TOMB OF TUTANKHAMUN SET FOR FIVE YEAR RENOVATION PROJECT

EGYPT'S FAMOUS TOMB OF TUTANKHAMUN WILL UNDERGO A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT TO CLEAN AND RESTORE THE LAVISH WALL PAINTINGS IN THE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS OF THE BOY KING WHOSE GOLDEN MASK AND ARTIFACTS HAVE LONG AWED THE WORLD. THE PROJECT TO RESTORE THE COUNTRY'S MOST FAMOUS TOMB IS THE LATEST COLLABORATION BETWEEN EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES AND THE LOS ANGELES BASED GETTY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE, WHICH IN THE PAST RESTORED NEARBY TOMBS AND DESIGNED AIRTIGHT CASES TO DISPLAY EGYPT'S MUMMIES. SINCE THE SMALL, FOUR-ROOMED TOMB AND ITS FAMOUS GOLDEN BURIAL MASK WERE DISCOVERED IN 1922 BY BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGIST HOWARD CARTER, OBSERVERS HAVE NOTED STRANGE BROWN SPOTS MARRING THE WALL MARKINGS. "I ALWAYS SEE THE TOMB OF KING TUT AND WONDER ABOUT THOSE SPOTS, WHICH NO SCIENTIST HAS BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN", SAID JAHI HAWASS, THE HEAD OF THE SCA, IN A STATEMENT. "NOW I AM HAPPY THAT THE GETTY WILL LOOK AT THE TOMB AND PRESERVE ITS BEAUTIFUL SCENES", HE ADDED. THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS VISIT THE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS IN THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS EVERY MONTH, BRINGING HEAT AND HUMIDITY, WHICH DAMAGE THE MORE THAN 3,000 YEAR OLD TOMB. TUTANKHAMUN WASN'T EGYPT'S MOST POWERFUL OR IMPORTANT KING, BUT HIS STAGGERING TREASURES, RUMORS OF A MYSTERIOUS CURSE THAT PLAGUED CARTER AND HIS TEAM, DEBUNKED BY EXPERTS LONG AGO, AND SEVERAL BOOKS AND TV DOCUMENTARIES DEDICATED TO HIM HAVE ADDED TO THE INTRIGUE. ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN PRESENT YEARS HAVE TRIED TO RESOLVE LINGERING QUESTIONS OVER HOW HE DIED AND HIS PRECISE ROYAL LINEAGE. IN 2005, SCIENTIST REMOVED TUT'S MUMMY FROM HIS TOMB AND PLACED IT INTO A PORTABLE CT SCAN FOR 15 MINUTES TO OBTAIN A THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGE. THE SCANS WERE THE FIRST EVER DONE ON AN EGYPTIAN MUMMY. THE RESULTS RULED OUT THAT TUT WAS VIOLENTLY MURDERED, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF DEFINITIVELY CONCLUDING HOW HE DIED AROUND 1323 BC. A RECENT HIGHLY PUBLICIZED GLOBAL TOUR OF TUTANKHAMUN'S ARTIFACTS DREW MORE THAN 4 MILLION PEOPLE DURING ITS INITIAL FOUR-CITY AMERICAN TOUR. THE CONSERVATION PLAN WILL INVOLVE A TWO-YEAR RESEARCH PERIOD TO DETERMINE THE CAUSES OF DETERIORATION, FOLLOWED BY THREE YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATION. THE SCA SAID IT HAD YET TO DECIDE HOW LONG THE TOMB WOULD BE CLOSED DURING THAT TIME. THE GETTY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE WORKS TO ADVANCE CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES FOR ART, PARTICULARLY ANCIENT SITES, AROUND THE WORLD.

SMITHSONIAN'S ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART PRESENTS SEASON'S GREETINGS: HOLIDAY CARDS

'SEASON'S GREETINGS: HOLIDAY CARDS FROM THE ARCHIVES OF AMERICAN ART' CELEBRATES THE PERSONAL STYLE AND SENTIMENT OF ARTISTS' HANDMADE HOLIDAY CARDS. THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON DISPLAY FROM 20.NOVEMBER THROUGH 10.JANUARY. 2010, IN THE LAWRENCE A FLEISCHMAN GALLERY AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S DONALD W REYNOLDS CENTER FOR AMERICAN ART AND PORTRAITURE. THE CARDS FEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION OFFER INSIGHT INTO HOW ARTISTS IMAGINED THE HOLIDAYS. GREETINGS OF THE SEASON AND WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR RANGE FROM PHILIP GUSTON'S WATERCOLOUR OF A COZY WINTER FIRE TO ERNEST BLUMENSCHEIN'S SILK SCREEN OF TAOS. WHIMSY AND HUMOR CAN BE FOUND IN DESIGNS BY WILLIAM GROPPER, WILLIAM T WILEY AND ALEXANDER CALDER. DAN FLAVIN, HANNE DARBOVEN AND KAY SAGE SENT QUIRKY GREETINGS IN THE FORM OF STICKERS, MICKEY MOUSE AND RUBBER BANDS. PHOTOGRAPHERS ARNOLD NEWMAN AND NICKOLAS MURY SNAPPED HOLIDAY CHEER WITH THEIR CAMERAS WHILE OTHER ARTISTS MAILED WEAVINGS, COLLAGES, PAINTINGS AND PRINTS. COLLECTIVELY THESE HOLIDAY CARDS CONFIRM THE IRREPRESSIBLE ARTISTRY OF THEIR SENDERS.

MOET & CHANDON UNVEILS LIMITED EDITION MOET CELEBRATION HOLIDAY SET

TO CELEBRATE THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON, MOET & CHANDON HAS RECENTLY UNVEILED A SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION MOET CELEBRATION, WHICH IS LIMITED TO JUST 500 STUNNING SETS. THE SET COMPRISES OF EIGHT INDIVIDUAL CRYSTAL CHAMPAGNE FLUTES AND A BOTTLE OF MOET & CHANDON IMPERIAL MAGNUM. EACH GLASS HAS IMPERIAL GOLDEN BUBBLES, MARKED INDIVIDUALLY WITH COLOURED SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL GEMS. THE DESIGNER SET WAS CREATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RENOWNED PARISIAN JEWELERS AND ENGRAVERS LA MAISON ARTHUS-BERTRAND.

ITALY OPENS FIRST NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM

ITALY IS OPENING ITS FIRST NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE IN A BID TO SHED ITS IMAGE AS MERELY A KEEPER OF A GLORIOUS ARTISTIC PAST. THE $223 MILLION MAXXI CULTURAL CENTER OPENS 14.NOVEMBER, FOR A LIMITED WEEKEND RUN BEFORE ITS FULL-FLEDGED OPENING IN THE NEW YEAR. THE MUSEUM, LOCATED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF ROME, WAS DESIGNED BY ZAHA HADID, THE IRAQI-BORN ARCHITECT WHO WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE PRESTIGIOUS PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE IN 2004. THE CULTURE MINISTRY DECIDED TO BUILD THE MUSEUM IN 1998, RECOGNIZING THAT THE COUNTRY THAT PRODUCED GIOTTO, MICHELANGELO AND BERNINI, THE AVANT-GARDE ARTISTS OF THEIR TIMES, MUST CONTINUE TO PROMOTE CONTEMPORARY CREATIVITY IF IT WANTS TO HAVE A CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE FUTURE. THE CENTER, OFFICIALLY CALLED THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE XXI CENTURY ARTS, IS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF CUTTING EDGE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS TO BE BUILT I THE ETERNAL CITY, WHICH IS BETTER KNOWN FOR ITS ROMAN RUINS, BAROQUE BASILICAS AND RENAISSANCE PALAZZI. RENZO PIANO'S AUDITORIUM OPENED IN 2002, GIVING ROME ITS FIRST MAJOR-LEAGUE CONCERT HALL. MORE RECENTLY AND CONTROVERSIALLY, RICHARD MEIER'S ARA PACIS MUSEUM, WHICH HOUSES A 2,000 YEAR-OLD ALTER, OPENED IN 2005. CRITICS COMPLAINED THE BOX-LIKE SHELL WAS A MODERN BLOT IN ROME'S HISTORIC CENTER. NO SUCH PROTESTS BEFELL HADID'S DESIGN, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE GROUNDS OF A FORMER MILITARY BARRACKS IN ROME'S FLAMINIO NEIGHBORHOOD, FAR FROM THE COBBLESTONED STREETS OF THE CENTER BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE REACHED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND NEAR THE NEW CONCERT HALL. HADID SAID SHE INTENDED THE SPACE TO BE AN 'URBAN CULTURAL CENTER', AND ARTS CAMPUS WITH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITION SPACES. THE BUILDING ITSELF; A SLEEK, WINDOWED BOX ON TOP OF A BOX, IS MADE OF CEMENT WALLS, STEEL STAIRS AND A GLASS ROOF, GIVING THE GALLERIES A NEUTRAL BACKDROP ILLUMINATED BY FILTERED NATURAL LIGHT.
HADID IS BEST KNOWN FOR HER TRAM STATION IN STRASBOURG AND HER VITRA FIRE STATION IN GERMANY, WHICH WAS CITED BY THE PRITZKER JURORS IN AWARDING HER THE 2004 PRIZE, ARCHITECTURE'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS HONOUR. MORE RECENTLY, SHE DESIGNED THE AQUATICS CENTER FOR THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS, THE GAMES' ARCHITECTURAL SHOWPIECE.

PINEL & PINEL GAME TRUNK

PINEL & PINEL HAS BEEN DESIGNING AND CREATING EXCLUSIVE LUXURY THEME TRUNKS, AND ITS LATEST STUNNING CREATION IS THE UNIQUE 'GAME TRUNK' FOR ALL THE ELITE GAMERS. CLAD IN SUBTLE LEATHER, IT HOUSES MORE THAN FORTY GAMES RANGING FROM CHESS TO TRIVIAL PURSUIT TO SCRABBLE AND MONOPOLY. FIVE DRAWERS IN VARIOUS SIZES TAKE CARE OF THE GAMES WHILE THE HAND CARVED CHESS PIECES ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN A LIGHTED RECESS, AND ON TOP THE LIDS OPENS UP TO REVEAL A SET OF SPECIALLY MADE CERAMIC POKER CHIPS. SURELY, IT IS A PIECE OF TOTAL LUXURY FOR SOMEONE WHO CANNOT KEEP AWAY FROM PLAYING GAMES WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON STYLE. THE PINEL & PINEL GAME TRUNK CAN BE ORDERED IN 51 DIFFERENT COLOUR COMBINATION OF LEATHER EXCLUSIVELY FROM PINEL & PINEL'S PARIS BOUTIQUE.

HARRODS VERY GOLD CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

DESPITE THE ONGOING RECESSION, A NUMBER OF STUNNING AND LUXURIOUS HOLIDAY GIFT SELECTIONS ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE BEDAZZLED SHOPS AND BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE. ONE HIGHLIGHT IS THE LUXURY 6 CHRISTMAS CRACKER COLLECTION FROM HARRODS FITS PERFECTLY INTO THE CATEGORY OF DELUXE GIFT ITEMS. VERY GOLD CRACKERS FLAUNT A LUXE 'VERY GOLD' DESIGN WITH GLITTER LEAFING AND RIBBON BOWS. IT ALSO FEATURES GLITTERS GOLD FEATHERS AND CHRISTMAS TREES. HANDCRAFTED TO EXCEPTIONAL STANDARDS THESE CRACKERS CONTAIN LUXURY GIFTS SUCH AS AN MP3 PLAYER, A FINE LEATHER PASSPORT HOLDER AND CRISTAL EARRINGS, CLOISONNE ENAMELED BOX WITH CRYSTALS, HANDBAG HOLDER TRAVEL SET, LUGGAGE TAG SET, AND MEN'S FINE SOCKS. EACH CRACKER ALSO CONTAINS A HAT FOR HIM AND HER, HUMOR AND TRIVIA BOOKLET. ONE BOX CONTAINS SIX HOLIDAY CRACKERS, WHICH IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT HARRODS OR harrods.com/harrodsstore, AND IS PRICED AT £600

KERRY TAYLOR AUCTIONS TO SELL AUDREY HEPBURN CLOTHING COLLECTION

THE WORLD REMAINS INSPIRED AND INTRIGUED BY THE ETERNAL FASHION ICON AUDREY HEPBURN. SOON HER FANS AND FOLLOWERS CAN SAMPLE HER LEGENDARY STYLE OF JOIE DO VIVRE AT AN UPCOMING AUCTION THAT INCLUDES 36 ITEMS OF CLOTHING ON OFFER DATING FROM 1953 TO THE LATE 1960s, AS WELL AS HATS, BELTS AND ACCESSORIES. KERRY TAYLOR AUCTIONS WILL BE HOLDING THE STUNNING SALE ON 8.DECEMBER IN LONDON. IN 1951, AUDREY LEFT EUROPE FOR AMERICA TO STAR IN THE BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF 'GIGI'. SHE SORTED THROUGH HER UNWANTED CLOTHES AND PASSED ON THE THINGS SHE NO LONGER NEEDED TO HER CLOSE FRIEND TANJA STAR-BUSMANN. OVER TIME THIS BECAME A HONORED TRADITION FOR THE STYLISH STAR AND HER FRIEND. THE AUCTION ALSO INCLUDES A GROUP OF LETTERS IN WHICH SHE DESCRIBES AN EARLY FILM BREAK, HER PROPOSED WEDDING TO JAMES HANSON AND THE TIME SHE SPENT FILMING 'ROMAN HOLIDAY'.
SOME OF THE ITEMS UP FOR SALE INCLUDE A GIVENCHY-DESIGNED BLACK SILK GOWN FOR AUDREY TO WEAR FOR THE FILM 'PARIS WHEN IT SIZZLES' IN 1962 (£10-15,000), A CHANTILLY LACE COCKTAIL GOWN WHICH SHE WORE IN 'HOW TO STEAL A MILLION' IN 1966 (£15-20,000). A HIGHLIGHT OF THE SALE IS THE IVORY SATIN BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNED BY THE FONTANA SISTERS FOR AUDREY'S PLANNED MARRIAGE TO JAMES HANSON. IN 1952, WHILE FILMING 'ROMAN HOLIDAY', HEPBURN APPROACHED THE FONTANA SISTERS TO ASK THEM TO MAKE HER BRIDAL GOWN. WEEKS LATER WHEN SHE CALLED THE WEDDING OFF SHE REQUESTED THAT THE DRESS BE GIVEN AWAY TO 'PERHAPS SOMEONE WHO COULDN'T AFFORD A DRESS LIKE MINE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, POOR ITALIAN GIRL YOU CAN FIND.' THE DRESS WAS GIVEN TO A YOUNG ITALIAN GIRL NAMED AMABILE ALTOBELLA. THE DRESS WILL BE SOLD WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF AUDREY WEARING THE ORIGINAL FONTANA GOWN AND A LETTER FROM THE VENDOR CONFIRMING THE PROVENANCE, AND IT IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR £8000-12000. 50% OF THE SALE PROCEEDS FROM THE VARIOUS LOTS WILL BE DONATED TO THE AUDREY HEPBURN CHILDREN'S FUND.