARCHED THE ARTIST AND FELT IT MIGHT BE MORE INTERESTING THAN HE HAD REALIZED. WE DECIDED TO SELL THIS CHARMING WATERCOLOUR PAINTED BY WALTER J PHILLIPS, TITLED THE HOH-HOK HOUSEPOSTS AT KARLOKWEES, IN OUR CANADIAN ART SALE. IT WAS THE OBVIOUS PLACE TO SELL AS THE ARTIST HAS A REPUTATION IN NORTH AMERICA. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BONHAMS INTERNATIONAL REACH. THE CLIENT IS DELIGHTED WITH THE RESULT, ESPECIALLY AS HE ONLY PAID A FEW POUNDS FOR SOMETHING PRICED TO SELL FOR ITS FRAME.' WRITING IN WET PAINT HIS UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT ON WATERCOLOUR TECHNIQUE, PHILLIPS WAS TAKEN WITH THE VILLAGE KARLUKWEES, '...NEVER HAVE I SEEN A MORE DELECTABLE SKETCHING GROUND...I REGRETTED LEAVING THE COAST, AND I LONG TO RETURN.' PAINTED IN THE LATE 1920s, WHILE TRAVELING ON THE PACIFIC COAST, THE WATERCOLOUR WOULD BE TRANSLATED INTO THE SECOND WOOD CARVING IN HIS 1930 PORTFOLIO, AN ESSAY IN WOODCUTS. THE PICTURE WAS USED ON THE FRONT COVER OF THE BONHAMS CATALOG FOR THE CANADIAN ART SALE.

BEIJING ARTIST XU LEI DESIGNS NEW MOUTON ROTHSCHILD LABEL


MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD HAS RECENTLY ASKED A BEIJING ARTIST, XU LEI, TO DESIGN THE LABEL FOR ITS 2008 VINTAGE, IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GEORGES BRAQUE, SALVADOR DALI OR JOAN MIRO. KEPT UNDER WRAPS UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT, THE PREDOMINANTLY BLUE PAINTING FEATURES A RAM STANDING ON A ROCK AND WAS CHOSEN BY BARONESS PHILIPPINE DE ROTHSCHILD, OWNER OF THE FRENCH CHATEAU AND A PATRON OF THE ARTS. THE BARONESS' FATHER PHILIPPE FIRST ENLISTED AN ARTIST TO DESIGN MOUTON'S LABEL IN 1924, AND EVERY LABEL SINCE 1945 HAS FEATURED A NEW WORK OF ART. THE ARTISTS RECEIVE 10 CASES OF WINE IN LIEU OF MONEY FOR PAYMENT. XU IS THE ART DIRECTOR OF THE TODAY ART MUSEUM, A MAJOR BEIJING CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM. 'IT'S ABOVE ALL ELSE A PERSONAL CHOICE RATHER THAN A COMMERCIAL CHOICE', HERVE BERLAND, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD, TOLD AFP IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. HE SAID THE BARONESS 'GIVES A CHANCE TO ARTIST FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES...CHINA HAS BECOME A MAJOR CONSUMER OF FINE WINE, SO IT SEEMS NATURAL TO SELECT A CHINESE ARTIST.' THE 2008 VINTAGE, STILL RESTING IN MOUTON'S CELLARS IN PAUILLAC IN FRANCE, WILL ARRIVE ON SHOP SHELVES IN FRANCE IN JANUARY AND IN ASIA AND AMERICA IN FEBRUARY.

SOTHEBY'S SELLS DUCHESS OF WINDSOR JEWEL COLLECTION


TONIGHT AT SOTHEBY'S, A GROUP OF 20 EXCEPTIONAL JEWELS AND PRECIOUS OBJECTS FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR WERE PRESENTED FOR SALE, SOME 23 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE LAST AUCTIONED IN THE LEGENDARY AUCTION OF 'JEWELS OF THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR', STILL THE MOST VALUABLE SINGLE-OWNER JEWELRY COLLECTION EVER SOLD. THE 20 PIECES, WHICH WERE ANNOUNCED FOR SALE BACK IN JULY OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE SINCE TRAVELED TO ASIA, THE MIDDLE EAST, RUSSIA AND THE US AND WHICH ALSO INCLUDE SOME SIGNATURE PIECES FROM THE 1987 SALE, BROUGHT A TOTAL OF £7,975,550, A FIGURE WELL IN EXCESS OF PRE-SALE EXPECTATIONS OF £2,906,000-4,211,000. IN 1987 THE 20 PIECES HAD BEEN ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £197,531-268,189. SPEAKING AFTER THE SALE, DAVID BENNETT, CHAIRMAN OF SOTHEBY'S JEWELRY IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST, SAID: 'IT HAS BEEN AN IMMENSE PLEASURE TO BRING ONCE AGAIN TO SALE THESE JEWELS WORN BY A WOMAN WHO WAS A LEADER OF FASHION AND THE EPITOME OF ELEGANCE AND SOPHISTICATION FOR HER GENERATION AND BEYOND. THE COLLECTION COMPRISED NOT ONLY MASTERPIECES OF 20th CENTURY JEWELRY BY CARTIER, BUT ALSO PIECES WHOSE INTIMATE INSCRIPTIONS TELL THE STORY OF PERHAPS THE GREATEST LOVE STORY OF THE 20th CENTURY, THE ROMANCE THAT LED EDWARD VIII TO ABDICATE THE THRONE OF GREAT BRITAIN. WHEREVER WE HAVE EXHIBITED THE JEWELS IN RECENT MONTHS, WHETHER IT BE MOSCOW, NEW YORK, HONG KONG OR THE MIDDLE EAST, THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY; AND THE WINDSOR COLLECTION HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO A NEW AUDIENCE OF BUYERS. BY FAR AND AWAY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SALE WAS LOT #19, THE ONYX AND DIAMOND PANTHER BRACELET BY CARTIER, PARIS IN 1952, WHICH SOLD FOR £4,521,250, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £1-1.5 MILLION. THE PRICE ESTABLISHES A NEW RECORD FOR CARTIER AT AUCTION AND ALSO FOR ANY BRACELET AT AUCTION. THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF THE EVENING WAS FOR LOT #20, THE RUBY, SAPPHIRE, EMERALD, CITRINE AND DIAMOND FLAMINGO CLIP, MOUNTED BY CARTIER, PARIS, 1940, CREATED BY JEANNE TOUSSAINT FOR CARTIER. ESTIMATED AT £1-1.5 MILLION, THE SPECTACULAR BROOCH WAS PURCHASED BY COLLECTION CARTIER FOR £1,721,250. AND, LOT #17, THE DIAMOND BRACELET BY CARTIER WHICH SUPPORTS NINE GEM-SET LATIN CROSSES, EACH REPRESENTING SPECIAL MOMENTS OF THE DUCHESS'S LIFE DURING THE YEARS 1934-44, A JEWEL OF GREAT PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ONE OF HER FAVORITE PIECES, BROUGHT £601,250 AGAINST AN ESTIMATE OF £350,000-450,000.

30.11.10

PALAZZO VECCIO PRESENTS DAMIEN HIRST'S DIAMOND ENCRUSTED SKULL


THE DIAMOND ENCRUSTED SKULL, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, BY BRITISH ARTIST DAMIEN HIRST, WHICH GAINED ICONIC STATUS FOLLOWING ITS FIRST EXHIBITION IN 2007, IS ON DISPLAY AT PALAZZO VECCIO IN FLORENCE FROM 26.NOVEMBER TO 1.MAY.2011. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IS A LIFE-SIZE CAST OF A HUMAN SKULL IN PLATINUM, ENTIRELY COVERED BY 8,601 VVS TO FLAWLESS PAVE-SET DIAMONDS, WEIGHING A TOTAL OF 1,106.18 CARATS. SET INTO THE FOREHEAD IS A LARGE PEAR SHAPED PINK DIAMOND, KNOWN AS THE SKULL STAR DIAMOND. THE TEETH ARE THOSE OF THE ORIGINAL SKULL, WHICH WAS PURCHASED BY HIRST IN LONDON, AND DATES BACK TO THE 18th CENTURY. THE WORK STANDS IN THE GREAT TRADITION OF THE 'MEMENTO MORI', WHERE AN IMAGE OR OBJECT SERVES TO REMIND US OF OUR MORTALITY. DUTCH ART HISTORIAN RUDI FUCHS, WRITING ABOUT THE WORK IN 2007, OBSERVED: 'THE SKULL IS OUT OF THIS WORLD, CELESTIAL ALMOST. IT PROCLAIMS VICTORY OVER DECAY. AT THE SAME TIME IT REPRESENTS DEATH AS SOMETHING INFINITELY MORE RELENTLESS. COMPARED TO THE TEARFUL SADNESS OF A VANITAS SCENE, THE DIAMOND SKULL IS GLORY ITSELF.' PRIOR TO THE EXHIBITION IN FLORENCE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD HAS ONLY BEEN SHOWN TWICE. FOLLOWING ITS INAUGURAL EXHIBITION AT WHITE CUBE IN LONDON, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WAS EXHIBITED AT THE RIJKSMUSUEM IN AMSTERDAM, WHERE IT ATTRACTED OVER 250,000 VISITORS.

271 UNKNOWN PICASSO ARTWORKS RECENTLY UNVEILED


PABLO PICASSO WAS BOTH HIGHLY PROLIFIC AND INFAMOUSLY GENEROUS WITH GIFTING HIS WORKS, BUT WAS HE ENOUGH OF A FREE SPIRIT TO GIVE AWAY HUNDREDS OF HIS ICONIC EARLY WORKS, AN INVALUABLE COLLECTION, TO HIS ELECTRICIAN. THAT QUESTION LIES AT THE HEART OF A COURT CASE OVER THE ORIGIN OF 271 PICASSO WORKS, A TREASURE TROVE OF ORIGINAL SKETCHES, PAINTINGS AND COLLAGES THAT WAS UNKNOWN TO THE ART WORLD A FEW MONTHS AGO AND UNVEILED FOR THE PUBLIC MONDAY. EXPERTS HAVE YET TO APPRAISE THE FULL COLLECTION, WHICH HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER LOCK AND KEY AFTER A JUDICIAL APPEAL BY PICASSO'S HEIRS. BUT THERE IS LITTLE DISPUTE SO FAR OVER ITS AUTHENTICITY. THE WORKS, MANY OF WHICH BELONG TO THE ARTIST'S BLUE AND CUBIST PERIODS, COULD FETCH MORE THAN $80 MILLION AT AUCTION. MOST MYSTERIOUS IS HOW SUCH AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION COULD HAVE WOUND UP IN THE HANDS OF A RETIRED ELECTRICIAN IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WHO ONCE WORKED FOR THE PICASSO FAMILY, OR WHY HE CHOSE TO HOLD ONTO IT FOR SO MANY DECADES. 'WE HAVE QUESTIONS, LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE THE PAINTINGS CAME FROM', CLAUDE ANDRIEU, LEGAL COUNCIL FOR THE PICASSO FOUNDATION, TOLD REUTERS TELEVISION. 'WE ARE DISCOVERING NEW PIECES, COMPLETELY UNKNOWN PIECES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN PRINTED IN ANY BOOK.' THE MYSTERY BEGAN WHEN CLAUDE PICASSO, SON OF THE ARTIST AND HEAD OF THE FOUNDATION NAMED AFTER HIM, RECEIVED A LETTER FROM A MAN WHO SAID HE OWNED ORIGINAL PICASSO PICASSO PIECES AND WANTED TO HAVE THEM VERIFIED FOR AUTHENTICITY. PICASSO CONVINCED THE MAN TO BRING THE COLLECTION TO PARIS, SAYING HE WOULD BE UNABLE TO VERIFY IT FROM PHOTOGRAPHS. THE MAN ARRIVED BY CAR WITH THE PAINTINGS IN A SUITCASE AND LAID THEM ON A TABLE. 'I FELT A GREAT SURPRISE, NATURALLY, LOTS OF EMOTION AT THE DISCOVERY OF PIECES WITH WHICH WE WERE NOT FAMILIAR. BUT ALSO A DEEP DISTURBANCE', HE TOLD FRENCH DAILY LIBERATION. 'MANY OF THESE PIECES WERE NOT DATED, WHICH MEANS THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE STUDIO.' THE MAN IN QUESTION IS PIERRE LE GUENNEC, AN ELECTRICIAN IN HIS SEVENTIES WHO WORKED ON PICASSO'S PROPERTY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE DURING THE 1970s. HE TOLD REUTERS TELEVISION THAT PICASSO'S WIFE GAVE HIM THE ARTWORKS. 'IT'S MADAME (PICASSO) WHO GAVE THEM. BUT IF MADAME GAVE THEM, MONSIEUR WAS AWARE OF IT. SHE WASN'T GOING TO DO IT JUST LIKE THAT, WAS SHE?' HE SAID, SPEAKING THROUGH A GATE IN FRONT OF HIS PROPERTY. 'WHAT DID YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH THEM?...THEY STAYED IN A BOX WITH OTHER BOXES THAT I HAVE, FROM MY JOB.' YET PICASSO'S HEIRS ARE NOT CONVINCED WITH HIS EXPLANATIONS. WHILE THE ARTIST WAS KNOWN TO DASH OUT SKETCHES ON NAPKINS AT RESTAURANTS AND MAKE SPONTANEOUS GIFTS TO FRIENDS, HE WOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED WITH SUCH A LARGE STORE OF WORK, HIS SON TOLD LIBERATION. 'IT DOESN'T HOLD UP, FRANKLY', PICASSO SAID. ANDRIEU OF THE PICASSO FOUNDATION SAID THAT LE GUENNEC HAD CHANGED HIS STORY MANY TIMES, FIRST TELLING THEM HE HAD RECEIVED THE PAINTINGS FROM PICASSO HIMSELF, THEN PICASSO'S WIFE, AND ALTERNATELY IN A BOX OR A TRASH CAN. QUESTIONED BY POLICE, HE SAID THE PAINTINGS WERE GIVEN TO HIM BY PICASSO'S WIFE, WHO DIED IN 1986. LE GUENNEC DENIED STEALING THE PAINTINGS AND TOLD RTL RADIO HE DECIDED TO ASK ABOUT THEIR VALUE AS A POSSIBLE INHERITANCE FOR HIS CHILDREN. UNWILLING TO RISK LOSING THE WORKS, PICASSO'S HEIRS SUCCESSFULLY APPEALED TO A JUDGE TO HAVE THE WORKS PLACED UNDER LOCK AND KEY, WHERE EXPERTS CAN STUDY AND CARE FOR THEM. AMONG THE WORKS ARE NINE EXTREMELY RARE CUBIST COLLAGES, A WATERCOLOUR FROM PICASSO'S BLUE PERIOD, SEVERAL PAINTED HAND STUDIES, SOME 30 LITHOGRAPHS AND OVER 200 DRAWINGS, AS WELL AS PORTRAITS OF THE ARTIST'S FIRST WIFE, OLGA KHOKHLOVA. 'MR PICASSO IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF ART', ANDRIEU SAID. 'WE GOT THE PIECES SECURED, AND NOW IT IS FOR THE JUDGE TO DETERMINE HOW THE PIECES WERE OBTAINED.'

29.11.10

BONHAMS SELLS MINIATURE PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH I FOR £40,800


BONHAMS ANNOUNCED THAT A PORTRAIT MINIATURE OF ELIZABETH I EXCEEDED THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £15,000 - £20,000, TO SELL FOR £40,800 IN THE FINE PORTRAIT MINIATURES SALE HELD AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE ON 24.NOVEMBER, WITH A TOTAL SALE REALIZING £371,000. THE PORTRAIT WAS PAINTED BY ONE OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S FAVORITE MINIATURISTS, NICHOLAS HILLIARD, WHO CHOSE TO SPECIFICALLY CONCENTRATE ON HER COSTUME AND JEWELRY, WHILST ALWAYS PAINTING THE QUEEN'S FACE SIMPLY AND YOUTHFULLY. A SMART OFFICER WEARING A RED COATEE, PAINTED BY THE ARTIST JOHN SMART DURING HIS TIME IN INDIA IN 1794, WAS ALSO ONE OF THE TOP LOTS OF TE SALE, REALIZING £24,000. FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED A PORTRAIT MINIATURE BY HORACE HONE OF SARAH SIDDONS, A BRITISH ACTRESS WHO FOUND FAME ON DRURY LANE FOR HER PORTRAYAL OF LADY MACBETH AND BECAME THE BEST KNOWN TRAGEDIENNE OF THE 18th CENTURY. THE PORTRAIT SOLD FOR £12,000 AGAINST A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £6,000 – 8,000.

HARRODS' HOLIDAY HAMPER 2010


WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOLIDAYS FEW PUT TOGETHER A MORE APPEALING PACKAGE OF EDIBLE NECESSITIES THAN HARRODS. FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON THEY HAVE THE USUAL VARIETY OF SMALL TO LARGE PICNIC HAMPERS AVAILABLE, BUT THEIR TOP OFFERING THAT'S NEW FOR 2010 IS THE VINTAGE COLLECTION HAMPER. INSPIRED BY THEIR 'VINTAGE CHRISTMAS' THEME, THIS YEAR THE HAMPER INCLUDES FOUR BOTTLES OF WINE/CHAMPAGNE PLUS A HAM, SALAMI, FOIE GRAS, SMOKED SALMON, CAVIAR, TWO CHEESES, COCKTAIL BLINIS, BISCUITS, AND AN OLIVE WOOD CUTTING BOARD. IT'S NOT ONE OF THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE HAMPERS THAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER, LAST YEARS HOLIDAY HAMPER WAS £5,000, BUT IF YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF CLASSIC, TRIED AND TRUE ENGLISH FARE YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY HAMPER, WHICH IS PRICED AT £450.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.harrods.com

28.11.10

'MY PASSION FOR DESIGN' BY BARBRA STREISAND


IT'S NOT EXACTLY OPENING YOUR HOME TO GUESTS AT A HOLIDAY PARTY, BUT FOR THE ICONIC HOLLYWOOD LEGEND BARBRA STREISAND AND HER FANS, IT'S PRETTY CLOSE. THIS WEEK STREISAND HAS SEEN HER FIRST BOOK LAND IN STORES, BUT IT'S NO MEMOIR OF STAR TURNS IN FILMS SUCH AS 'FUNNY GIRL' OR 'THE WAY WE WERE', NOR DOES IT RECOUNT THE MAKING OF ALBUMS THAT HAVE SOLD OVER 71 MILLION COPIES. FOR HER DEBUT AS AN AUTHOR, STREISAND HAS INSTEAD WRITTEN ABOUT HER LOVE OF ARCHITECTURE, ART, FURNITURE AND LANDSCAPING IN 'MY PASSION FOR DESIGN'. BUT DON'T BE FOOLED BY ITS TITLE BECAUSE WITHIN THE PAGES, THE STAR TELLS TALES FROM HER LIFE AND CARRIER THAT INFLUENCED THE CHOICES SHE MADE IN DESIGNING HER DREAM HOME IN MALIBU, CALIFORNIA. 'I THINK IT MAKES IT MORE INTERESTING', SHE TOLD REUTERS ABOUT THE BOOK'S FIRST PERSON STYLE. 'PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING ME TO WRITE NY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE YET AND BE THAT PERSONAL. I GUESS IT CREPT INTO MY OWN WRITING.' THE COFFEE TABLE BOOK FROM VIKING PUBLISHERS TAKES READERS ON STREISAND'S YEARS LONG JOURNEY PLANNING, BUILDING AN FURNISHING THE COMPOUND THAT RESEMBLES A 19th CENTURY NEW ENGLAND FARM WITH A BARN, MILL HOUSE, MAIN HOUSE, GRANDMA'S HOUSE AND EVEN A CHICKEN COOP. IT IS NOT THE FIRST HOUSE THE SINGER HAS DESIGNED FOR HERSELF. IN FACT, IT FOLLOWS SEVERAL OTHERS INCLUDING AN ART DECO THEMED HOUSE, AND HER NEW YORK CITY APARTMENTS. BUT IT IS THE HOME IN WHICH STREISAND AND HER HUSBAND JAMES BROLIN SPEND MOST ALL THEIR TIME AND IT IS, IN A WORD, RATHER COMFY. ADDING TO THE BOOK'S PERSONAL TOUCHES, AVID PHOTOGRAPHER STREISAND TOOK MOST ALL THE PICTURES HERSELF. IN THE INTRODUCTION, READERS LEARN STREISAND LIKES TO SPEND HER MORNINGS IN BED, WITH HER DOG SAMANTHA AT HER FEET. IT IS THERE THAT SHE WRITES, READS, EATS AND EVEN TRADES STOCKS. 'IT'S A WAY OF GAMBLING WITHOUT HAVING TO GET DRESSED', STREISAND WRITES. SHE SAID SHE DOESN'T KNOW EXACTLY FROM WHERE SHE DERIVED HER LOVE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN, BUT ADDS IT CERTAINLY WASN'T FROM HER MOTHER, WHO COVERED THEIR FURNITURE IN PLASTIC WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD TO KEEP IT FROM GETTING DAMAGED. IN STREISAND'S MALIBU HOME, NOTHING IS SHEATHED. THE BOOKS IS DIVIDED INTO SEPARATE SECTIONS COVERING THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES WITHIN THE COMPOUND. SHE STARTS IN THE CHICKEN COOP, WHERE SHE HOUSES HENS WHO LAY EGGS, AND SHE COVERS THE GARDENS WHERE SHE GROWS HER OWN VEGETABLES. HER 'BARN' IS A HOME, REALLY, NO STALLS FOR LIVESTOCK, BUT STREISAND IS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT SHE DOESN'T LIVE THERE. THE MAIN HOUSE IS HER HOME. 'BUILDING THE BARN WAS LIKE COMPLETING AN ART PROJECT', SHE WRITES. THE DESIGN STYLES SPAN ROUGHLY THREE CENTURIES, FROM THE 18th THROUGH THE 20th, BUT THE COMMON THEME IS A LOVE OF AMERICANA. THERE IS HER 'FEDERAL LOUNGE', THAT LOOKS LIKE A TOWNHOUSE IN WASHINGTON DC, HER 'BEE'S DOLL SHOP', WHICH HOUSE HER DOLL COLLECTION, AND THE ANTIQUE CLOTHES SHOP, WHICH SHOWS OFF HER LOVE OF VINTAGE CLOTHING. 'IT REPRESENTS ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF MY PERSONALITY', SHE SAID OF THE ROOMS AND THEIR VARIOUS STYLES. IN ADDITION TO DESIGN, STREISAND ALSO HAS A PASSION FOR RAISING MONEY TO HELP FUND RESEARCH FOR HEART DISEASE IN WOMEN, WHICH SHE SAID HAS IMPACTED HER OWN FAMILY. SHE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A $10 MILLION FUND-RAISING EFFORT BENEFITING THE WOMEN'S HEART CENTER AT THE CEDARS-SINAI HEART INSTITUTE.

JOHN GALLIANO FOR CLARIDGE'S CHRISTMAS 2010


FASHION DESIGNER JOHN GALLIANO HAS REVEALED HIS STUNNING NEW CHRISTMAS TREE DESIGN FOR CLARIDGE'S CHRISTMAS 2010. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THE DIOR DESIGNER HAS CREATED A TREE FOR THE ICONIC LONDON HOTEL. THIS YEAR'S DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY THE OCEAN. THE 'UNDER THE SEA' CHRISTMAS TREE IS A SEASCAPE FANTASIA WITH SILVER LAVES, PINK CORAL, SEA HORSES, FISH, ANEMONES, STARFISH AND JELLY FISH. THE TELEGRAPH REPORTS THAT THE TREE WAS UNVEILED AT A DINNER THAT WAS HOSTED BY MODEL STELLA TENNANT AND THE CEO OF CHRISTIAN DIOR, SIDNEY TOLEDANO, TO MARK THE OPENING OF DIOR'S NEW LONDON BOUTIQUE ON NEW BOND STREET.