19.3.11

HERMES GENTLEMEN'S VALET


FAMED FRENCH LUXURY DESIGNER HERMES HAS RECENTLY CREATED THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY FOR THE WORLD'S BEST-DRESSED GENTLEMAN, A VALET STAND IN SOLID MAHOGANY, FINE LEATHER AND BRASS WITH EBONY DETAILING. THE STUNNING LUXE PIECE, DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE A FULL SUIT OF GENTLEMAN'S CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, IS A LIMITED EDITION RE-ISSUE OF A CLASSIC ITEM CREATED FOR HERMES IN 1930 BY FAMED FRENCH DECORATOR AND DESIGNER PAUL DUPRE-LAFON. THE ORIGINAL WAS SOLD BY SOTHEBY'S AT ITS ART NOUVEAU 7 ART DECO SALE IN PARIS IN 2007 FOR AN ESTIMATED $65,000. THE STAND, WITH AN ART DECO AND VINTAGE FLAIR, FEATURES A CALFSKIN HANGER FOR THE SUIT, A CALFSKIN TRAY FOR WATCHES AND JEWELRY, A MAHOGANY SHOE RACK AT THE BASE, AND BRASS HOOKS AND RODS FOR TIES AND BELTS. WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,000 THE UNIQUE CREATION WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT HERMES BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART PRESENTS EXHIBITION OF RUSSIAN ICONS


THE ICON IS A DISTINCTIVE FORM OF HOLY IMAGE IN EASTERN ORTHODOX CULTURES, INTENDED TO EVOKE SACRED PRESENCE BY APPEALING TO THE SENSES. HOLY IMAGE, SACRED PRESENCE: RUSSIAN ICONS, 1500-1900 PRESENTS ABOUT THIRTY WORKS FROM THE CHAZEN MUSEUM OF ART'S PERMANENT COLLECTION TO EXPLORE THE DISTINCTIVE DEVOTIONAL FUNCTIONS, RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES, ICONOGRAPHY AND CHANGING STYLES OF RUSSIAN ICONS FROM THE 16th TO THE EARLY 20th CENTURIES. EXAMPLES INCLUDE A MANDYLION (MIRACULOUS IMAGE OF THE FACE OF JESUS), PROSKYNETARIA AND ICONOSTASIS PANELS FROM ORTHODOX CHURCHES, AND SMALL DEVOTIONAL ICONS FOR PRIVATE USE. THE EXHIBITION IS ON VIEW 12.MARCH THROUGH 5.JUNE. FOLLOWING THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION OF 1917, MANY MONASTERIES AND CHURCHES WERE CLOSED AND TEH BEST ICONS WERE COLLECTED IN STATE MUSEUMS. THOSE DATING FROM THE 11th TO THE 17th CENTURY WERE PRIZED AS REPRESENTING TRADITIONAL RUSSIAN CULTURE. BY CONTRAST, SOVIET EXPERTS DENIGRATED THE STYLE AND ICONOGRAPHY OF LATER ICONS FROM THE 18th TO THE EARLY 20th CENTURIES AS 'CONTAMINATED' BY WESTERN EUROPEAN INFLUENCE. IT WAS THESE ICONS THAT THE SOVIETS EITHER RELEGATED TO MUSEUMS OF RELIGION OR, BEGINNING IN THE 1930s, SOLD TO FOREIGN TOURISTS AND DIPLOMATS IN GOVERNMENT-RUN SHOPS. AMERICAN COLLECTORS FIRST BECAME AWARE OF RUSSIAN ICONS IN THE 1920s AT OFFICIAL SOVIET EXHIBITIONS IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON, AND THROUGH SALES OF 'IMPERIAL RUSSIAN TREASURES' IN DEPARTMENT STORES IN THE EARLY 1930s. THE MUSEUM'S ICON COLLECTION ORIGINATED IN 1937 WITH THE GIFT OF 23 ICONS BY JOSEPH E DAVIES, A PROMINENT LAWYER, UW ALUMNUS, AND AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE SOVIET UNION.

17.3.11

SOTHEBY'S/PIASA TO SELL ICONIC FABIUS FRERES GALLERY COLLECTION


SOTHEBY'S ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AUCTION HOUSE PIASA, IT WILL SELL THE FABIUS FRERES GALLERY COLLECTION ON 18-19.OCTOBER IN PARIS. THE 400 SCULPTURES, PIECES OF FURNITURE, WORKS OF ART, DRAWINGS AND 19th CENTURY PAINTINGS, ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR €9 - 14 MILLION, WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE GALERIE CHARPENTIER FOR FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE SALE. THE FABIUS FRERES GALLERY IN KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, CONDITION AND PROVENANCE OF WORKS OF ART IN THEIR COLLECTION. THE SELECTION OF SCULPTURE TO BE OFFERED REPRESENTS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT GROUP OF 19th CENTURY SCULPTURES EVER TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION AND INCLUDES WORKS BY TWO OF THE LEADING EUROPEAN SCULPTORS OF THEIR TIME, ANTOINE-LOUIS BARYE AND JEAN-BAPTISTE CARPEAUX. THE FURNITURE SECTION COMPRISES CLASSICAL 18th CENTURY AND MORE EXUBERANT CREATIONS FROM THE 19th CENTURY. THE CLASSICAL FURNITURE RANGES FROM THE PERIOD OF LOUIS XIV TO EMPIRE STYLE. FOR DECADES THE FABIUS FRERES GALLERY PROMOTED THE FURNITURE OF THE 19th CENTURY, INCLUDING WORKS BY MAJOR CABINETMAKERS SUCH AS GROHE OR DIEHL, AS WELL AS ASTONISHING NEO-RENAISSANCE CREATIONS. IN THE DECORATIVE ART SECTIONS, CERAMICS AND GLASS FROM THE FABIUS FRERES GALLERY COLLECTION ARE REPRESENTED WITH A RICH DIVERSITY OF PIECES, AND UNIQUE AND REFINED WORKS BY THEODORE DECK, EUGENE COLLINOT AND MAURICE MARINOT. THE COLLECTION BRINGS TO SALE AN INTERESTING GROUP OF PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS BY THE SCULPTORS CARPEAUX AND BARYE, AS WELL AS SOME GREAT 19th CENTURY PORTRAITS, AND GENRE PAINTINGS BY CAROLUS-DURAN, JEAN BERAUD AND ADOLPHE YVON. FOUNDER OF ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS PARISIAN ART GALLERIES, ELLE FABIUS BECAME ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL ACTORS OF THE ART MARKET FROM THE 1890s TO THE 1940s. PASSIONATE ABOUT NAPOLEON AND LAFAYETTE MEMORABILIA, AND OBJECTS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, AS WELL AS SCULPTURE BY BARYE AND CARPEAUX, FABIUS BROUGHT THE 19th CENTURY STYLE BACK INTO FASHION. PIECES WHICH PASSED THROUGH HIS HANDS ARE NOW IN THE COLLECTIONS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSEUMS IN FRANCE AND IN THE UNITED STATES. ELIE FABIUS' WORK WAS CARRIED ON FIRST BY HIS SONS AND THEN WITH THE SAME ELEGANCE AND PASSION BY HIS GRANDSON FRANCOIS, DECEASED IN 2006. SOTHEBY'S AND PIASA ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED BY MRS ARMELLE FABIUS WITH THE SALE OF SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS COLLECTION.

RARE KING EDWARD VII RIFLE TO BE AUCTIONED IN APRIL


A RIFLE BELONGING TO EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, BEFORE HE BECAME KING EDWARD VII WILL BE OFFERED BY GAVIN GARDINER (IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOTHEBY'S) IS A SALE OF FINE MODERN AND VINTAGE SPORTING GUNS AND RIFLES ON 20.APRIL, AT SOTHEBY'S NEW BOND STREET LOCATION. MADE BY FAMOUS LONDON GUNMAKER JAMES PURDEY & SONS, THIS HAMMER RIFLE WAS BUILT IN 1873 FOR THE PRINCE OF WALES (KING EDWARD VII 1901-1911) AND WAS USED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN TO INDIA AND USED DURING THE PRINCE'S VISIT IN 1876. RECORDS STATE THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT PLACED AN ORDER WITH PURDEY'S FOR A NUMBER OF RIFLES TO BE PRESENTED AS GIFTS DURING THE VISIT, HOWEVER THIS WAS THE PRINCE'S OWN EXAMPLE AND IS ESTIMATED AT £7,000-9,000. COMMENTING ON THE AUCTION, GAVIN GARDINER SAID: 'I AM DELIGHTED TO BE OFFERING SUCH A HISTORIC RIFLE AT MY FORTHCOMING AUCTION. BUILT IN 1873 FOR EDWARD, PRINCE OF WALES, THE RIFLE WAS GIVEN TO ONE OF HIS FAITHFUL HUSSARS FOLLOWING HIS RECORD TIGER SHOOT ON HIS STATE VISIT TO INDIA IN 1876. UNLIKE MANY OTHER RIFLES PRESENTED ON THIS VISIT AS GIFTS, THIS PARTICULAR RIFLE WAS THE PRINCE'S OWN, THAT HE USED TO GOOD EFFECT, AND WAS GIVEN IN REWARD TO FAITHFUL SERVICE TO A MEMBER OF HIS OWN REGIMENT AT THE END OF THE MONTHS SPORT. IT IS RARE THAT SUCH IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC ITEMS APPEAR AT AUCTION, AND I AM VERY PLEASED TO HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PIECE.' GAVIN GARDINER IS THE ONLY SPECIALIST FIREARMS AUCTIONEER HOLDING HIS AUCTIONS IN THE HEART OF LONDON'S WEST END, WHERE HE HOLDS TWO SALES EACH YEAR AS WELL AS HIS PRESTIGIOUS SALE AT THE GLENEAGLES HOTEL, SCOTLAND IN AUGUST.

16.3.11

SOTHEBY'S SELLS THE LATE DUTCH QUEEN JULIANA'A POSSESSIONS


FROM THREADBARE ARMCHAIRS TO MARBLE MANTEL CLOCKS, GARDEN FURNITURE TO A SILVER POCKET KNIFE, THOUSANDS OF THE LATE DUTCH QUEEN JULIANA'A POSSESSIONS ARE GOING UNDER THE HAMMER IN AN ATTIC SALE FIT FOR A KING. THE FOUR-DAY AUCTION BY SOTHEBY'S STARTED MONDAY AND WAS STIRRING INTEREST AMONG SERIOUS COLLECTORS AS WELL AS DIE-HARD ROYALTY FANS OF THE POPULAR HOUSE OF ORANGE. A TOTAL OF 1,725 LOTS GATHERED FROM SEVEN ROYAL PALACES WERE BEING AUCTIONED WITH THE PROCEEDS GOING TO FOUR CHARITIES, ONE CHOSEN BY EACH OF JULIANA'S FOUR DAUGHTERS. 'IT'S REALLY LIKE A ROYAL ATTIC SALE', AUCTIONEER MARK GROL TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. 'WITH PAINTINGS TO PRINTS, CERAMICS, SILVER, FURNITURE. JUST BASICALLY EVERYTHING YOU WOULD FIND IN A PALACE.' THE SALE IS INTENDED TO CLEAR OUT UNWANTED BELONGINGS THAT WERE LEFT OVER AFTER JULIANA'S ESTATE WAS DIVIDED AMONG HER DAUGHTERS FOLLOWING HER DEATH IN 2004 AT AGE 94. SOME 10,000 PEOPLE COME ON VIEWING DAYS LAST WEEK AT THE SOTHEBY'S OFFICE IN AMSTERDAM, SHUFFLING THROUGH A MAZE OF OAK TABLES, MAHOGANY AND SATINWOOD CHAIRS, AND GIANT CHANDELIERS. WALLS WERE LINED WITH OIL AND WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS. TO UNDERSCORE THE ROYAL PROVENANCE, PHOTOS SHOWED SOME OF THE LOTS IN USE AT THE PALACES THEY CAME FROM. ONE PHOTO SHOWED QUEEN JULIANA, HER HUSBAND PRINCE BERNHARD AND THEIR FOUR DAUGHTERS, INCLUDING PRESENT QUEEN BEATRIX, EATING BREAKFAST AT SOESTDIJK PALACE USING A SERVICE BEING AUCTIONED WITH A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $4,185-$5,580. GROL SAID THAT ONLY AFTER THE FIRST 213 LOTS WERE UP FOR GRABS ON MONDAY WOULD THERE WOULD BE AN INDICATION OF HOW FAR OVER THE PRE-SALE MINIMUM ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $2.07 MILLION THE AUCTION WOULD GO. HE SAID INTEREST WAS HIGH NOT JUST FROM THE NETHERLANDS, BUT ALSO FROM THE US, RUSSIA AND CHINA. EARLY BIDDING WAS BRISK, WITH A COMBINATION OF ONLINE, TELEPHONE AND AUCTION ROOM BIDS PUSHING UP THE PRICE OF THE FIRST LOT, A QUINTESSENTIALLY DUTCH WATERCOLOUR OF SKATERS ON A FROZEN WATERWAY BY JAN ANTHONIE LANGENDIJK TO $7,000. THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE WAS $1,377-$2,066. THOSE IN THE ROOM WERE GIVEN CARDS, ORANGE, OF COURSE, WITH A BIDDER'S NUMBER ON IT. THERE APPEARED TO BE SOME BARGAINS ON OFFER, WITH THE CHEAPEST LOT AN OAK WRITING DESK WITH A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF JUST $35-$70. 'SOME ITEMS WILL GO FOR A REASONABLE PRICE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST BOTH FROM COLLECTORS AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY A SOUVENIR FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY WHO'S VERY POPULAR IN THE NETHERLANDS', GROL SAID. ROYAL FANS WERE LIKELY BEHIND LIVELY ONLINE BIDDING FOR A PINE BOX WITH 'ZKH PRINS DER NEDERLANDEN STAL SOESTDIJK', MEANING 'HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE OF THE NETHERLANDS SOESTDIJK STABLE' PAINTED ON THE LID. ONE BIDDER WHO DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS A COLLECTOR AND A ROYAL FAN SAID HE HOPED TO BUY SOME ANTIQUE PORCELAIN. 'I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD', SAID THE MAN, WHO DECLINED TO GIVE HIS NAME. 'WHERE DO I PUT IT ALL?'

15.3.11

KEITH HARING ARTWORK DONATED TO LOS ANGELES GAY & LESBIAN CENTER


A COMPLETE SERIES OF 10 SILKSCREENS BY ICONIC GAY ARTIST KEITH HARING HAS BEEN DONATED TO A GAY AND LESBIAN CENTER IN LOS ANGELES BY TYLER CASSITY, CO-OWNER OF THE HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETERY. THE APOCALYPSE SERIES IN ON EXHIBIT IN THE ADVOCATE & GOCHIS GALLERIES UNTIL 30.MARCH. 'HARING'S WORK IS SO ICONIC; WE'RE HONORED TO RECEIVE AND EXHIBIT THIS SERIES', SAID JON IMPARATO, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER'S CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. 'IT'S RARE TO HAVE A COMPLETE HARING SERIES TOGETHER LIKE THIS; WE'RE THRILLED THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ALL 10 SILKSCREENS IN OUR GALLERIES.' IT'S FITTING THAT A SERIES CREATED BY HARING, WHO ESTABLISHED A FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT AIDS ORGANIZATIONS AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, HAS BEEN DONATED TO THE CENTER, A LEADER IN HIV CARE AS WELL AS SERVICES FOR LGBT YOUTH. 'I HOPE AND BELIEVE KEITH HARING WOULD BE PLEASED THAT HIS PASSIONATE VISION HAS FOUND A HOME AT THE CENTER', CASSITY SAID. THE LA GAY & LESBIAN CENTER PROVIDES A BROAD ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDERED COMMUNITY, WELCOMING NEARLY A QUARTER MILLION CLIENT VISITS FROM ETHNICALLY DIVERSE YOUTH AND ADULTS EACH YEAR. THROUGH ITS JEFFREY GOODMAN SPECIAL CARE CLINIC AND ON-SITE PHARMACY, THE CENTER OFFERS FREE AND LOW-COST HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, HIV/AIDS MEDICAL CARE AND HIV/STD TESTING AND PREVENTION. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS LEGAL, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, WITH UNIQUE PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS, FAMILIES AND YOUTH, INCLUDING A 24-BED TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.

CHAUMET LE GRAND FRISSON


LUXURY JEWELER CHAUMET HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A STUNNING NEW COLLECTION FOR THE SUMMER NAMED LE GRAND FRISSON OR 'THE BIG SHIVER' AFTER THE GEOMETRIC SHAPES. THE COLLECTION FEATURES EARRINGS, RINGS, PENDANTS AND A CHOKER NECKLACE ALL IN ECLECTIC GEOMETRIC SHAPES, SET WITH BRIGHTLY COLOURED VIOLET SAPPHIRES, TSAVORITES, GARNETS AND TANZANITE MIXED WITH WHITE GOLD WITH DIAMONDS.

14.3.11

GEOFFREY PARKER $7.5 MILLION POKER SET


GEOFFREY PARKER, LONDON-BASED MAKER OF THE FINEST GAMES ON THE GLOBE, IS OFFERING THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE POKER SET FOR $7.5 MILLION. THE BESPOKE SET FOR THE ULTIMATE HIGH STAKES GAME COMES HOUSED IN A GENUINE ALLIGATOR SKIN CASE FINISHED IN THE COLOUR OF THE CLIENT'S CHOICE, FITTED WITH 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD COMBINATION LOCKS AND HARDWARE. THE CASE' SUEDE LINING FEATURES AN 18 CARAT AND DIAMOND FRAME TO HOLD 384 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD CHIPS, EACH INLAID ON BOTH SIDES IN SHAGREEN EMBOSSED WITH ITS VALUE, WHICH CAN BE IN ANY CURRENCY AND DENOMINATION THE CLIENT DESIRES. THE EDGE OF EACH CHIP IS SET WITH PRECIOUS STONES, WHITE DIAMONDS FOR THE WHITE CHIPS, SAPPHIRES FOR THE BLUE, RUBIES FOR THE RED, EMERALDS FOR THE GREEN AND CLACK DIAMONDS FOR THE BLACK. THE DEALER BUTTON WILL BE A LARGER 18 CARAT WHITE GOLD 'CHIP' SET WITH TWO ROWS OF DIAMONDS TO THE EDGE. THE SET WILL FEATURE AN ESTIMATED 22,364 STONES IN ALL, TOTALING 1,012 CARATS. FINALLY THERE ARE FOUR PLATINUM-PLATED DECKS OF POKER CARDS.

SABATINO NORTH AMERICA TO OPEN STORE IN BOSTON


BOSTON'S ICONIC LUXURY SHOPPING DESTINATION, NEWBURY STREET WILL HAVE A STUNNING NEW TREAT COME 24.MARCH. SABATINO NORTH AMERICA, THE LARGEST IMPORTER AND MANUFACTURER OF GOURMET TRUFFLE PRODUCTS IN THE US IS OPENING THEIR FLAGSHIP RETAIL STORE, SABATINO & CO ROMA. THE STORE WILL INTRODUCE A WIDE RANGE OF UNIQUE PRODUCTS INCLUDING GOURMET FOODS AND CONDIMENTS, COOKBOOKS AND HOME ACCESSORIES TO ADD A EUROPEAN TOUCH TO YOUR LIFE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.sabatinoandco.com