CHRISTIE'S TO SELL ROY ROGERS' COLLECTION

THE SMELL OF HORSES AND HAY PERMEATED THE MARBLE-FLOORED GALLERIES AT CHRISTIE'S IN MANHATTAN FRIDAY AS POTENTIAL BIDDERS PREVIEWED ITEMS INCLUDING THE PRESERVED REMAINS OF MOVIE COWBOY ROY ROGERS' FAMOUS HORSE TRIGGER. THE AUCTION HOUSE IS SELLING ITEMS FROM THE NOW-CLOSED ROY ROGERS AND DALE EVANS MUSEUM IN BRANSON, MO, NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. UNLIKE THE FINE FURNITURE, PAINTINGS AND JEWELRY THAT CHRISTIE'S IS FAMOUS FOR, THE CENTERPIECE OF THE AUCTION IS A STUFFED AND MOUNTED HORSE REARING ON ITS HIND LEGS. IT ALSO WILL FEATURE ANOTHER TYPE OF HORSEPOWER, ROGERS' 1964 BONNEVILLE CONVERTIBLE ADORNED WITH COLLECTIBLE SILVER DOLLARS, ITS DOOR HANDLES AND GEAR SHIFT REPLACED BY SILVER-PLATED PISTOLS. THE CAR IS ESTIMATED TO DRAW $100,000 TO $150,000. TRIGGER IS EXPECTED TO FETCH $100,000 TO $200,000. OTHER ITEMS FOR SALE INCLUDE: ROGERS' AND EVANS' PERFORMANCE OUTFITS; THE PRESERVED REMAINS OF ROGERS' DOG, BULLET; ABOUT 60 PAIRS OF COWBOY BOOTS; THE ROGERS' FAMILY DINING TABLE; AND THE JEEP 'NELLYBELLE' FROM THE ROY ROGERS TV SHOW. HUNDREDS OF ITEMS WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE, MANY OF THEM WITH ESTIMATED PRICES IN THE LOW HUNDREDS. HAND-DRAWN MUSIC FOR THE THEME SONG 'HAPPY TRAILS' HAS A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF $300 TO $500. SO DOES A GROUPING OF TWO ROGERS' GUITARS. CATHY ELKIES, CHRISTIE'S DIRECTOR OF ICONIC COLLECTIONS, SAID THE ESTIMATES ARE BASED ON THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF THE ITEMS, BUT PRICES COULD GO MUCH HIGHER. CHRISTIE'S HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH CALLS FROM EVERYONE FROM MUSEUM REPRESENTATIVES TO ROY ROGERS FANS WHO WANTED A PIECES OF THE KING OF THE COWBOYS.

BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIP TO REOPEN

ONE OF THE PIVOTAL EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS THE BOSTON TEA PARTY, WHICH WAS EVENTUALLY COMMEMORATED WITH A ONCE POPULAR TOURIST SITE IN BOSTON HARBOR. A RECREATION OF THE 18th CENTURY BRITISH TALL SHIP, THE BRIG BEAVER, THAT WAS RAIDED BY COLONIAL PROTESTERS ON 16.DECEMBER.1773, DREW OVER 400,000 VISITORS YEARLY. THE HISTORIC SITE EVENTUALLY FELL INTO DISREPAIR AND WAS FOR THE MOST PART ABANDONED BY VISITING TOURISTS. A FIRE CAUSED BY LIGHTNING FORCED THE MUSEUM TO CLOSE IN 2001. HISTORIC TOURS OF AMERICA HAS TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF THE HISTORIC SITE AND RECENTLY SECURED FINANCING FOR AN ESTIMATED $22 MILLION TO $24 MILLION NEW BOSTON TEA PARTY SHIPS & MUSEUM. TWO REPLICA TALL SHIPS, EXHIBITS, LIVING HISTORIC PROGRAMS, MEMORABILIA, A TEA ROOM, AND MORE ARE SLATED TO OPEN IN THE FALL OF 2011 OR EARLY 2012. A THIRD BRIG, THE ELEANOR, WILL BE ADDED IN A FEW YEARS. AMONG THE RELICS TO BE DISPLAYED IS THE REDISCOVERED ROBINSON HALF CHEST, ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN SURVIVING TEA CHESTS DUMPED OVERBOARD DURING THE 1773 TEA PARTY UPRISING.

VEUVE CLICQUOT FRIDGE BOX

ONCE AGAIN, VEUVE CLICQUOT TRUSTS THE MULTI-TALENTED DENIS BOUDARD OF OSLD PARIS, TO CREATE ITS STUNNING NEW GIFT BOX CREATION: THE VEUVE CLIQUOT FRIDGE. THE NEW VEUVE CLICQUOT FRIDGE WILL KEEP THE BRUT YELLOW FRESH AND COLD FOR UP TO 2 HOURS. IT IS HANDY, FORWARD-LOOKING AND AESTHETICALLY APPEALING. IT UNDERLINES THE BRAND'S SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE AND UNIQUE VISION ABOUT INNOVATION ALWAYS COMBINED WITH THE FINEST CHAMPAGNES.

TREASURE HUNTER FINDS HOARD OF 52,500 ROMAN COINS

A TREASURE HUNTER HAS FOUND AN IMMENSE CACHE OF ABOUT 52,500 ROMAN COINS DATING TO THE 3rd CENTURY AD, ONE OF THE LARGEST FINDS EVER IN BRITAIN, OFFICIALS SAID THURSDAY. THE HOARD, WHICH WAS VALUED AT £3.3 MILLION, INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF COINS BEARING THE IMAGE OF MARCUS AURELIUS CARAUSIUS, WHO SEIZED POWER IN BRITAIN AND NORTHERN FRANCE IN THE LATE 3rd CENTURY AND PROCLAIMED HIMSELF EMPEROR. DAVE CRISP, A TREASURE HUNTER USING A METAL DETECTOR, LOCATED THE COINS IN APRIL IN A FIELD IN SOUTHWESTERN ENGLAND, ACCORDING TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME. THE COINS WERE BURIED IN A LARGE JAR ABOUT A FOOT DEEP AND WEIGHED ABOUT 350 POUNDS IN ALL. CRISP SAID A 'FUNNY SIGNAL' FROM HIS METAL DETECTOR PROMPTED HIM TO START DIGGING. 'I PUT MY HAND IN, PULLED OUT A BIT OF CLAY AND THERE WAS A LITTLE RADIAL, A LITTLE BRONZE ROMAN COIN, VERY, VERY SMALL, ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY FINGERNAIL', CRISP SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BBC. HE RECOVERED ABOUT 20 COINS BEFORE DISCOVERING THAT THEY WERE IN A POT, AND REALIZED HE NEEDED HELP. SOMERSET CORONER TONY WILLIAMS SCHEDULED AN INQUEST THURSDAY TO FORMALLY DETERMINE WHETHER THE FIND IS SUBJECT TO THE TREASURE ACT, A FORMAL STEP TOWARD DETERMINING A PRICE TO BE PAID BY ANY INSTITUTION WHICH WISHES TO ACQUIRE THE HOARD. THE HOARD IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EVER FOUND IN BRITAIN, AND WILL REVEAL MORE ABOUT THE NATION'S HISTORY IN THE THIRD CENTURY, SAID ROGER BLAND, OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. THE FIND INCLUDES MORE THAN 750 COINS FROM THE REIGN OF CARAUSIUS, THE ROMAN NAVAL OFFICER WHO SEIZED POWER IN 286 AND RULED UNTIL HE WAS ASSASSINATED IN 293. THE DISCOVERY OF THE ROMAN COINS FOLLOWS LAST YEAR'S DISCOVERY OF A HOARD OF ANGLO-SAXON COINS IN CENTRAL ENGLAND. THE SO-CALLED STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD INCLUDED MORE THAN 1,500 OBJECTS, MOSTLY MADE FORM GOLD. THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME IS A DEPARTMENT OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM WHICH DEALS WITH TREASURE FINDS.

HERMES CARRE H WATCH

FAMED FRENCH LUXURY HOUSE HERMES HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A STUNNING NEW WATCH IN COLLABORATION WITH ARCHITECT MARC BERTHIER ITS NEW CARRE H WATCH. THE CARRE H WATCH FEATURES A GIRARD PERREGAUX AUTOMATIC CALIBER GP3200 MOVEMENT WHICH BOASTS A POWER RESERVE OF UP TO FORTY FOUR HOURS. THE OVER-SIZED SQUARE CASE IS MADE OF TITANIUM AND FEATURES LARGE DEFINED CURVES, THE WATCH IS AVAILABLE FOR $15,000 AND IS SOLD EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH HERMES BOUTIQUES IN LIMITED QUANTITIES.

THE QUEEN IS TO BECOME A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME

PRINCESS ANNE'S SON PETER PHILLIPS AND HIS WIFE AUTUMN ARE EXPECTING THEIR FIRST CHILD IN DECEMBER, BUCKINGHAM PALACE RECENTLY CONFIRMED. THE QUEEN IS SAID TO BE OVERJOYED AFTER LEARNING THAT SHE IS TO BECOME A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME. PHILLIPS AND HIS CANADIAN-BORN WIFE SAID IN A STATEMENT: 'PETER AND AUTUMN PHILIPS ARE DELIGHTED TO CONFIRM THEY ARE EXPECTING A BABY IN DECEMBER. THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AS WELL AS AUTUMN'S FAMILY HAVE BEEN INFORMED AND ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE NEWS.' ALTHOUGH HE IS 11th TO THE THRONE, PHILLIPS DOES NOT HAVE A ROYAL TITLE AS HIS MOTHER DECLINED TO GIVE HER CHILDREN THE HRH TITLE AT BIRTH. AUTUMN WAS BORN AND BROUGHT UP A ROMAN CATHOLIC BUT RENOUNCED HER FAITH SHORTLY BEFORE THEIR WEDDING IN MAY 2008, SO HER HUSBAND TO BE DID NOT HAVE TO GIVE UP HIS CLAIM TO THE THRONE. THE COUPLE ARE LIVING IN HONG KONG WHERE PHILLIPS WORKS IN THE SPONSORSHIP DIVISION OF THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THEY WILL RETURN TO THE UK FOR THE BIRTH. THEIR DECISION TO ACCEPT £500,000 FROM HELLO! MAGAZINE FOR EXCLUSIVE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEIR WEDDING CEREMONY, FEATURING THE QUEEN, PRINCE CHARLES, AND PRINCE HARRY, CAUSED CONTROVERSY TWO YEARS AGO. SEVERAL SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY EXPRESSED THEIR DISPLEASURE AND BUCKINGHAM PALACE LATER MADE CLEAR THAT IT REGARDED THE SALE AS A SERIOUS ERROR OF JUDGMENT. THE QUEEN HERSELF ALLOWED THE COUPLE TO USE FROGMORE HOUSE AT WINDSOR FOR THE RECEPTION FOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE COUPLE HAVE SINCE MADE AMENDS, HOWEVER, AND HAVE BEN INVITED TO JOIN THE ROYAL FAMILY FOR THEIR RECENT CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS AT SANDRINGHAM.

J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM ACQUIRES TURNER PAINTING FOR $45.10 MILLION

THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM ANNOUNCED RECENTLY THAT IT MADE A SUCCESSFUL BID OF $45.10 MILLION, AT AUCTION ON JMW TURNER'S MASTERPIECE PAINTING 'MODERN ROME - CAMPO VACCINO'. THE AUCTION TOOK PLACE AT SOTHEBY'S IN LONDON ON 7.JULY. ONE OF THE GREATEST PAINTINGS BY TURNER TO COME ON THE MARKET, 'MODERN ROME - CAMPO VACCINO' HAS ONLY HAD TWO PREVIOUS OWNERS IN ITS 171 YEAR HISTORY AND WAS MOST RECENTLY ON VIEW AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND WHERE IT WAS ON LONG-TERM LOAN. IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, VIRTUALLY UNTOUCHED SINCE TURNER FINISHED IT, AND STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL FRAME. TURNER'S PAINTING SHOWS A VIEW OF ROME FROM THE CAPITOLINE HILL, AS IF LOOKING FROM HIGH IN THE AIR DOWN UPON THE CAMPO VACCINO IN THE CENTER OF OLD ROME, REVEALING THE NOBLE RUINS SURROUNDING THE ANCIENT FORUM AND A NUMBER OF STILL-ACTIVE BAROQUE CHURCHES. IN THE FOREGROUND, THE SCENE IS TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED BY A GROUP OF CONTEMPORARY WOMEN, THEIR CHILDREN AND GOATS AND A GATHERING OF MONKS IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH OF SANTI LUCA E MARTINA. 'MODERN ROME -CAMPO VACCINO' JOINS THREE OTHER WORKS BY TURNER ALREADY IN THE GETTY MUSEUM'S COLLECTION. ONE OF TURNER'S MOST IMPORTANT HISTORICAL PAINTINGS, 'VAN TROMP, GOING ABOUT TO PLEASE HIS MASTERS, SHIPS A SEA, GETTING A GOOD WETTING', WAS ACQUIRED BY THE MUSEUM IN 1993. THE MUSEUM ALSO OWNS TWO WATERCOLOURS BY THE ARTIST: CONWAY CASTLE, NORTH WALES AND 'LONG SHIPS LIGHTHOUSE, LAND'S END'.