DEBEERS TALISMAN ICE WATCH

DEBEERS HAS RECENTLY ADDED A NEW ADDITION TO THEIR ICONIC TALISMAN COLLECTION. THE NEWEST CREATION, DUBBED THE TALISMAN ICE WATCH IS FOR THOSE WHO TRULY APPRECIATE DIAMONDS. THE BESPOKE WATCH IS INSPIRED BY THE BEAUTY OF DIAMONDS AND THE WAY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY WORN AS SYMBOLS OF POWER AND BEARERS OF GOOD LUCK. THE BEJEWELED WATCH FEATURES ICY ROUGH WHITE DIAMONDS SIT WITHIN STUDDED POLISHED DIAMONDS, FLOATING ON A MESH OF WHITE GOLD. EACH ROUGH DIAMOND HAS BEEN PAINSTAKINGLY PICK TO CREATE THE LOOK OF THIS STUNNING TIMEPIECES. IN ALL, THE PRECIOUS CREATION BOASTS 445 DIAMONDS WEIGHING AN AMAZING 86.70 CARATS IN TOTALITY.

PHOTOGRAPHERS' GALLERY PRESENTS 'THE FAMILY AND THE LAND: SALLY MANN'

AN OUTSTANDING NEW EXHIBITION AT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS' GALLERY IN LONDON IS AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER SALLY MANN'S FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION IN THE UK. COMBINING SEVERAL SERIES FROM HER LONG PHOTOGRAPHIC CAREER, 'THE FAMILY AND THE LAND: SALLY MANN' REFLECTS MANN'S ARTISTIC IMPULSE TO DRAW ON THE WORLD AROUND HER AS SUBJECT MATTER. TEH 'FAMILY' ELEMENT OF THE TITLE COMPRISES MANN'S EARLY SERIES 'IMMEDIATE FAMILY' AND THE NEWER SERIES 'FACES', BOTH OF WHICH DEPICT HER CHILDREN AT VARIOUS AGES. THE SERIES DEEP SOUTH REPRESENTS THE LANDSCAPE, PORTRAYING IMAGES MADE ACROSS THE SOUTH. THE MORE RECENT BODY OF WORK, 'WHAT REMAINS' BRINGS TOGETHER BOTH STRANDS OF THE EXHIBITION, THROUGH ITS EXAMINATION OF HOW BODIES, AS THEY DECOMPOSE, MERGE INTO THE LAND ITSELF. SALLY MANN FIRST GAINED PROMINENCE FOR 'IMMEDIATE FAMILY' A SERIES OF INTIMATE AND REVEALING PORTRAITS OF HER THREE YOUNG CHILDREN, EMMETT, JESSIE AND VIRGINIA. TAKEN OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD, MANN DEPICTS THEM PLAYING, SWIMMING AND ACTING TO THE CAMERA IN AND AROUND THEIR HOMESTEAD IN LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA. BORN OUT OF A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN MOTHER AND CHILD, THE WORK ENCAPSULATES THEIR CHILDHOOD IN ALL ITS RAWNESS AND INNOCENCE. MANN FOLLOWED 'IMMEDIATE FAMILY' BY FOCUSING ON THE LAND ITSELF IN HER SERIES 'DEEP SOUTH'. HERE SHE IS DRAWN TO LOCATIONS STEEPED IN HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FROM THE CIVIL WAR, WHICH LEFT BOTH LITERAL AND METAPHORIC SCARS ON THE TREES AND THE LAND ITSELF. USING ANTIQUE CAMERAS AND PROCESSES THROUGHOUT, MANN ACCENTUATES THE SENSE OF AGE IN THE SUBJECT WHILE EMBRACING THE IMPERFECT EFFECTS CREATED BY HER PRINTING PROCESS. 'WHAT REMAINS' SEEKS TO FURTHER CONNECT HUMAN CONTACT TO THE LAND AND HOW THE BODY EVENTUALLY RETURNS TO AND BECOMES A PART OF THE LAND ITSELF. THIS CONCEPT LED MANN TO PHOTOGRAPH DECOMPOSING CADAVERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY, KNOXVILLE, WHERE HUMAN DECOMPOSITION IS STUDIED IN A VARIETY OF, MAINLY OUTDOOR, SETTINGS. WHAT REMAINS SEALS DIRECTLY WITH THE SUBJECT OF DEATH, STILL A SOCIAL TABOO. AS WITH HER OTHER WORK, MANN'S SUBJECTS ARE SENSITIVELY HANDLED AND BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED, ENCOURAGING US TO REFLECT UPON OUR OWN MORTALITY AND PLACE WITHIN NATURE'S ORDER. IN THE MOST RECENT SERIES 'FACES', MANN TURNS THE CAMERA ONCE MORE ON HER CHILDREN. CLOSING IN ON THEIR FACES AND USING SEVERAL MINUTES OF EXPOSURE TIME, THESE WORKS ACT AS A COMMEMORATION OF THE LIVING. AGAIN MANN TAKES THE ACCIDENTAL DRIPS AND MARKS BY THE WET COLLODIAN PROCESS AND MAKES THEM A KEY FEATURE OF HER WORK.

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL SCULPTURES DISCOVERED IN IRELAND

ON 8.JULY IN A SALE OF EUROPEAN SCULPTURE AND WORKS OF ART, SOTHEBY'S, LONDON WILL OFFER THREE SPECTACULAR SCULPTURES RECENTLY DISCOVERED IN IRELAND. WHEN SOTHEBY'S SCULPTURE SPECIALIST ERIK BIJZET FIRST SAW THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SCULPTURES THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT INTO SOTHEBY'S DUBLIN OFFICE, HE WAS IMMEDIATELY STRUCK BY THEIR INTRINSIC QUALITY AND IMPORTANCE. CREATED IN 19th CENTURY ROME, THE WORKS ARE SEMINAL EXAMPLES OF NEO-CLASSICAL SCULPTURE AND PROVIDE A RARE OCCASION TO ACQUIRE FRESH TO THE MARKET PIECES IN MINT CONDITION. UNDOUBTEDLY, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE GROUP OF THREE FIGURES IS AN EXCEPTIONAL SCULPTURE BY THE NORTHERN ARTIST RUDOLPH SCHADOW ENTITLED DIE SPINNERIN, ESTIMATED AT £120,000-180,000. THE MARBLE IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE ARTIST'S BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVEMENT AND THE WORK WITH WHICH HIS REPUTATION RESTS. SCHADOW HAD ARRIVED IN ROME IN 1812 TO FULLY ABSORB THE LEGACY OF SCULPTURE FROM CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY AND WORK WITH THE MASTER ANTONIO CANOVA. THE SCULPTURE OF A YOUNG GIRL SPINNING WAS FIRST CONCEIVED IN 1816 AND SCHADOW WENT ON TO PRODUCE VERSIONS FOR SUCH EMINENT PATRONS AS THE THE PRUSSIAN KING, PRINCE LUDWIG OF BAVARIA, AMONG OTHERS. THE IRISH GRAND TOURIST HENRY PATTEN WAS ONE OF MANY WHO FOLLOWED THE FASHIONABLE EXAMPLE SET BY THE WEALTHY AS THEY TOURED EUROPE, COMMISSIONING WHILE ON THEIR TRAVELS WORKS OF ART FROM ARTISTS RESIDING ABROAD. PATTEN COMMISSIONED THE WORK IN 1819 FOR HIS HOUSE IN WESTPORT. THE TWO REMAINING SCULPTURES TO EMERGE FROM THE HOUSE ARE A PAIR OF MARBLE FIGURES, VENUS ITALICA AND HEBE, FROM THE WORKSHOP OF ANTONIO CANOVA. THEY WERE CARVED DURING CANOVA'S LIFETIME, A YEAR FOLLOWING PATTEN'S COMMISSION. THEY ARE ESTIMATED AT £60,000-80,000

MARLBOROUGH FINE ART PRESENTS PABLO PICASSO: CELEBRATING THE MUSE

MARLBOROUGH FINE ART, LONDON, IS PRESENTING AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION OF PRINTS BY PABLO PICASSO CELEBRATING THE THEME OF WOMEN AS MUSE IN VARIOUS GRAPHIC MEDIA, RANGING FROM ETCHING AND DRYPOINT, LINOCUT AND LITHOGRAPHY. IT IS THE SECOND AND FINAL VENUE FOR THIS AMAZING SHOW, WHICH WAS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES DURING ITS INSTALLATION AT MALBOROUGH GALLERY, NEW YORK. IT IS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE SUBJECT AS SPECIFICALLY DEPICTED IN PICASSO'S GRAPHIC OEUVRE. THE FEATURES WORKS SPANNING HIS ENTIRE CAREER FROM HIS FIRST PRINT, LE REPAS FRUGAL, TO SELECTIONS FROM THE TOUR DE FORCE OF HIS LATE PERIOD, THE SUITE 347 OF 1968.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.marlboroughfineart.com

SMITHSONIAN CASTLE PRESENTS 'READ MY PINS: THE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT COLLECTION'

A UNIQUE TRAVELING EXHIBITION OF JEWELRY FROM THE PERSONAL COLLECTION OF MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER US SECRETARY OF STATE, WILL RECENTLY OPENED AT THE SMITHSONIAN CASTLE. 'READ MY PINS: THE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT COLLECTION' FEATURES MORE THAN 200 PINS, MANY OF WHICH SHE WORE TO COMMUNICATE MESSAGES DURING HER DIPLOMATIC TENURE. THE EXHIBIT EXAMINES THE COLLECTION FOR ITS HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND THE EXPRESSIVE POWER OF JEWELRY AND ITS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH A STYLE AND LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN. THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH 11.OCTOBER. WHEN SHE WAS NAMED THE FIRST FEMALE SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1997, ALBRIGHT BECAME, AT THAT TIME, THE HIGHEST RANKING WOMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE US GOVERNMENT. WHILE SERVING UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON, FIRST AS US AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND THEN AS SECRETARY OF STATE, SHE BECAME BEST KNOWN FOR WEARING PINS THAT CONVEYED HER VIEWS ABOUT THE SITUATION AT HAND. 'I FOUND THAT JEWELRY HAD BECOME PART OF MY PERSONAL DIPLOMATIC ARSENAL', ALBRIGHT SAID. 'WHILE PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH HAD BEEN KNOWN FOR SAYING 'READ MY LIPS', I BEGAN URGING COLLEAGUES AND REPORTERS TO 'READ MY PINS'. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES A BROOCH THAT BEGAN ALBRIGHT'S USE OF PINS AS A DIPLOMATIC TOOL. AFTER SADDAM HUSSEIN'S PRESS REFERRED TO HER AS AN 'UNPARALLELED SERPENT', SHE WORE A GOLDEN SNAKE BROOCH PINNED TO HER SUIT FOR HER NEXT MEETING ON IRAQ. THE EXHIBITION FEATURES THE FAMOUS SNAKE BROOCH AMONG OTHER PINS WITH SIMILAR STORIES, SOME ASSOCIATED WITH IMPORTANT WORLD EVENTS, OTHERS GIFTS FROM INTERNATIONAL LEADERS OR VALUED FRIENDS. IN ADDITION, THE EXHIBITION SHOWCASES A GROUP OF AMERICAN PINS THAT ARE AT THE CENTER OF ALBRIGHT'S COLLECTION.

BANKSY 'RAT' ART STOLEN IN MELBOURNE

THIEVES HAVE STOLEN A VALUABLE PAINTING OF A RAT CARRYING A SUITCASE, BY THE ANONYMOUS GRAFFITI ARTIST BANKSY, FROM A METER BOX OUTSIDE A HOUSE IN THE AUSTRALIAN CITY OF MELBOURNE, POLICE SAID THURSDAY. POLICE SAID THE UNIQUE ARTWORK WAS STOLEN BETWEEN 24.APRIL AND 15.MAY FROM THE DOOR OF A METER BOX OUTSIDE THE MELBOURNE HOME OF UNDERWEAR DESIGNER MITCH DOWD, BUT THE THEFT WAS ONLY DISCOVERED RECENTLY BECAUSE DOWD HAD BEEN OUT OF TOWN. THE THEFT CAME SHORTY AFTER THE VALUE OF THE ARTIST'S WORK HIT THE HEADLINES WHEN STREET CLEANERS IN MELBOURNE PAINTED OVER A STENCIL OF A RAT BY BANKSY ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY. DOWD SAID IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THAT THIEVES HAD TARGETED THE ARTWORK BY THE SECRETIVE BANKSY, ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOP STREET ARTISTS WHOSE REAL IDENTITY REMAINS UNKNOWN. 'THE HOUSE FACES RIGHT ONTO THE PAVEMENT SO EVERYONE WOULD WALK BY AND SEE IT ALL THE TIME AND NOW ALL THAT'S THERE IS A BLACK BOX', DOWD SAID IN A RECENT STATEMENT. BANKSY IS FAMOUS FOR ILLEGAL OUTDOOR GRAFFITI, INCLUDING PAINTING THE WEST BANK BARRIER AND LEAVING A LIFE-SIZE FIGURE OF A GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE AT CALIFORNIA THEME PARK DISNEYLAND. FROM A SMALL-TIME GRAFFITI ARTIST TO A GLOBAL STAR, BANKSY'S WORK HAS BECOME SO VALUABLE THAT SEVERAL OF HIS STREET WORKS HAVE BEEN SALVAGED AND SOLD, INCLUDING A PAINTING ON A LONDON WALL THAT FETCHED $340,000 IN 2008.

LIMITED EDITION GOYARD BOOK

FRENCH TRUNK MAKER GOYARD HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A STUNNING BOOK WITH PUBLISHER DEVAMBEZ WHICH ILLUSTRATES THE BRAND'S HERITAGE. THE GOYARD BOOK FEATURES MORE THAN 200 PAGES FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS BY GOYARD SINCE STARTING IN 1792. THE BOOK COMES IN A SPECIALLY DESIGNED MADE TO ORDER GOYARD TRUNK AVAILABLE IN ANY OF GOYARD'S STANDARD COLOURS. ONLY 233 EDITIONS WILL BE PRINTED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE THROUGH PRIVATE APPOINTMENT ONLY.

HESTON BLUMENTHAL TO COOK SPECIAL DINNER FOR THE QUEEN

HESTON BLUMENTHAL, THE RENOWNED MICHELIN-STAR CHEF, WILL SERVE THE QUEEN BRAIN AND TESTICLES AS PART OF AN EXPERIMENTAL PRIVATE DINNER. BLUMENTHAL, WHO HAS BUILT HIS REPUTATION WITH DISHED SUCH AS SNAIL PORRIDGE, WILL COOK FOR THE MONARCH AT WINDSOR CASTLE ON THURSDAY EVENING. HE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED A TRIAL RUN ON THE MENU WHICH HAS BEEN TASTED BY THE QUEEN'S CHEFS AND WAS DECLARED A SUCCESS, ACCORDING TO THE DAILY MAIL. THE STARTER IS COMPOSED TO LOOK LIKE A BOWL OF FRUIT BUT IS IN FACT MADE OF SWEETBREADS AND ASSORTED OFFAL, INCLUDING BRAIN AND TESTICLES. THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WILL DINE WITH TWENTY-SIX FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE QUEEN WATCHED THE CHEF DEMONSTRATE HIS 'MOLECULAR' COOKING TECHNIQUES TWO YEARS AGO AT THE OFFICIAL REOPENING OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WAS ABLE TO SAMPLE SOME NITROGEN-ENHANCED APPLE AND ORANGE GINGER GRANITE ICE CREAM, BUT THE QUEEN, WHO IS NEVER SEEN EATING IN PUBLIC, WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. A ROYAL STAFF PARTY WAS EVEN HELD AT BLUMENTHAL'S AWARD WINNING RESTAURANT THE FAT DUCK, IN BRAY, BERKSHIRE. THE QUEEN WILL BE PAYING FOR THE SPECIAL EVENING OF FINE DINNING HERSELF SINCE IT IS A PRIVATE PARTY BEING HELD DURING ROYAL ASCOT WEEK. SHE IS UNLIKELY TO BE FAZED BY OFFAL AFTER BEING PRESENTED WITH A VARIETY OF EXOTIC FOODS OVER THE YEARS.

JOHN STIENBECK MOMENTOS TO BE AUCTIONED

JOHN STEINBECK KEPT HIS CALIFORNIA ROOTS CLOSE WHEN WRITING SUCH MASTERPIECES AS 'GRAPES OF WRATH' AND 'EAST OF EDEN', BUT THE NOBEL PIECE WINNER ALSO LOVED NEW YORK AND MADE IT HIS HOME FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE. NOW, A TREASURE TROVE OF HIS PERSONAL LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS FROM HIS SUNNY THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT ON MANHATTAN'S UPPER EAST SIDE, WHERE HE LIVED UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1968, IS BEING OFFERED AT BLLOMSBURY AUCTIONS IN NEW YORK ON 23.JUNE. EXPECTED TO BRING A TOTAL OF $200,000 TO $250,000, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE STEINBECK'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR HIS 1962 NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE AND NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS WRITTEN IN HIS NEAT SCRIPT ON LINED YELLOW PAPER, ON TOPICS AS DIVERSE AS HIS IRISH ROOTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON CAMPING. ADDITIONALLY, HIS LIBRARY OF SOME 800 BOOKS, INCLUDING 400 HARDBOUND REFERENCE VOLUMES, FIRST EDITIONS AND PRESENTATION COPIES, MANY WITH HIS RUBBER STAMP OF SIGNATURE, IS BEING OFFERED AS A SINGLE LOT WITH A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $15,000 to $20,000. CONSIDERED ONE OF THE GREATEST WRITERS OF THE 20th CENTURY, STEINBECK IS HAILED FOR HIS KEEN PORTRAITS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION AND FOR SERVING AS A VOICE FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED AND DOWNTRODDEN WHILE CELEBRATING THE HUMAN SPIRIT. HE PENNED 27 NOVELS, MANY OF WHICH WERE ADAPTED FOR FILM AND STAGE. HIS BEST-KNOW WORK IS 'THE GRAPES OF WRATH', A DEPRESSION-ERA NOVEL OF MIGRANT FARMERS WHO TRAVEL TO CALIFORNIA AFTER LOSING THEIR LAND IN THE DUST BOWL. IT WAS AWARDED THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION IN 1939 AND MADE INTO A MOVIE THAT STARRED HENRY FONDA AND EARNED JOHN FORD AN OSCAR. A VIKING PRESS UNCORRECTED GALLEY PROOF OF THE GREAT NOVEL, ON ORIGINAL PLAIN BROWN UNPRINTED BUTCHER PAPER, IS PART OF THE BLOOSBURY FINE BOOKS SALE. THE SECOND ISSUE GALLEY MISSPELLS BOTH THE TITLE (GROPES OF WRATH) AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME (STEINBACK). AN EXTERIOR LABEL GIVES THE PUBLICATION DATE OF APRIL 21, 1939, WITH A PRICE OF $2.75. NOT SEEN ON THE MARKET SINCE 1977, IT HAS A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $8,000 TO $12,000. IT HAS BEEN COSIGNED BY A PRIVATE COLLECTOR, AND IS NOT PART OF THE STEINBECK APARTMENT ARCHIVE. AMONG HIS PERSONAL EFFECTS ARE HIS LEATHER CHAIR AND GLOBE, AND A COURVOISIER COGNAC BOX FILLED WITH TOBACCO PIPES, READING GLASSES AND LEATHER BILLFOLDS.

PRINCE WILLIAM COACHES SOCCER AT A FOOTBALL STADIUM IN BOTSWANA

PRINCE WILLIAM WAS INVITED TO BLOW A 3ft TRUMPET CALLED A VUVUZELA BY 11 YEAR OLD REBAONE BADUBI, AND AGREED TO 'GIVE IT A GO' AFTER WARNING THAT 'I CAN'T BLOW IT'. HE COULD ONLY MANAGE TO PRODUCE A STRAINED VIBRATO NOTE BEFORE LAUGHING AND SAYING: 'THERE YOU GO, I'VE EMBARRASSED MYSELF AGAIN'. THE PRINCE WAS AT THE MUAN STADIUM IN THE NORTH OF BOTSWANA TO TAKE PART IN COACHING FOR CONSERVATION, A PROJECT THAT USES SOCCER TO TEACH LOCAL SCHOOLCHILDREN ABOUT WILDLIFE. HE PLAYED THE PART OF A WILD DOG AS CHILDREN WERE ENCOURAGED TO MIMIC THE BEHAVIOR OF PREDATORS AND PREY IN A FOOTBALL GAME, BEFORE KEEPING GOAL AS CHILDREN TRIED TO BEAT HIM FROM THE PENALTY SPOT. HE SAVED FOUR SHOTS AND LET IN FIVE, SAYING 'NO CHANCE' AND 'BE NICE' AS CHILDREN FIRED BALLS PAST HIM. BUT HE APPEARED TO BE UPSTAGED BY THE AMERICAN SINGER JOE JONAS, OF THE JONAS BROTHERS, WHO DREW SCREAMS FROM THE CROWD AS HE PLAYED AN IMPROMPTU CONCERT BEFORE THE PRINCE'S ARRIVAL. JONAS WHO IS IN BOTSWANA TO PROMOTE HIS FAMILY'S CHANGE FOR THE CHILDREN CHARITY, SAID AFTER MEETING THE PRINCE: 'THE FACT THAT WE CAN BE HERE TOGETHER AND WORK WITH THE KIDS IS AMAZING. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAD BEEN UP TO THESE PAST FEW WEEKS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME GOOD WORLD CUP GAMES.' THE YOUNG PRINCE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR TAKING PART IN THE COACHING SESSIONS, WHICH ARE SUPPORTED BY THE TUSK TRUST, OF WHICH HE IS PATRON, TOGETHER WITH LUCAS RADABE, THE FORMER LEEDS UNITED CAPTAIN AND SOUTH AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL. PRINCE WILLIAM WAS NOT JOINED BY PRINCE HARRY, WITH WHOM HE IS CARRYING OUT HIS FIRST JOINT ROYAL TOUR, BECAUSE HARRY WAS ENROUTE TO LESOTHO TO VISIT PROJECTS BEING SUPPORTED BY HIS CHARITY SENTEBALE. PRINCE WILLIAM WILL JOIN HIS BROTHER BEFORE FLYING OFF TO SOUTH AFRICA FOR ENGLAND'S MATCH AGAINST ALGERIA ON FRIDAY.

KENZO EXHIBITS SELF PORTRAITS IN PARIS

DESIGNER KENZO TAKADA, WHO FOUNDED KENZO THE LUXURY FASHION LABEL, HAS TRIED HIS HAND AT PAINTING, WITH A PARIS EXHIBITION OF EIGHT MESMERIZING SELF PORTRAITS. THE LARGE SCALE PAINTINGS SHOWN AT THE STUDIO 55 GALLERY IN PARIS FEATURES THE JAPANESE-BORN DESIGNER IN A SERIES OF FLOWER-PRINTED KIMONOS THAT RECALL THE KINDS OF PRINTS HIS LABEL IS KNOWN FOR. 'ART AND FASHION ARE REALLY NOR THAT DIFFERENT', TAKADA TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. KENZO, WHO WAS BORN IN 1939, LEAPT TO FAME IN THE 1980s WITH A HIGH-END READY-TO WEAR COLLECTION THAT GAVE WESTERN GARMENTS AN EASTERN TOUCH. HE SAYS HE STARTED PAINTING TEN YEARS AGO, AFTER HE SOLD HIS LABEL TO FRENCH LUXURY GOODS GIANT LVMH AND SUBSEQUENTLY RETIRED. THE EXHIBIT RUNS THROUGH 10.JULY.

THE COURTAULD GALLERY PRESENTS 20 YEARS OF ACQUISITIONS

A SPECIAL SUMMER EXHIBITION PRESENTS A RICH SELECTION OF WORKS OF ART ACQUIRED BY THE COURTAULD GALLERY, LONDON, SINCE IT MOVED TO SOMERSET HOUSE TWENTY YEARS AGO. THE COURTAULD GALLERY IS SOMETIMES DESCRIBED AS A 'COLLECTION OF COLLECTIONS' AND HAS GROWN HISTORICALLY THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ENDOWED IT WITH THE REMARKABLE COLLECTIONS WHICH THEY FORM. THE GRAND TRADITION OF PHILANTHROPY, INITIATED AT THE GALLERY BY SAMUAL COURTAULD IN THE 1930s, CONTINUES TO EXTEND AND ENHANCE THE COURTAULD GALLERY'S WORLD-FAMOUS COLLECTIONS. IN 2007 THE GALLERY WAS BEQUEATHED A MAGNIFICENT GROUP OF OVER 50 MAJOR BRITISH WATERCOLOURS, INCLUDING NINE WORKS BY TURNER, ASSEMBLED BY DOROTHY SCHARF. ALONGSIDE SUCH EXTRAORDINARY ACTS OF PHILANTHROPY THE GALLERY HAS ALSO GROWN THROUGH GIFTS OF SINGLE WORKS OF ART AND, VERY OCCASIONALLY, BY DIRECT PURCHASES. THE EXHIBITION PRESENTS A WIDE RANGE OF WORKS BY CELEBRATED MASTERS AND LESSER-KNOWN FIGURES. IT INCLUDES WATERCOLOURS BY TURNER AND CONSTABLE AND OTHERS FROM THE SCHARF BEQUEST; A PORTRAIT OF THE BAROQUE SCULPTOR AND ARCHITECT GIAN LORENZO BERNINI; A BEAUTIFUL DRAWING BY INGRES FOR HIS CELEBRATED GRANDE ODALISQUE; SCULPTURES BY DEGAS AND RODIN AND TWO OIL SKETCHES BY GEORGES SEURAT. THE EXHIBITION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST TWENTY YEARS AND TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLLECTIONS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.courtauld.ac.uk

MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN TO PRESENT RESTORATION

THIS SUMMER THE MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN, ROTTERDAM, IS LETTING EVERYONE A PROCESS THAT IS USUALLY CARRIED OUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. FROM MID-JUNE THE ENORMOUS PAINTING 'LANDSCAPE WITH A GIRL SKIPPING ROPE' BY THE SURREALIST PAINTER SALVADOR DALI WILL UNDERGO A MIRACULOUS RESTORATION. YOU CAN FOLLOW THE SILENT SPECTACLE FOR TWO MONTHS IN THE SERRA GALLERY. THE PAINTING AND SIX OTHER DALIS FROM THE MUSEUM COLLECTION WILL THEN GO ON SHOW IN MILAN. THE MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN HAS A UNIQUE COLLECTION OF SURREALIST PAINTINGS BY ARTISTS SUCH AS RENE MARGRITTE, MAX ERNST AND SALVADOR DALI. THE PAINTING NOW BEING RESTORED COMES FROM THE COLLECTION OF EDWARD JAMES, AN IMPORTANT ENGLISH CLIENT OF DALI'S. IN 1936 HE COMMISSIONED HIM TO MAKE THE WORK FOR HIS HOUSE IN LONDON. THE PAINTING WAS DAMAGED DURING AN AIR RAID IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE CENTER PANEL WAS THEN STORED ELSEWHERE AND THE SIDE PANELS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE TATE GALLERY. THE PANELS WERE REUNITED AND RESTORED IN THE 1960s AND THEN FOUND THEIR WAY TO THE MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN AS A LONG-TERM LOAN IN 1972. THE MUSEUM PURCHASED THE PAINTING IN 1977. DURING THE PUBLIC RESTORATION IN THE MUSEUM THE PAINTING WILL HANG ON A TEMPORARY WALL, SET OBLIQUELY IN THE SPACE. VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH THE PROCESS AT CLOSE QUARTERS FROM BEHIND A BARRIER SO AS NOT TO DISTURB THE RESTORERS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.boijmans.nl/nl

AMGUEDDFA CYMRU ACQUIRES 'WELSH LANDSCAPE WITH TWO WOMEN KNITTING'

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WALES RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT WAS ABLE TO SAVE FOR THE NATION A PAINTING BY WILLIAM DYCE ENTITLED WELSH 'LANDSCAPE WITH TWO WOMEN KNITTING (1860)', THANKS TO THE CRUCIAL FUNDING GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL HERITAGE MEMORIAL FUND (NHMF), MEMBERSHIP CHARITY, THE ART FUND AND OTHERS. THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE NHMF AND THE ART FUND, WHO EACH AWARDED A GRANT OF £166,000, ONE MAJOR DONOR, A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT GIFTS AND NEARLY 150 OTHER INDIVIDUAL DONORS, AMGUEDDFA CYMRU HAS NOW ACQUIRED THE PAINTING FOR £557,218. WELSH LANDSCAPE WITH TWO WOMEN KNITTING FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE SIR DAVID SCOTT WAS SOLD AT SOTHEBY'S, LONDON, IN NOVEMBER 2008. IN NOVEMBER 2009 A TEMPORARY EXPORT BAR WAS PLACED ON THE PAINTING, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BUYER TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP THE IMPORTANT WORK IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. IT HAS NOW BEEN SAVED FOR THE NATION BY AMGUEDDFA CYMRU, WHICH HAS HAD AN INTEREST IN OBTAINING THE WORK FOR SOME TIME. A CELEBRATION OF WELSH RURAL LIFE, THE PAINTING DEPICTS TWO WOMEN IN FOLK COSTUME INTO A TIGHTLY OBSERVED HILLSIDE IN SNOWDONIA. WILLIAM DYCE WAS ORIGINALLY FROM SCOTLAND AND CAME TO WALES FOR HIS HEALTH AND A 'CHANGE OF AIR' IN 1860. HE WAS IMMEDIATELY CAPTIVATED BY THE AREA. THE PAINTING, BASED ON SKETCHED MATERIAL FROM HIS EXCURSION, WAS PROBABLY PAINTED IN THE STUDIO ON HIS RETURN TO LONDON. THE FINE DEPICTION OF THE NORTH WALES LANDSCAPE ILLUSTRATES THE POPULARITY OF THE CONWY VALLEY AMONGST VICTORIAN PAINTERS, AND CAN BE COMPARED WITH THE WORKS BY DAVID COX, BENJAMIN LEADER AND HENRY CLARENCE WHAITE. WELSH LANDSCAPE WITH TWO WOMEN KNITTING IS ALSO A MEDITATION OF THE TRANSITORY NATURE OF HUMAN LIFE AND ON THE PASSAGE OF TIME. THE DYCE PAINTING IS THE ONLY KNOWN WELSH SUBJECT PICTURE BY AN ARTIST WHO ABSORBED MANY PRE-RAPHAELITE PRINCIPLES. IT WILL NOW FORM A PART OF WALES' NATIONAL ART COLLECTION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING RE-DISPLAYED AT NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.museumwales.ac.uk

CRISTIANO RONALDO FOR ARMANI UNDERWEAR

GIORGIO ARMANI HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED ITS STUNNING NEW MEN'S UNDERWEAR CAMPAIGN FEATURING SEDUCTIVE MUSCULAR-LOOKING CRISTIANO RONALDO. THE FAMOUS FOOTBALLER IS APPEARING FOR HIS SECOND SEASON AS THE FACE OF EMPORIO ARMANI UNDERWEAR AND ARMANI JEANS. THE NEW IMAGES ARE FROM THE AUTUMN/WINTER 2010-2011 ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN. THE ADS WERE HOT ON LOCATION IN MADRID BY ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHIC DUO MERT ALAS AND MARCUS PIGGOT. THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE START IN JULY AROUND THE WORLD ON SIGNATURE BILLBOARDS IN MAJOR CITIES SUCH AS NEW YORK, LONDON, PARIS AND TOKYO. IN SEPTEMBER THERE WILL BE A COMMERCIAL SPOT FEATURING RONALDO TO SHOWCASE THE NEW COLLECTION.

WORKMEN DISCOVER POSTER ART IN LONDON'S UNDERGROUND

FROM THE GLOOM OF A LONDON UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY AN ASTONISHING ARRAY OF POSTERS EMERGES TO PROVIDE A WELCOME BURST OF COLOUR AND A FASCINATING INSIGHT INTO THE CAPITAL'S PAST. WORKMEN ONLY CAME ACROSS THE POSTERS A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THEY CARRIED OUT RENOVATION WORKS AT NOTTING HILL TUBE STATION IN WEST LONDON. IN THE 1950s ELEVATORS WERE TAKEN OUT AT THE STATION TO BE REPLACED BY ESCALATORS. THE POSTERS WERE ALL FOUND IN AN OLD PASSAGEWAY LEADING TO AN ELEVATOR. HOWARD COLLINS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR LONDON UNDERGROUND SAID: 'THIS IS A TRULY INCREDIBLE FIND. HERITAGE IS A HUGE PART OF LONDON UNDERGROUND'S IDENTITY AND THESE 1950s VINTAGE POSTERS SHOW WHAT A RICH HISTORY THE LONDON TUBE HAS HAD. THESE FASCINATING TREASURES WERE FOUND WHILE WORK WAS BEING CARRIED OUT TO UPGRADE THE STATION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. UNTIL WE CAN FIND A WAY TO REMOVE THE POSTERS WITHOUT DAMAGING THEM, THESE DELICATE HISTORICAL PIECES WILL REMAIN WHERE THEY WERE FOUND. WE WILL ENSURE THAT THEY ARE KEPT SECURE AND WELL-LOOKED AFTER.' THE POSTERS ALSO SHOW THE STYLE OF ART USED TO GRAB THE ATTENTION OF PASSERBY. THE 50s DEVELOPED ITS OWN ADVERTISING STYLE WHICH FOLLOWED ON FROM THE EARLIER ART DECO MOVEMENT AND AWAY FROM THE STRIDENT PROPAGANDA PUT OUT DURING WORLD WAR II. IT ALSO GAVE ADVERTISERS AND DESIGNERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION TO CONSUMER GOODS AND CINEMATIC TREATS. NOTTING HILL IS WELL KNOWN TODAY BY FILM GOERS AS THE SETTING FOR THE 1999 FILM OF THE SAME NAME STARRING HUGH GRANT AND JULIA ROBERTS. THE DATES OF THE FILMS ADVERTISED INDICATES THAT THEY WERE PUT UP IN THE LATE 1950s.

BONHAM'S TO SELL RARE JOAN OF ARC ALMS DISH

A UNIQUE BRASS ALMS DISH DECORATED WITH THE ARMS OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL HEROINE AND CATHOLIC SAINT, JOAN OF ARC (1412-1431), IS TO BE SOLD AT BONHAM'S, LONDON, AT ITS MONTHLY PERIOD DESIGN SALE ON 6.JULY. BELIEVED TO DATE FROM THE EARLY 15th CENTURY AND INSCRIBED 1429, THE DISH HAS ATTRACTED A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £3,000 – 5,000. THE DISH COMMEMORATES JOAN OF ARC'S VICTORY AT ORLEANS IN THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR IN 1429, WHICH RESULTED IN THE CORONATION OF CHARLES VII. IT IS INSCRIBED WITH 18th CENTURY FRENCH TEXT: 'IN 1429, AFTER THE RELIEF OF ORLEANS, KING CHARLES VII, WHO WAS STAYING AT CHINON, BESTOWED ON JOAN OF ARC THE COAT OF ARMS, WHICH THE MODEL SHOWS OPPOSITE, TO DECORATE HER STANDARD AND HERSELF.' JOAN OF ARC HAS REMAINED AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN WESTERN CULTURE AND THE STORY OF HER LIFE HAS INSPIRED WORKS BY COMPOSERS AND WRITER INCLUDING VERDI, TCHAIKOVSKY, SHAKESPEARE AND GEORGE BERNARD SHAW. THE GREAT AMERICAN WRITER MARK TWAIN DESCRIBED JOAN AS 'PERHAPS THE ONLY ENTIRELY UNSELFISH PERSON WHOSE NAME HAS A PLACE IN PROFANE HISTORY'.

SJ PHILLIPS LTD PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION OF PASTE JEWELRY

A GLITTERING EXHIBITION OF PASTE AND OTHER JEWELRY DATING FROM THE 18th AND 19th CENTURIES WILL BE STAGED BY THE SJ PHILLIPS LTD, LONDON, 15-29.JUNE AT THEIR 139 NEW BOND STREET LOCATION. FOUNDED IN 1869, SJ PHILLIPS IS A LEADING DEALER IN ANTIQUE AND MODERN SILVER, JEWELRY AND OBJECTS DE VERTU AND ONE OF THE OLDEST FAMILY-OWNED ANTIQUES SHOPS IN THE WORLD, RUN BY NICOLAS, JONATHAN AND FRANCIS NORTON, GREAT-GRANDSONS OF SJ PHILLIPS. THE EXHIBITION, COMPRISING SOME 100 PIECES, MOST OF WHICH COME FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF PASTE BETWEEN 1750 AND 1900, AND IT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A FULL COLOUR CATALOG BY DIANA SCARISBRICK, THE WORLD RENOWNED JEWELRY HISTORIAN. AS THE FIRST PUBLICATION ON THE SUBJECT FOR OVER 30 YEARS, IT WILL THROW NEW LIGHT ON AN AREA OF JEWELRY THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED. REMARKABLY, THE JEWELRY, WITH ITS WONDERFUL COLOURS AND WEARABLE DESIGNS, HAS NOT DATED AND STILL APPEALS TO WOMEN TODAY AND IS RELATIVELY ACCESSIBLE WITH PRICES RANGING FROM $500 TO OVER $25,000. PASTE JEWELRY IS PART OF A TRADITION DATING BACK TO ANTIQUITY WHEN CRAFTSMEN DISCOVERED THAT GLASS COULD PROVIDE A FINE SUBSTITUTE FOR THE COLOUR, BRILLIANCE AND SPLENDOR OF EXPENSIVE GEMSTONES. ROMAN WRITERS, DESCRIBING THE PASSION OF RICH MEN AND WOMEN FOR GOLD JEWELRY WITH EMERALDS AND PEARLS IMPORTED FROM THE EAST, REMARKED THAT THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD GENUINE GEMS SOUGHT THE SAME EFFECT. SIMILARLY IN THE MIDDLE AGES, WHEN WEALTH WAS ALSO EXPRESSED BY THE POSSESSION OF VALUABLE GOLD AND JEWELRY, THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR SUBSTITUTES MET BY THE GLASS MAKERS OF BOHEMIA, VENICE AND PARIS. GLASS EVEN APPEARS IN THE COLLECTIONS OF ELIZABETH I, MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, QUEEN ANNE (WIFE OF JAMES I) AND HENRI IV. THE EXHIBITION OFFERS AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PASTE JEWELS OVER 150 YEARS OF CHANGING TASTES AND FASHIONS. IT DEMONSTRATES THE QUALITY, EXCELLENT DESIGN, COLOUR, RANGE AND CHARM OF THE BEST PAST AND SHOWS WHY IT HAS GIVEN PLEASURE TO WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE GENERATIONS AND CONTINUES TO DO SO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.sjphillips.com

LOUIS VUITTON MON MONOGRAM FOR FATHER'S DAY

DURING THE GRAND GOLDEN AGE OF LUXURY TRAVEL ARISTOCRATS, CELEBRITIES SPORTING GENTLEMEN AND MILITARY OFFICERS WOULD HAVE THEIR CUSTOM-MADE LUGGAGE EMBLAZONED WITH THEIR MONOGRAM, RACING OR REGIMENTAL COLOURS TO DISTINGUISH THEIR CASES AND HELP THE ARMY OF PORTERS NEEDED TO CARRY IT ALL ENSURE THE COLLECTION WAS COMPLETE. LOUIS VUITTON HAS ALWAYS OFFERED A STUNNING ARRAY OF LUXURY SERVICES, NOW CALLED 'MON MONOGRAM' TO ITS MORE DISCERNING AND DEMANDING CLIENTELE, AND RECENTLY ENABLED CUSTOMERS TO EXPLORE THE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES ONLINE, SOME 200 MILLION IN ALL GIVEN THE RANGE OF AVAILABLE COLOURS AND OPTIONS. NOW IN CELEBRATION OF FATHER'S DAY THE FAMED LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE, WHICH RECENTLY OPENED AN AMAZING NEW FLAGSHIP IN LONDON, HAS SELECTED FOUR DIFFERENT STYLES OF MEN'S LUGGAGE TO SHOWCASE THE MON MONOGRAM PROGRAM FOR THE NEW JET SET TRAVELER. ON OFFER ARE THE PEGASE 45 ($2,800) AND 55 ($3,270) WHEELED CABIN CASES, DESIGNED AS THE PERFECT ACCOMPANIMENT TO PRIVATE AIR TRAVEL. THE ICONIC SPEEDY 40 ($1,030) AND THE CLASSIC KEEPALL 55 ($1,370)

'CUP-A-WINE' CONCEPT PROVES DRAGONS' DEN WRONG

WHEN ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BBC's 'DRAGONS' DEN' PANEL OF FINANCIAL EXPERTS SAY AN INVENTION IS RUBBISH, MOST PEOPLE RETURN TO THEIR DAY JOBS, VOWING NEVER TO COME UP WITH A SILLY IDEA AGAIN. BUT INVENTOR JAMES NASH REFUSED TO GIVE UP ON HIS DREAM AND HE IS HAVING THE LAST LAUGH AS MARKS & SPENCER STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR HIS UNIQUE 'CUP-A-WINE' CONCEPT. NASH'S INVENTION, A SINGLE-SERVE PLASTIC GLASS OF FRENCH WINE WITH A TEAR-OFF LID, SOLVES THE PROBLEM OF FEELING LIKE A GLASS OF WINE BUT NOT HAVING A GLASS OR A CORKSCREW HANDY. NASH FIRST TOOK THE IDEA TO DRAGONS' DEN LAST YEAR ONLY FOR IT TO BE REJECTED OUT OF HAND. HE ASKED 'DRAGONS' PETER JONES, THEO PAPHITIS, DUNCAN BANNATYNE, JAMES CAAN AND DEBORAH MEADEN FOR £250,000 FOR A 25 PERCENT STAKE IN HIS BUSINESS, WINE INNOVATIONS INC. HOWEVER, THEY GAVE HIM A GRILLING AND BOWED OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNCONVINCED ANYONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WINE SOLD IN PLASTIC GLASSES. THE NEW M&S LE FROGLET WINE INDIVIDUAL GLASSES, WHICH EACH COST £2.25 FOR A SHIRAZ, ROSE AND CHARDONNAY, WERE LAUNCHED JUST LAST WEEK AND THE STORE CHAIN HAS FOUND THEY QUICKLY SELL OUT. THE WEBSITE cluelessaboutwine.co.uk SAID SHOPPERS SEEM EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW CONCEPT. 'JUDGING BY THE BUZZ IN THE SHOP I SUSPECT THAT THESE MAY WELL BE A HIT', IT SAID. 'THIS IS A NEW IDEA, AND WHAT IT DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IS TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A REALISTIC PORTION, A MORE MANAGEABLE DRINKING QUANTITY WHICH SAVES YOU SPOILING A WHOLE BOTTLE OF WINE.' NASH WHO IS BASED IN SURREY, SAID: 'IT WAS DISHEARTENING TO BE DISMISSED BY ALL THE DRAGONS, BUT I KNEW I HAD A GREAT CONCEPT WHICH WOULD WORK IN OUTDOOR EVENTS, BBQ, PICNIC, CONCERTS AND WOULDN'T GIVE UP. I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO FACING THE DRAGONS AGAIN AS 'THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY'. HOPEFULLY SALES OF THE PRODUCT WILL SHOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.' A M&S SPOKESMAN SAID: 'THE GLASSES ARE MERCHANDISED IN OUR 'FOOD ON THE MOVE' SECTION, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE AISLE PEOPLE ON THE GO HEAD TO, PARTICULARLY OFFICE WORKERS. WE THINK THAT THEY ARE PROVING POPULAR WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PERHAPS ENJOY THE SUMMER WITH A GLASS OF WINE IN THE PARK AS PART ON AN IMPROMPTU PICNIC, EITHER AFTER WORK AND FOR A RELAXING LUNCH.'

CHRISTIE'S SELLS MODIGLIANI BUST FOR RECORD $52.8 MILLION

A SCULPTED STONE HEAD BY ARTIST AMEDEO MODIGLIANI SOLD AT CHRISTIE'S IN PARIS ON MONDAY FOR $52.8 MILLION, BREAKING THE RECORD FOR A WORK BY THE ITALIAN ARTIST, THE AUCTION HOUSE SAID IN A RECENT STATEMENT. IT WAS ALSO THE HIGHEST PRICED WORK SOLD AN AN AUCTION IN FRANCE, CHRISTIE'S SAID. AN ANONYMOUS BUYER BID FOR THE PIECE BY TELEPHONE. THE PIECE, SCULPTED BETWEEN 1910 AND 1912, DEPICTS AN ELONGATED HEAD WITH ALMOND-SHAPED EYES AND FLOWING HAIR, AND IT IS REMINISCENT OF THE ARTIST'S PAINTINGS. MODIGLIANI, WHO LIVED FROM 1884 TO 1920, ORIGINALLY FOCUSED ON SCULPTURE BUT SWITCHED TO PAINTING IN PART BECAUSE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS. THE ART WORK WAS PART OF A COLLECTION AMASSED BY GASTON LEVY, A FRENCH BUSINESSMAN WHO FOUNDED THE COUNTRY'S MONOPRIX SUPERMARKET CHAIN. LEVY DIED IN 1977. MODIGLIANI WAS ONE OF JUST THREE ARTISTS IN HIS GENERATION TO ACHIEVE DISTINCTION IN THREE DIFFERENT MEDIA: PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE AND DRAWING. THE OTHER TWO WERE PICASSO AND MATISSE. MODIGLIANI'S SCULPTURES ARE VERY RARE. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE ONLY 27 CONFIRMED MODIGLIANI SCULPTURES OF WHICH 17 ARE AT PRESTIGIOUS MUSEUMS.THE LEVY SCULPTURE HAS ENORMOUS PRESENCE. THE HEAD IS VERY VERTICAL BUT THE HAIR EXTENDS BACK IN A STRONGLY HORIZONTAL MANNER. DESPITE THE APPARENT FRONTALITY OF THE WORK, THE SCULPTURE IS CLEARLY MEANT TO BE SEEN ALL AROUND AND CANNOT BE FULLY APPRECIATED ANY OTHER WAY. ON ONE SIDE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE HAIR IS BLOWING IN THE WIND. WITH ITS SLENDER NECK, FINE FEATURES AND BULB OF HAIR IN BACK, THE SCULPTURE RECALLS THE FAMOUS BUST OF QUEEN NEFERTITI IN BERLIN'S EGYPTIAN MUSEUM. THE LEVY HEAD ALSO COMBINES THE RAW, SENSUAL POWER OF A MICHELANGELO STONE FIGURE WITH THE HAUNTING, TOTEMIC MYSTERY OF AN AFRICAN TRIBAL MASK, TWO OTHER SOURCES THAT INSPIRED MODIGLIANI IN HIS SCULPTURE.

MARILYN MONROE'S GOWN SELLS FOR A RECORD £213,000 AT AUCTION

THE 'DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND' DRESS WORN BY MARILYN MONROE HAS FETCHED A STAGGERING £213,000 AT AN AUCTION OF WELL-KNOWN FILM PROPS AND COSTUMES. THE STUNNING GOWN, WORN BY THE STAR AS THE GOLD-DIGGING LORELEI LEE IN GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, TOPPED ITS EXPECTED £170,000. THE AUCTION WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST TO HAVE BEEN IN HOLLYWOOD WITH 1,500 ITEMS UP FOR SALE. OTHER ITEMS BEING SOLD INCLUDED THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST HAT WORN BY MARGARET HAMILTON IN THE ICONIC FILM THE WIZARD OF OZ, WHICH FETCHED £137,420, AND THE HOLY GRAIL FROM THE INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, WHICH SOLD FOR £10,993. THE AUCTION FEATURED SEVERAL ITEMS OF STAR WARS MEMORABILIA, AN X-WING FIGHTER FILMING MINIATURE FROM STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE, FETCHED £65,274, THE FIRST TIME ONE HAS EVER BEEN AVAILABLE FOR AUCTION. THE BOTTOMLESS CARPET BAG USED BY JULIE ANDREWS IN DISNEY'S MARY POPPINS WAS SOLD FOR £8,000. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS 'ONE OF THE MOST CHARISMATIC AND ICONIC PIECES OF FILM HISTORY'. THE FACE OF BALOK, WHICH APPEARED IN THE CLOSING CREDITS OF MOST EPISODES OF STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES, FETCHED £48,000, TWICE THE EXPECTED PRICE. JOHNNY DEPP'S SCISSOR HANDS FROM TIM BURTON'S EDWARD SCISSORHANDS WENT FOR £18,885, WHILE THE ACTOR'S JACK SPARROW JACKET FROM PIRATES FROM THE CARIBBEAN SOLD FOR £12,367. THE PREDATOR MASK AND 6ft 9in COSTUME FROM PREDATOR SOLD FOR £54,968 AND A RARE ALIEN FROM RIDLEY SCOTT'S 1979 ALIEN FETCHED £41,226. THE HEAD WAS DESIGNED AND CREATED BY SWISS ARTIST HR GIGER, WHO WON AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR HIS DESIGNS FOR THE LANDMARK FILM. THE PROFILES IN HISTORY AUCTION TOOK PLACE IN LOS ANGELES FROM 10-12.JUNE.

MINOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY TO LOSE POLICE PROTECTION

THE DAUGHTERS OF PRINCE ANDREW ARE TO LOSE THEIR 24-HOUR POLICE PROTECTION AFTER A ROW ABOUT THE ANNUAL COST OF THEIR BODYGUARDS, IT IS UNDERSTOOD. CONCERNS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED FOR A LONG TIME BY SUCCESSIVE METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMISSIONERS OVER THE £500,000 A TEAR BILL PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYER FOR PROVIDING PRINCESS EUGENIE AND PRINCESS BEATRICE, AND OTHER MINOR ROYAL WITH PERMANENT ARMED PROTECTION. THE COST OF GUARDING EUGENIE, WHO IS IN HER FIRST YEAR AT NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT £250,000. INCLUDED IN THE COST ARE THE SALARIES, ACCOMMODATION, LIVING AND TRAVEL EXPENSES OF TWO FULL-TIME BODYGUARDS, HER SISTER, WHO IS STUDYING IN LONDON, ALSO HAS THE ROUND THE CLOCK PROTECTION. ACCORDING TO THE SUNDAY TIMES A SECURITY REVIEW HAS PROPOSED THAT THE PRINCESSES BE STRIPPED OF THEIR POLICE PROTECTION AND HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY RAVEC, THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF ROYALTY AND VIPs. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE PRINCESS WILL BE GIVEN PROTECTION FOR HIGH PROFILE EVENTS, THE PAPER ADDED. SIR PAUL STEPHENSON, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN TELLING THE HOME OFFICE FOR SOMETIME THAT THE MET CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE ESTIMATED £50 MILLION A YEAR IT COSTS TO PROTECT 22 MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, MANY OF WHOM ARE MINOR MEMBERS.

QUEEN ELIZABETH MARKS OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY WITH TROOPING THE COLOUR

THE QUEEN HAS MARKED HER 84th OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY ON SATURDAY AT THE TROOPING THE COLOUR PARADE. THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS GATHERED TO WATCH THE TRADITIONAL ANNUAL DISPLAY OF MILITARY POMP AND PAGEANTRY ON LONDON'S HORSE GUARDS PARADE, IN WHITEHALL, CENTRAL LONDON. THE QUEEN WORE A SUMMERY LILAC OUTFIT AND HAT FOR THE TELEVISED MILITARY SPECTACLE INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF SOLDIERS BOTH ON FOOT AND MOUNTED ON HORSEBACK. SHE CELEBRATED HER ACTUAL BIRTHDAY ON 21.APRIL, WHEN SHE TURNED 84, BUT THE RECENT CEREMONY MARKED HER OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY, WHICH IS ALWAYS IN JUNE. THE PARADE STARTED UNDER CLOUDY SKIES BUT IT QUICKLY BEGAN TO CLEAR AS THE MORNING WENT ON, ALLOWING THE WARM SUN THROUGH. THE 1st BATTALION GRENADIER GUARDS WERE PARADING THEIR FLAG COLOUR THIS YEAR. MANY OF THE BATTALION'S SOLDIERS RETURNED FROM AFGHANISTAN TWO MONTHS AGO. AFTER TAKING THE ROYAL SALUTE, THE QUEEN AND SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY HEADED BACK TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE FOR A 30 AIRCRAFT STRONG RAF FLY-PAST, THIRTEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT WERE DUE TO TAKE PART IN THE FLY-PAST, INCLUDING WORLD WAR II SPITFIRE, HURRICANE AND LANCASTER, MODERN TYPHOON FIGHTERS AND THE RED ARROW AEROBATIC DISPLAY TEAM. BEFORE THE PARADE THE COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WHO RECENTLY UNDERWENT MINOR SURGERY ON HIS LEFT HAND, PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ARMED FORCES. HE SAID: 'ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT THE SERVICES CAN DO IS THAT THEY TAKE ORDINARY PEOPLE AND TURN THEM INTO EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS, AND ONCE THEY'RE GIVEN THE PROPER TRAINING AND MOTIVATION THAT INTERESTS THEM, THAT REALLY TURNS THEM AROUND COMPLETELY AND THEY BECOME VERY REMARKABLE PEOPLE.' THE QUEEN FIRST TOOK THE ROYAL SALUTE IN 1951 WHEN SHE WAS DEPUTIZED FOR HER FATHER KING GEORGE VI WHEN HE WAS SICK. SHE HAS ATTENDED EVERY CEREMONY BAR ONE IN 1955 WHEN THERE WAS A NATIONAL RAIL STRIKE. THE TRADITION OF TROOPING THE COLOUR ORIGINATES BACK TO PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE WHEN FLAGS, KNOWN AS COLOURS, WERE CARRIED ALONG THE RANK OF SOLDIERS SO THEY COULD BE SEEN AND RECOGNIZED. IN 1748, IT WAS DECIDED THE TROOPING WOULD ALSO BE USED TO HONOR THE SOVEREIGN'S BIRTHDAY.

SOTHEBY'S SELLS MARBLE TOSO FOR RECORD $7,362,500

IN A PACKED SALESROOM AT SOTHEBY'S, NEW YORK, RECENTLY, A MARBLE TORSO OF AN EMPEROR (PROBABLY AUGUSTUS, TIBERIUS OF CLAUDIUS), ROMAN IMPERIAL, JULIO CLAUDIAN, 1st HALF OF THE 1st CENTURY AD, SURPASSED ALL EXPECTATIONS, SELLING FOR A REMARKABLE $7,362,500, MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE HIGH ESTIMATE OF $1.2 MILLION. AT LEAST SEVEN BIDDERS IN THE ROOM AND ON NUMEROUS TELEPHONES PURSUED THE STUNNING PIECE, WHICH WAS FROM AN AUSTRIAN FAMILY COLLECTION. THE SALESROOM ERUPTED IN APPLAUSE WHEN AN ANONYMOUS BIDDER, PARTICIPATING OVER THE TELEPHONE, CAST THE WINNING BID. THE MARBLE TORSO OF AN EMPEROR WAS INCLUDED IN A SALE OF ANTIQUITIES WHICH TOTALED $17,479,940 (est. $3.2/4.8 million), THE HIGHEST TOTAL FOR A SALE IN THIS CATEGORY AT SOTHEBY'S SINCE DECEMBER 2007. THE SAME AUSTRIAN FAMILY COLLECTION THAT CONSIGNED THE TORSO HAD ALSO CONSIGNED THREE SATYRS FIGHTING A SERPENT, ROMA IMPERIAL, CIRCA 1st CENTURY AD, A REDISCOVERED ANTIQUITY FROM THE COLLECTION OF ONE OF THE GREATEST ARTS PATRONS OF ALL TIME, LORENZO DE MEDICI. AS THE ONLY ANCIENT SCULPTURE CONFIRMED TO HAVE BEEN IN 'IL MAGNIFICO'S' COLLECTION, COMPETITION WAS ALSO FIERCE FOR THE ANCIENT TREASURE, WHICH FINALLY SOLD TO AN ANONYMOUS PRIVATE BUYER FOR $3,442,500, MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE HIGH ESTIMATE OF $500,000.

SOTHEBY'S TO SELL VOLLARD COLLECTION

A LONG-LOST TREASURE TROVE OF IMPRESSIONIST AND MODERN ART NOT SEEN SINCE WORLD WAR II WILL BE OFFERED AT AUCTION IN LONDON AND PARIS, SOTHEBY'S SAID IN A STATEMENT FRIDAY. THE STUNNING HISTORIC PAINTINGS, INCLUDING PAINTINGS, PRINTS AND DRAWINGS, BELONGS TO PARISIAN ART DEALER AMBROISE VOLLARD, WHO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE PROMOTING ARTISTS INCLUDING RENOIR, CEZANNE, PICASSO AND MATISSE. THE COLLECTION WAS FOUND IN 1979 IN A PARIS BANK VAULT. IT HAD BEEN NEGLECTED FOR DECADES BECAUSE ERICH SLOMIVIC, AN ACQUAINTANCE OF VOLLARD WHO DEPOSITED THE ART IN THE BANK IN 1939, WAS KILLED BY THE NAZIS IN 1942. THE KEY WORK IS A 1905 PAINTING BY FRENCH ARTIST ANDRE DERAIN VALUED AT UP TO $18 MILLION. DERAIN CO-FOUNDED THE SHORT LIVED FAUVE ART MOVEMENT WITH MATISSE IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY. 'THE CONDITION OF THIS PAINTING IS ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE', SAID THOMAS BOMPARD, A MODERN ART SPECIALIST AT SOTHEBY'S, PARIS. 'FOR A COLLECTOR OF TODAY, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST PAINTINGS OF ONE OF THE GREATEST NAMES OF THIS REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT.' OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A PORTRAIT OF THE WRITER EMILE ZOLA BY CEZANNE, THREE RARE MONOTYPES BY DEGAS AND A PRINT BY RENOIR. DERIAN'S PAINTING WILL BE SOLD IN LONDON ON 22.JUNE, WHEN A MANET SELF-PORTRAIT ESTIMATED AT $43.5 MILLION ALSO WILL BE OFFERED. THE REST OF THE VOLLARD COLLECTION WILL BE SOLD IN PARIS ON 29.JUNE.