GREEK POLICE ARREST TWO MEN FOR ART SMUGGLING

Greek Police Arrest Two Men with Valuable Antiquities
GREEK POLICE ARRESTED TWO MEN TRYING TO SELL SEVERAL ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING A BRONZE SCULPTURE OF EMPEROR ALEXANDER THE GREAT FROM THE 4th CENTURY BC, FOR WHICH THE ASKING PRICE WAS $9.5 MILLION, AUTHORITIES SAID SUNDAY. POLICE IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECTS AS A 48 YEAR OLD THESSALONIKI BUSINESSMAN AND A 51 YEAR OLD FARMER, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE THEIR NAMES. THE MEN WERE ARRESTED SATURDAY MORNING NEAR THE TOWN OF KAVALA, EAST OF THESSALONIKI. POLICE SEARCHED THEIR CAR AND FOUND A TREASURE TROVE THAT INCLUDED A 65 CENTIMETER STATUE OF ALEXANDER, TWO BRONZE HEADS OF A BOY AND A YOUNG MAN AND OTHER ARTIFACTS, INCLUDING TWO RARE KORANS. EXPERTS SAY THE ALEXANDER STATUE APPEARED TO COME FROM THE WORKSHOP OF LYSIPPOS, ALEXANDER'S PERSONAL SCULPTOR. CHEMICAL TESTS ARE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE THESSALONIKI ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM TO SEE WHETHER THE SCULPTURE IS AN ORIGINAL OR A CONTEMPORARY COPY, SINCE LYSIPPOS' WORKSHOP, WHICH EMPLOYED SEVERAL ARTISTS, ALSO PRODUCED REPLICAS OF ORIGINAL WORKS. THE YOUNG BOY'S HEAD, APPARENTLY PART OF A LARGER SCULPTURE, IS DATED FROM THE ROMAN ERA, IN THE 1st CENTURY BC. POLICE OFFICIALS SAY IT IS LIKELY THE TWO SMUGGLED THE ANTIQUITIES AND THE KORANS FROM TURKEY, BUT AT THIS POINT THEY ARE NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THEIR PLACE OF ORIGIN.

MARMITE INTRODUCES A STRONGER MARMITE XO FLAVOR WITH

AN EXTRA-STRONG VERSION OF MARMITE WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH, IT WAS REVEALED BY THE COMPANY THIS WEEK. THE UNIQUE SAVORY SPREAD, WHICH PEOPLE ARE SAID TO EITHER LOVE OR HATE, IS MADE WITH YEAST FROM FOUR SPECIALLY SELECTED BREWERIES. MARMITE EXTRA OLD, OR XO, WHICH WILL HIT UK MARKET SHELVES FROM 8.MARCH, IS THE RESULT OF THE SECRET BLEND MATURING FOR 28 DAYS, FOUR TIMES LONGER THAN THE STANDARD PRODUCT. THIS ALLOWS THE FLAVOR AND TEXTURE TO INTENSIFY, CREATING A SPREAD SO STRONG AND FULL-BODIED IT CAN ONLY BE APPRECIATED BY THE MOST DEVOTED FANS, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE XO RECIPE WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE HELP OF THE 'MARMARARTI', A GROUP OF COMMITTED AND VOCAL MARMITE FANATICS WHO TRIED SAMPLES AND GAVE FEEDBACK ON THE FLAVOR. MARMITE DEVELOPER GRAHAME WALKER SAID: 'XO WAS CREATED PURELY FOR PASSIONATE LOVERS TO INDULGE. WHILST THE OVERALL CHARACTERISTICS ARE THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL RECIPE, THE SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED FORMULATION AND LONGER MATURATION PERIOD ALLOWS THE FLAVOR AND THICKER TEXTURE TO DEVELOP TO A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL. THE RESULTANT BLEND CREATES AN INTENSE SENSORY EXPERIENCE THAT CAN ONLY BE APPRECIATED BY THE MOST EXTREME MARMITE DEVOTEES.' MARMITE XO HAS A RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE OF £3.99 AND COME IN A SPECIAL BLACK AND GOLD JAR HOUSED IN A BLACK PRESENTATION BOX.

SKYY VODKA ADD GINGER TO THEIR SKYY INFUSION LINE

SKYY VODKA RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEIR LATEST ADDITION TO ITS AL NATURAL SKYY INFUSION LINE, FRESH SWEET GINGER. THE ALL NATURAL SKYY INFUSIONS GINGER IS THE FIRST NATIONALLY AVAILABLE GINGER INFUSED VODKA, JOINING THE ALL NATURAL SKYY INFUSIONS PORTFOLIO OF CITRUS, CHERRY, PASSION FRUIT, RASPBERRY, GRAPE AND PINEAPPLE. SKYY INFUSIONS GINGER IS A PREMIUM VODKA WHICH IS CAREFULLY INFUSED WITH REAL GINGER FOR AN IRRESISTIBLY FRESH, SWEET TASTE. ONE TASTE REVEALS THE DELICIOUS FLAVORS OF SPICED AND JUICED GINGER, ROASTED ORANGES AND MILD NOTES OF CINNAMON. THE FLAVOR PROFILE IS REMINISCENT OF HANDMADE GINGER-ALE, YET WITH A MORE INTRICATE AROMA AND TASTE. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SKYY INFUSIONS GINGER, CONTINUES TO UPHOLD SKYY SPIRITS' HIGH STANDARD OF ULTRA PREMIUM, NATURALLY INFUSED VODKAS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF QUALITY, INNOVATION AND STYLE.

ABSOLUT COLLABORATES WITH ARTIST PHILIPP PLEIN FOR NEW BOTTLE

SWEDISH DESIGNER PHILIPP PLEIN HAS SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH TE FAMOUS BRAND OF ABSOLUT VODKA. HE HAS DESIGNED A STUNNING NEW PACKAGING DESIGN FOR THE LEGENDARY ICONIC BOTTLE. PLEIN CREATED A LIMITED EDITION OF 100 BOTTLES, EACH WITH HIS UNIQUE PERSONAL TOUCH SET WITH PRECIOUS STONES AND SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS WHICH HIGHLIGHT THE SKULL-SHAPED PATTERN. FOR NOW THE 'ABSOLUT PLEIN' IS AVAILABLE IN HIS BOUTIQUE OR ON-LINE FOR ESTIMATED 100 EUROS. PLEIN BEGAN HIS CAREER AS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER BUT SOON CREATED HIS OWN COUTURE CLOTHING LINE, WHICH BECAME GARNERED A SMALL CULT FOLLOWING. 'THE BRAND ABSOLUT HAS LARGE REQUIREMENTS. COMBINED WITH MY WORK, THE BOTTLE WAS INEVITABLY DESTINED TO BE GLAMOROUS', SAID THE DESIGNER

QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO GIVE PRESIDENT ZUMA PRIVATE TOUR OF COLLECTION

PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA WILL BE GIVEN A FASCINATING 'HISTORY LESSON' THIS WEEK WHEN THE QUEEN SHOWS HIM A SPECIAL, PRIVATE EXHIBITION OF MEMORABILIA REVEALING BRITAIN'S TIERS TO SOUTH AFRICA. SCORES OF GIFTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, LETTERS, SPEECHES AND OTHER ARTIFACTS WILL BE ON DISPLAY ON EIGHT TABLES IN THE FIRST FLOOR PICTURE GALLERY AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WHERE THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA AND ONE OF HIS THREE WIVES ARE STAYING AS GUESTS OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP. THE FIRST TABLE WILL HAVE MEMORABILIA, INCLUDING PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPH ALBUMS, FROM THE FIRST VISIT BY THE QUEEN, THEN PRINCESS ELIZABETH, TO SOUTH AFRICA WITH HER PARENTS, GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND HER YOUNGER SISTER, PRINCESS MARGARET, IN 1947. THE FUTURE QUEEN CELEBRATED HER 21st BIRTHDAY IN CAPE TOWN WHEN, IN A SPEECH BROADCAST ON RADIO FROM CAPE TOWN, SHE MOVINGLY DEDICATED HER LIFE TO THE SERVICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH. THE PRESIDENT, WHO STARTS A TWO-DAY STATE VISIT TO BRITAIN ON WEDNESDAY, WILL BE SHOWN A SPRIG OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, KEPT AND LABELED BY HER GRANDMOTHER, QUEEN MARY, FROM PRINCESS ELIZABETH'S 21st BIRTHDAY CAKE. ALL THE MATERIALS ON SHOW COMES FROM THE ROYAL COLLECTIONS, THE ROYAL ARCHIVE OR IT BELONGS PERSONALLY TO THE QUEEN OR PRINCE PHILIP. ONE OF THE TABLES IS DEVOTED TO 1994-96, WHICH INCLUDES THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA ATTENDED BY PRINCE PHILIP. THE DISPLAY WILL INCLUDE AN ORNATE AND VALUABLE CHESS SET GIVEN AS A PRESENT TO PRINCE PHILIP BY PRESIDENT MANDELA ON HIS STATE VISIT TO BRITAIN IN 1996. PRESIDENT ZUMA WILL ALSO SEE A SET OF THE 'GREAT MAN BUTTONS' GIVEN TO THE QUEEN IN CAPE TOWN BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN 1995 DURING HER STATE VISIT. THE BUTTONS SHOW THREE PHASES OF PRESIDENT MANDELA'S LIFE: DARK DAYS (HIS TIME IN JAIL), SILVER DAY (FREEDOM) AND GOLD DAYS (HIS TIME AS PRESIDENT).

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART PRESENTS 'THE SACRED MADE REAL'

DEPICTIONS OF CHRIST'S WOUNDS AND SUFFERING ON THE CROSS ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, WASHINGTON DC, AS THE MUSEUM PRESENTS ITS FIRST COMPARISON OF PAINTING AND SCULPTURE FROM THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. ELEVEN PAINTINGS BY DIEGO VELAZQUEZ, FRANCISO DE ZURBARAN AND OTHERS WILL BE DISPLAYED FOR THE FIRST TIME ALONGSIDE 11 HYPER-REALISTIC PAINTED WOOD SCULPTURES FROM THE 17th CENTURY IN 'THE SACRED MADE REAL'. 'THIS INTERACTION BETWEEN PAINTING AND SCULPTURE LED TO SOME REALLY SPECTACULAR PICTURES', SAID THE CURATOR OF LONDON'S NATIONAL GALLERY, WHO COORDINATED THE STUNNING EXHIBIT. THE SOFTLY LIT GALLERY IS A WALK THROUGH SEVERAL KEY CHRISTIAN THEMES, FROM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION TO THE PASSION OF CHRIST AND THE DEPICTION OF SAINTS. THE PIECES ARE MOST NOTABLE FOR THEIR EXTREME REALISM. VISITORS CAN WALK BEHIND A LIFE-SIZE FIGURE OF CHRIST TO SEE DEPICTIONS OF THE AWFUL WOUNDS ON HIS BACK AFTER HE HAD BEEN WHIPPED. THE EXHIBIT WILL REMAIN ON VIEW DURING HOLY WEEK (28.MARCH TO 3.APRIL) AND THROUGH THE END OF MAY. THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART WILL BE THE ONLY US VENUE FOR THE EXHIBITION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT www.nga.gov

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD HAS RAISED £1,080,000

AS THE END OF FEBRUARY FAST APPROACHES, THE FUND-RAISING TOTAL FOR THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD CAMPAIGN HAS REACHED £1 MILLION. SO FAR, THE TOTAL RAISED TOWARDS SAVING THE MOST VALUABLE TREASURE FOUND ON BRITISH SOIL IS £1,080,000. OF THIS, ALMOST £500,000 COMES FROM MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE ART FUND IS SPEARHEADING THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD FOR THE WEST MIDLANDS. THE CHARITY IS DELIGHTED TO HAVE REACHED THIS LANDMARK FIGURE, JUST SEVEN WEEKS INTO THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH BEGAN ON 13.JANUARY. THE ART FUND'S DIRECTOR STEPHEN DEUCHAR SAID: 'THIS IA REALLY EXCELLENT NEWS, FURTHERING OUR CONVICTION THAT IF THE CAMPAIGN CONTINUES TO GATHER STEAM, WE STILL CAN MAKE THE £3 MILLION BY 17.APRIL. HOWEVER, THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE AND WE NEED AS MANY PUBLIC DONATIONS AS POSSIBLE, SO IF YOU'VE BEEN INSPIRED BY THE HOARD BUT HAVEN'T YET DONATED, NOW IS THE TIME.' UNTIL SUNDAY 17.MARCH, VISITORS TO THE POTTERIES MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY WILL BE ABLE TO ADMIRE 118 ITEMS OF THE HOARD, INCLUDING 40 ARTIFACTS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. DONATIONS HAVE RANGED FROM £10 FROM A NINE YEAR OLD GIRL TO £50,000 FROM THE CHARLES HENRY FOYLE TRUST. THE POTTERIES MUSEUM ALSO HAD A £50,000 CHECK FROM AN ANONYMOUS DONOR ON THE EVE OF THEIR EXHIBITION WHICH OPENED 12.FEBRUARY. DONATIONS HAVE COME IN FROM AS FAR AS THE US AND JAPAN, BUT ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE DONORS ARE FROM THE WEST MIDLANDS. SO FAR, THE STOKE-ON-TRENT DISPLAYS OF THE HOARD IS EXCEEDING ALL EXPECTATIONS. 20,000 VISITORS TURNED UP IN THE FIRST NINE DAYS, BEATING ALL PREVIOUS RECORD AT THE MUSEUM. WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE STAFFORDSHIRE HOARD PARTNERSHIP, THE ART FUND IS LEADING THE CAMPAIGN TO RAISE £3.3 MILLION. ALL THE MONEY MUST BE RAISED BY 17.APRIL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE TREASURE.
THE ART FUND URGES MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO STEP FORWARD AND DONATE, BY VISITING www.artfund.org/hoard OR BY RINGING 0844 415 4004.