25.12.10

MERRY CHRISTMAS


I WISH ALL OF YOU MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND FOLLOWERS A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! MAY THIS CHRISTMAS BE FULL OF NEVER FAILING KINDNESS, BEAUTY AND THE WARMTH OF LOVE...

24.12.10

PINEL & PINEL FOR RICOLA


RICOLA CONFECTIONERY KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR ITS DELICACIES HAS RECENTLY TEAMED UP WITH LUXURY LEATHER GOODS MAKER PINEL & PINEL FOR A STUNNING COLLECTION OF 11 TRUNKS FOR RICOLA CANDY. WITH THE HOLIDAY JUST AROUND THE CORNER, IT MAKES SENSE TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL LEATHER TRUNK TO ENCASE 11 JARS OF RICOLA CANDY. THE ONE IN THE CENTER IS AN EXTRA LARGE FEATURING A 'BLIND TEST' DRAWER JUST BELOW IT. AN ABSOLUTE GIFT FOR ANY CANDY LOVER, IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN A LIMITED EDITION. THE BEES WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE RICOLA TRUNK BY PINEL & PINEL AS THE COMPANY INTENDS TO DONATE PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THE TRUNKS TO THE LAND OF BEES ASSOCIATION THAT FIGHTS FOR PRESERVATION OF THE SPECIES IN EUROPE.

23.12.10

MCM/ASSOULINE TRAVEL TRUNK



RECENTLY LUXURY DESIGNER MCM AND SPECIALTY PUBLISHER ASSOULINE COLLABORATED TO CREATE A STUNNING TRAVEL TRUNK FOR ASSOULINE'S 40 BOOK SIGNATURE MEMOIRES SERIES ON FASHION, ART AND DESIGN. THE TRUNK IS COVERED IN MCM's ICONIC SIGNATURE MONOGRAM CANVAS WITH BRASS ACCESSORIES. THE UNIQUE TRAVEL TRUNK IS AVAILABLE AT MCM BOUTIQUES AND ASSOULINE SHOPS WORLDWIDE AND IS PRICED AT $4,995

ABSOLUT 'KRINK'


TO MARK THE LAUNCH OF AN EXCEPTIONAL ABSOLUT LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE, ABSOLUT VODKA IS SET TO UNVEIL 'A WORK IN PROGRESS' WITH INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED NEW YORK ARTIST, KRINK AND ART, FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE, EXIT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1979, ABSOLUT HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF DESIGN AND CREATIVITY, SHARING ITS UNIQUE AND PIONEERING VISION OF THE WORLD THROUGH CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST EMINENT FIGURES, INCLUDING ANDY WARHOL, KEITH HARING AND MORE RECENTLY SPIKE JONZE AND JAY-Z. 'KRINK', AKA 'KR', IS ONE OF THE MOST VISIONARY AND INSPIRATIONAL STREET ARTISTS WORKING TODAY, AND IS ALSO THE CREATOR OF KRINK, A LINE OF THE FINEST QUALITY HANDMADE INKS AND MARKERS, USED BY ARTIST THE WORLD OVER. ORIGINALLY FROM QUEENS AND STILL BASED IN NEW YORK CITY, KRINK'S UNIQUE TECHNIQUE HAS ALMOST SINGLE-HANDEDLY POPULARIZED A GLOBAL OBSESSION WITH DRIPPING INK IN STREET ART. WITH THE BOTTLE AS HIS INSPIRATION, KRINK HAS CREATED FIFTEEN INDIVIDUAL CUSTOM-DESIGNED ABSOLUT LIMITED EDITION BOTTLES, WITH EACH 70cl BOTTLE BEING UNIQUELY CUSTOMIZED USING THE ARTIST'S SIGNATURE; KRINK INK, IN STRIKING BLACK, SILVER AND WHITE. STEPHEN TONER, EDITOR OF EXIT MAGAZINE SAID: 'EXIT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ABSOLUT SPANS THE PAST DECADE. BOTH SHARE A UNIQUE VISION OF IMAGINATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ARTISTS AND GROUNDBREAKING PROJECTS. THIS AUTUMN/WINTER ISSUE WE COMMISSIONED ONE OF EXIT'S FAVORITE STREET ARTISTS, KRINK, TO BRING HIS CREATIVE IDEAS TO LIFE AND MAKE THE PRESENT EXCEPTIONAL WITH HIS OWN INTERPRETATION OF THE ABSOLUT LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE.' THE ARTWORK CREATED FROM THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ABSOLUT, KRINK AND EXIT MAGAZINE WILL BE FEATURED ACROSS TWELVE PAGES OF EXIT MAGAZINE.

BOND NO. 9 CHANDELIER AMPHORA BOTTLE


INSPIRED BY THE IRRESISTIBLE CRYSTAL-CLEAR TEARDROP PRISM-BEAD CHANDELIERS GLEAMING LIKE AN EXPLOSION OF DIAMONDS INSIDE THE VINTAGE BOUTIQUES AND CLASSIC DEPARTMENT STORES. BOND NO. 9 NEW YORK HAS CREATED A STUNNING AND UNIQUE CHANDELIER. THE CHANDELIER AMPHORA FEATURES A BOTTLE DECORATED WITH FACETED, CHANDELIER-SIZED BEADS. THE CHANDELIER AMPHORA FRAGRANCE BOTTLE IS PRICED AT $2,500 AND IS SURE TO BECOME A TREASURED GIFT.

22.12.10

SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL CHRISTMAS TREE


IN CELEBRATION OF THE FESTIVE HOLIDAY SEASON, SWAROVSKI PRESENTED A 30 METER HIGH OUTDOOR CRYSTAL CHRISTMAS TREE AT STATUE SQUARE IN CENTRAL HONG KONG. INSPIRED BY URBAN EFFERVESCENCE, AND A LANDSCAPE DOMINATED BY SKYSCRAPERS AND BUILDINGS WITH A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS NUMBER OF WINDOWS, THE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL CHRISTMAS TREE TOWERS OVER 30 METERS. RHOMBAS-SHAPED MIRRORS IN SILVER AND GOLD, REMINISCENT OF WINDOW PANES, SHEATH THE TREE. THEY ARE EMBELLISHED WITH OVER 20 MILLION PIECES OF SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS. AT NIGHT, THE SWAROVSKI CHRISTMAS TREE DAZZLES BY MEANS OF INTERACTIVE LIGHTS FROM OVER 200 PIECES OF SWAROVSKI ANNUAL EDITION 2010 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS.

PIERRE HERME BOUCHE DE NOEL


THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, RENOWNED FRENCH PATISSIER PIERRE HERME ONCE AGAIN RULES THE FESTIVE HOLIDAY. THE 'PICASSO OF PASTRY' RE-ENACTS THE CLASSIC BOUCHE DE NOEL INTO A MODERN HIT OF CHOCOLATE BISCUITS LAYERED WITH LIGHT CHOCOLATE GANACHE. THE LOGS COME IN A SILVER BOX SPECIALLY DESIGNED BY LOUIS-MARIE DE CASTELBAJAC THAT UNFOLDS INTO A POSTER. THE STUNNING YULE LOG IS AVAILABLE AT ALL PIERRE HERME BOUTIQUES FOR AROUND $125.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE SWAROVSKI BOTTLES


BARCARDI IS OFFERING AT SIDNEY AIRPORT THE CHANCE TO BUY ONE OF ONLY FOUR BOMBAY SAPPHIRE BOTTLES HAND-DECORATED WITH THOUSANDS OF SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS. PRICED AT $3,960, EACH BOTTLE IS ENCRUSTED WITH OVER 10,000 CRYSTALS IN FOUR DIFFERENT SIZES AND COLOURS: AQUAMARINE, JET, CRISTAL AND LIGHT COLORADO TOPAZ. EACH OF THE CRYSTALLIZED BOTTLES OF BOMBAY SAPPHIRE COMES WITH ITS OWN WHITE LEATHER CASE AND WILL BE ON SALE IN TERMINAL 1 OF SYDNEY AIRPORT UNTIL 6.JANUARY.2011.

21.12.10

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, RETURNS EMBROIDERED PANEL


THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON, HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAS RETURNED TO THE MUSEO DIOCESANO TRIDENTINO (DIOCESAN MUSEUM OF TRENT, ITALY) AN EMBROIDERED PANEL, THE ENTOMBMENT OF SAINT VIGILIUS, FROM AROUND 1390-91. COMMISSIONED BY GEORGE OF LIECHTENSTEIN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS APPOINTMENT AS BISHOP PRINCE OF TRENT IN 1390, THE EMBROIDERY DEPICTS THE ENTOMBMENT OF SAINT VIGILIUS, THE THIRD BISHOP AND PATRON SAINT OF TRENT, AND THE DELIVERY OF THE NEWS OF HIS MARTYRDOM TO THE POPE AND EMPEROR THEODOSIUS. THE PROCESS OF RETURNING THE PANEL TO TEH MUSEO DIOCESANO BEGAN WHEN THE MFA LEARNED THAT THE WORK WAS PART OF THE SAINT VIGILIUS SERIES OF EMBROIDERED PANELS OWNED BY THE MUSEO. IN CELEBRATION OF ITS RETURN, THE MUSEO WILL UNVEIL THE EMBROIDERY AT A SPECIAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATION IN TRENT, WHEN THE WORK WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBITION 'GUIDED BY A STAR: THE LONG JOURNEY OF THE MAGI'. THE MFA PURCHASED THE EMBROIDERY IN 1946 FROM AN ITALIAN ART DEALER IN NEW YORK WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF ITS SUBJECT MATTER OR PROVENANCE. PRIOR TO THE ACQUISITION, CURATORIAL STAFF INQUIRED ABOUT ITS HISTORY AND WERE ONLY TOLD THAT A PREVIOUS OWNER HAD INHERITED IT ALONG WITH A LARGE COLLECTION OF OTHER ANTIQUE OBJECTS. THE MUSEUM HAD NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ITS PROVENANCE UNTIL 2008, WHEN DR EVELIN WETTER OF THE ABEGG-STIFTUNG CONTACTED THE MFA, INDICATING THAT THE PANEL WAS ONCE PART OF THE SAINT VIGILIUS SERIES. CURATORIAL RESEARCH BY THE MFA CONFIRMED THAT THE PANEL DID BELONG TO THAT SERIES. IN JUNE 2008, THE MFA CONTACTED THE MUSEO DIOCESANO TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ITS RETURN, WHICH CONCLUDED IN APRIL 2010 WITH THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT BY THE MFA, THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TRENT AND THE MUSEO DIOCESANO. THE TRANSFER FROM BOSTON TO TRENT IN NOVEMBER 2010 HAS ALLOWED FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NARRATIVE CYCLE OF THE LIFE OF SAINT VIGILIUS. THE SET OF EMBROIDERIES IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO THE TRENT REGION FOR ITS HISTORIC SUBJECT MATTER AND ITS ARTISTIC RARITY.

OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING RANGE FOR PRINCE WILLIAM AND CATHERINE MIDDLETON


HRH PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES AND MISS CATHERINE MIDDLETON HAVE APPROVED THE ROYAL COLLECTION'S RANGE OF CHINA COMMISSIONED TO COMMEMORATE THEIR ROYAL FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE ON 29.APRIL.2011. THE OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING RANGE INCLUDES A TANKARD (£35), EIGHT-INCH PLATE (£40) AND PILL BOX (£25) IN ENGLISH FINE BONE CHINA. EACH PIECE BEARS THE COUPLE'S ENTWINED INITIALS IN GOLD AND SILVER SURMOUNTED BY THE CORONET OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND THE WEDDING DATE. THE RANGE IS DECORATED WITH A PATTERN OF DOVES, WHITE RIBBONS AND HEARTS IN SILVER, GOLD AND GREY, SET AGAINST A PALE-GRAY STRIPED BACKGROUND. INSIDE THE TANKARD ARE ROWS OF TINY HEARTS AND TWO SILVER DOVES HOLDING A GOLD WEDDING RING. THE ROYAL WEDDING CHINA IS HANDMADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ROYAL COLLECTION IN STOKE-ON-TRENT USING METHODS THAT HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR OVER 250 YEARS. EACH ITEM IS INDIVIDUALLY DECORATED AND THEN EMBELLISHED WITH SEVERAL LAYERS OF BURNISHED GOLD AND PLATINUM BEFORE A FINAL LAYER OF GILDING IN 22 CARAT GOLD IS APPLIED BY HAND. ALL PIECES COME IN A PRESENTATION BOX AND ARE WRAPPED IN WHITE TISSUE-PAPER PRINTED WITH DESIGNS INSPIRED BY THE WALL HANGINGS IN CLARENCE HOUSE. THE OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING COMMEMORATIVE RANGE CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE, AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ROYAL COLLECTION SHOPS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WINDSOR CASTLE AND THE PALACE OF HOLLYROODHOUSE, AND WILL ALSO BE SOLD AT BALMORAL, HIGHGROVE AND SANDRINGHAM. ALL PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THE ROYAL WEDDING RANGE ARE DEDICATED TO THE ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST, A REGISTERED CHARITY. THE AIMS OF THE TRUST ARE THE CARE AND CONSERVATION OF THE ROYAL COLLECTION AND THE PROMOTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT THROUGH EXHIBITION, PUBLICATION, LOANS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

STOLEN ARTWORKS TO BE RETURNED


SIXTEEN PAINTINGS THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN AT VARIOUS TIMES FROM PRIVATE HOMES AND CHURCHES WILL BE BACK BY CHRISTMAS, TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. THE WORKS OF ART SEIZED BY POLICE IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE HOUSE OF A ROMAN DESIGNER AND 'AT LARGE WERE REPORTED STOLEN TO THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF ROME. IN HIS HOUSE WERE FOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHED 180 PAINTINGS FROM VARIOUS PERIODS, PURCHASED IN MARKETS AND FAIRS ACROSS ITALY, DURING A PERIOD OF OVER 30 YEARS. THE INVESTIGATION, SAID LT COL RAFFAELE MANCINO, STARTED BY THE REQUEST OF A COLLECTOR FROM ROME, WHO WANTED TO BUY A PAINTING BY THE SIENESE SCHOOL OF THE 15th CENTURY, AND IT WAS 'DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY THE LEGAL ORIGIN'. HAVING ESTABLISHED THAT THE PAINTING OF THE 'SUICIDE OF CLEOPATRA' WAS INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE WITH THE COMMAND OF UNLAWFULLY REMOVED CULTURAL PROPERTY, STARTED OFF THE INVESTIGATION. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PAINTING WAS STOLEN ON 28.MAY.1972 FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI IN PIENZA, IN THE PROVINCE OF SIENA. THE FINDING ALLOWED THE RECOVERY OF ANOTHER 15 PAINTINGS, PARTIAL PROCEEDS OF TEN ROBBERIES COMMITTED IN PRIVATE HOMES OF ROME, CHURCHES AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN CENTRAL ITALY, FOR THE VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION EUROS.

BONHAMS TO SELL 1955 ASTON MARTIN ONCE OWNED BY KING BAUDOUIN OF BELGIUM


A 1955 ASTON MARTIN DB2/4 SPORTS SALOON, WHICH WAS OWNED BY KING BAUDOUIN OF BELGIUM, WHO REIGNED FROM 1951 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1993, IS TO BE SOLD AT BONHAMS' PARIS SALE OF MOTOR CARS AT THE GRAND PALAIS ON 5.FEBRUARY.2011. THE CAR WHICH IS WAS SUPPLIED TO THE KING IN FEBRUARY 1955, HAS ATTRACTED A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $250,000. KING BAUDOUIN WAS RENOWNED FOR HIS LOVE OF FAST CARS, AS WELL AS HAVING THE ASTON MARTIN, DESCRIBED IN AUTOCAR (1953) AS 'AN EXPENSIVE CAR DESIGNED TO CATER FOR THE CONNOISSEUR OF SPORTS CARS WHO IS NOT LIMITED BY FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS', HE ALSO OWNED A PORSCHE SPYDER AND WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT MASERATIS. ACCOMPANIED BY PHOTOGRAPHS OF KING BAUDOUIN WITH HIS BROTHER, THE PRESENT KING ALBERT II, THE CAR IS IN CONCOURS CONDITION FOLLOWING ITS COMPLETE RESTORATION TO ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS BETWEEN 2001 AND 2008. A 1956 BENTLEY S1 CONTINENTAL SPORTS SALOON OWNED BY ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN BELGIAN FIGURE, THE FINANCIER, BARON EMPAIN, IS ALSO TO BE OFFERED IN THE SALE. ESTIMATED AT $300,000, THE CAR WAS DELIVERED NEW TO THE BARON IN 1956 AND KEPT UNTIL 1960 WHEN HE SOLD IT TO A FAMILY MEMBER, COUNT D'ARSCHOT.

20.12.10

VERSAILLES TO OPEN HOTEL ON PALACE GROUNDS



ADMINISTRATORS OF FRANCE'S VERSAILLES PALACE SAID FRIDAY THAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO LEASE AN ADJACENT BUILDING KING LOUIS XIV's 17th CENTURY CHATEAU FOR USE AS A HOTEL. THE HOTEL DU GRAND CONTROLE, WHICH WAS HOME FOR FINANCIAL ADVISERS TO FRENCH KINGS FOR DECADES, WILL BE GETTING A $7.3 MILLION YEAR LONG FACE-LIFT BY BELGIAN COMPANY IVY INTERNATIONAL AS PART OF A DEAL CONCLUDED IN RECENT WEEKS. THE 23 ROOM HOTEL, WITH VIEWS OF THE PALACE'S ORANGERIE GARDEN, WILL OPEN IN LATE 2011. THE BUILDING PREVIOUSLY BELONGED TO THE DEFENSE MINISTRY, WHICH USED IT AS AN OFFICER'S MESS HALL, AND IT LATER FELL INTO DISREPAIR. VERSAILLES MANGERS ARE GRANTING A 30 YEAR OPERATING LEASE TO IVY. THE DEFICIT-PLAGUED FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS. VERSAILLES OFFICIALS SAID THE PALACE ITSELF DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH AVAILABLE CASH TO PAY TO REFURBISH THE OUTBUILDING ITSELF. 'WE PICKED AN OUTSIDE, PRIVATE PARTNER THAT IS DOING IT FOR US', SAID MIKAEL HAUTCHAMP, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE PALACE THAT GETS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO ITS LUSH GARDENS AND ORNATE ROOMS EACH DAY. 'THIS DEAL IS SAVING A BUILDING.' IN OCTOBER, A REPORT COMMISSIONED BY PRESIDENT SARKOZY RECOMMENDED MONEY-RAISING IDEAS INCLUDING OPENING LUXURY HOTELS IN ROYAL CHATEAUX ON THE STATE'S VAST REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO, MUCH OF IT UNUSED. AND IN JUNE, THE GOVERNMENT STARTED A BIG SALE OF 1,700 STATE PROPERTIES TO SHED DILAPIDATED, EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN BUILDINGS. THE HOTEL DU GRANDE CONTROLE, WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE 1680s, ISN'T ON THE ACTUAL GROUNDS OF THE PALACE, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS OF 17th CENTURY FRENCH ART. IT'S AS CLOSE TO ANY HOTEL PATRON CAN GET TO STAYING IN THE PALACE. 'THE VISITOR WILL HAVE THE IMPRESSION OF BEING IN THE VERSAILLES DOMAIN, NOT THE PALACE ITSELF', HAUTCHAMP SAID, ADDING THAT NO OTHER HOTEL HAS SIMILAR VIEWS. 'IT'S ABOUT 100 METERS FROM THE HEART OF THE PALACE.' ROOM RATES MIGHT SUIT NOBILITY: A VERSAILLES SPOKESMAN SAID THEY ARE EXPECTED TO RUN $650-780 PER NIGHT.

JIMMY CARTER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY PRESENTS 'THE WORKING WHITE HOUSE: TWO CENTURIES OF TRADITIONS AND MEMORIES'


TAKE A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE WORKINGS OF THE MOST FAMOUS HOUSE IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE JIMMY CARTER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. 'THE WORKING WHITE HOUSE: TWO CENTURIES OF TRADITIONS AND MEMORIES' TELLS THE STORIES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN THE WHITE HOUSE THROUGH HISTORICAL IMAGES, DOCUMENTS, ORAL HISTORIES AND ARTIFACTS. PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATORS COME AND GO, BUT THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED PRESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM WILLIAM TAFT TO GEORGE W BUSH. IN WORK THAT REQUIRES A HIGH LEVEL OF DEDICATION, THESE MEN AND WOMEN BALANCE THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC IMPORTANCE OF A NATIONAL SYMBOL WITH THE CAREFUL REQUIREMENTS OF A FAMILY HOME. THE WORKING WHITE HOUSE GIVES GLIMPSES INTO THE DAILY WORK AND ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS THAT MANY WHITE HOUSE STAFF HAVE DEVELOPED WITH SEVERAL FIRST FAMILIES. THE EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE JIMMY CARTER LIBRARY 7 MUSEUM THROUGH 27.FEBRUARY.2011.