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Children dressed as children. ilgufo.it

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Contents

THE COLLECTION OF A HOLLYWOOD LEGEND: LAUREN BACALL This rare collection of fine art and jewellery gives an insight into a film star’s personal style and taste.

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COVER IMAGE © TAG HEUR; © MONT BLANC; © JULIEN’S AUCTIONS; © FERRARI; © MUSUEM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON

MOVIE MOMENTS

INVESTING IN ART Collectors and investors know the pleasure and the pain that investing in art can bring. The following overview looks briefly at the ups and downs of today’s art market.

GIACOMETTI: PURE PRESENCE

HOKUSAI

This autumn the first exhibition of Giacometti’s portraits is to open at London’s National Portrait Gallery.

A collector’s obsession with Japanese art reminds us of the exceptional influence one artist’s work has had on the western world.

REASONS TO VISIT… RIJKSMUSEUM The pride of the capital city, Amsterdam, this world-famous museum is a priority on everyone’s must-visit list.

SOVEREIGNS OF SPEED With the hotly anticipated launch of the Ferrari 488 GTB fast approaching, the story of one man’s passion for motor racing provides a fascinating insight into the history behind Italy’s most iconic automobile brand.

SMART COLLECTABLES IN A DIGITAL AGE

COLOURS OF THE HEART

Cover: Cara Delevigne, an ambassador for Tag Heuer. ‘Being free-minded is her motto. Like TAG Heuer, she defies conventions and never cracks under the pressure.’

Some of the world’s most precious movie memorabilia is causing excitement amongst an increasing crowd of competitive collectors.

A FAIR HAND Good handwriting and fine calligraphy may be increasingly uncommon, but fine writing instruments both old and new continue to fascinate collectors worldwide.

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With modern technology rapidly evolving every day, the choice of the latest modern collectables offered by luxury brands becomes ever wider.

In an exclusive interview with Arts & Collections, Japanese virtuoso violinist, Midori Komachi, talks about her passion for English music of the 20th century.

A FLOATING WORLD OF LUXURY Life’s little luxuries come in all shapes and sizes. Here is a superyacht that, at 60ft, offers a safe, comfortable and stylish way to set sail.

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Contents 22

WINE MINE: RAISING A GLASS

ART EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD

AUCTION SHOWCASE

SOTHEBY’S HIGHLIGHTS

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HAPPENINGS Bringing you a mix of the high-minded, eccentric, regal, random, and unmissable events as we look ahead through the rest of the year and into 2016.

Food writer and critic Matthew Fort muses on a lifetime’s engagement with wine.

A regular calendar of key international arts and culture events.

A round-up of the latest auction news and major sales still to come.

The world’s leading auction house highlights a selection of rare and unique collectors items to look out for in upcoming auctions across the globe.

TREASURES Our series highlights a single item of artistry or craftsmanship that is both rare and exquisite.

A PERSONAL CHOICE Our new series presents a favourite painting that is our guest’s personal choice. Our first guest is Rena DeSisto, global arts and culture executive at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

STYLE AND DESIGN: ONCE UPON A TIME IN PARIS Known for its innovative design and expert craftsmanship, Van Cleef & Arpels has become one of the most influential jewellery design houses in the world.

WHERE TO SPEND IT From high-end jewels and handbags to premium whisky, our diverse selection of luxury goods features something to suit every fine taste.

BOOK REVIEWS The pick of the most recent Arts & Collections books.

COLLECTORS WORLD: ONE TO WATCH From Winston Churchill’s pocket watch to wristwatches powered by liquid, the centuries old art of horology continues to capture the fascination of collectors around the world.

images © metropolitan musuem of art ny; © Sotheby’s NEW YORK; © ; © Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation; © HIRMER

Regulars

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It Figures...

Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Sub Editors Samantha Coles Rebecca Foster Contributors Brendan Connolly Natasha Tierney Natalie de Morgan Katherine Temple Design Friyan Mehta Celina Lucey

Arts & Collections International has partnered with over 120 of the world’s finest luxury and boutique hotels to provide the highest quality coverage of global art and cultural events, as well as auctions of interest and the latest developments in the global art market. It is this blend of interesting and informative editorial that is most appealing to guests at these premier hotels, who have a great interest in admiring and purchasing fine art and collectables.

Arts & Collections International’s dedicated website, www.artsandcollections.com, features detailed information on each of the 120 luxury hotels promoting the publication in their exclusive rooms and suites.

Editorial Assistant Hannah Cook Production Director Joanna Harrington Production coordinator Iain Wilson Production & Administration Nimar Uddin Editorial OFFICE Arts & Collections International Suite 2 143 Caledonian Road London N1 0SL United Kingdom Telephone: 020 7870 9090 editorial@damsonmedia.com www.damsonmedia.com CHICAGO OFFICE Arts & Collections International 730 N. Franklin St. Suite 604, Chicago, IL 60654, USA The opinions expressed in this magazine should not be considered official opinions of The Publisher or Editor. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all editorial or advertising matter. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. IMAGES are sent at the owners’ risk and the Publisher takes no responsibility for loss.

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All of the exclusive previews, reviews and expert commentary pieces that appear in the pages of Arts & Collections International are also available to view on www. artsandcollections.com. In addition, the website provides a directory of upcoming auctions by Sotheby’s and other top auction houses, plus exhibitions and popular cultural events, keeping visitors fully informed, as well as providing a comprehensive resource area for collectors and connoisseurs.

Arts & Collections International is published quarterly and is available on subscription for €40 (Europe) or €45 (worldwide) per annum including post and packaging. Please email editorial@damsonmedia.com for further details regarding subscriptions.

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The date Lauren Bacall starred in the film of Ernest Hemingway’s novel To Have and Have Not. Pages 16-21

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The million-dollar figure paid for ‘The Sunrise Ruby’ at Sotheby’s sale, breaking two world records. Pages 26-28

There is only one watch of its type: the fine and rare gold enamel world time watch gifted to Sir Winston Churchill, which is estimated to sell for £60,000 - £100,000. Pages 80-81

The number of hours the Van Cleef & Arpels jewellers take to make a ‘Mystery Set’ brooch. One example was sold by Christie’s in 2012 for $326,500. Pages 70-71

images © sotheby’s; © MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON; © VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

DamsonMedia

The number of contemporary Chinese artworks stolen by a librarian at a leading Chinese fine arts gallery over the course of two years, replacing them with his own works. Pages 43-44

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Editorial Life’s LittLe Luxuries

Is collecting a luxury? However you answer the question, what is collectable today is constantly on the move.

Images © museum of fIne arts, Boston

hat is luxury? This is a question posed by the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, where an exhibition attempts to give some answers. And the answer is a whole lot more simple than answering the question ‘what is beauty’, which as we all know is ‘in the eye of the beholder’. But exactly what luxury is is something most of us are agreed upon. The great English dictionary (Oxford University Press) defines the word as ‘A state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense: he lived a life of luxury’… ‘An inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain: luxuries like chocolate, scent, and fizzy wine.’ Fizzy wine? I’m not sure about that one, but most of us would go along with the general drift. From the great American dictionary (Webster’s) comes a slightly disapproving tone when defining luxury: ‘something that is expensive and not necessary’, and luxury is ‘something that is helpful or welcome and that is not usually or always available.’ Well, luxury is certainly welcome, but arguably always available if you have the funds. I think it’s the English dictionary that nails it best—great comfort (yes, all those luxury 5-star hotels we regularly use), elegance (that charming stylishness), involving great expense (sometimes wickedly true). But ‘inessential’? Hold on a minute!

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Two luxury items from the Lauren Bacall collection, see pp. 16-21. Left: A South Sea Cultured Pearl & Diamond necklace Right: Enamel Cultured Pearl & Diamond Brooch

Discerning collectors who collect everything from fine art at colossal prices, to fine wine and luxury branded items, will argue that whatever it is that makes up their collections, these are the essential elements that bring great pleasure, an appreciation of the finer things in life, and a defining culture and lifestyle. While it can also be argued that it’s possible to live without these luxuries, as many millions do, isn’t there greater enjoyment when you can experience some of life’s little luxuries? This is the path that we beat in Arts & Collections—bringing awareness of the latest trends informing us that art and fine objects, including today’s luxury brands, have important links for collectors. What is collectable is constantly on the move. Vintage, yes, but modern and contemporary, too, collectable items that are exquisitely made; this is very much a part of the collector’s world today, as may be seen in the pages that follow in this issue and in future issues of Arts & Collections. 

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Happenings // events

Happenings

Hepburn: portrait of an icon

Spectacular indian jewellery deSign

The life of actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn (1929-93) is illustrated in a recently-launch exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery, running until October 18. From her early years as a chorus girl in London’s West End through to her philanthropic work in later life, Portraits of an Icon will celebrate one of the worlds most photographed and recognisable stars. A selection of more than seventy images will define Hepburn’s iconography, including classic and rarely seen prints from leading twentieth-century photographers such as Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Terry O’Neill, Norman Parkinson and Irving Penn. Alongside these, an array of vintage magazine covers, film stills, and extraordinary archival material will complete her captivating story.

This autumn the V&A will present a series of exhibitions, displays, events and digital initiatives that will explore the rich and varied culture of South Asia, both past and present. The India Festival will mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Museum’s Nehru Gallery, which displays some of the most important objects from the V&A’s South Asian art collection produced between the 16th and 19th centuries. As part of the V&A India Festival, from 21 November 2015 - 28 March 2016 an exhibition of spectacular objects, drawn from a single private collection, will explore the broad themes of tradition and modernity in Indian jewellery. Highlights will include Mughal jades, a rare jewelled gold finial from the throne of Tipu Sultan, and pieces that reveal the dramatic changes that took place in Indian jewellery design during the early 20th century.

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firSt SHowing of giacometti’S portraitS A major exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery, sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the first to focus on Giacometti’s portraits, with the exhibition covering the entire span of his career. The show includes important paintings, sculpture and drawings within sections devoted to each of his principal models, and illuminates Giacometti’s obsessive evocation of a human presence. Alberto Giacometti (1901–66) is widely regarded as one of the most important and distinctive artists of the 20th century. A restless innovator, he explored a range of styles and subjects; however portraiture remained a continuous preoccupation. (See also pp.46-47.)

Images: © audrey hepburn by bud fraker, natIonal portraIt gallery, london; © tate gallery, london; © vIctorIa and albert museum

Bringing you a mix of the high-minded, eccentric, regal, random, and unmissable events as we look ahead through the rest of the year and into 2016.

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photo by A. Piunti

Excellence of artistry, in a bag ITALY - Firenze - Palazzo Gondi • Via de’ Gondi 4/6r - +39 055 283669 •

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Happenings // events

the guggenheiM’s Young collectoRs

Rothko MajoR RetRospective high spiRits: the coMic aRt of thoMas Rowlandson The finest cartoonists often have the ability to combine comedy, wit, satire, mockery, and social comment to make a critical point. None was more skilful in this respect than the revered British national treasure, Thomas Rowlandson (1757–1827). Portly squires and young dandies, Jane Austenesque heroines and their chaperones, dashing young officers and corrupt politicians, these are just some of the subjects of the keenly observant satires by the English caricaturist. The ‘High Spirits’ exhibition brings together a collection of comic works by Rowlandson and examines life at the turn of the 19th century through the caricaturist’s sharp eye and appreciation of humour in everyday life. High Spirits: The Comic Art of Thomas Rowlandson will be shown at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, together with Masters of the Everyday: Dutch artists in the Age of Vermeer.

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In September the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is the sole U.S. venue to present Mark Rothko: A Retrospective, a definitive retrospective that draws upon the unrivaled holdings of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Long recognized as among the foremost figures of the Abstract Expressionist vanguard, Mark Rothko (1903–70) embraced the possibility of beauty in pure abstraction with a painterly eloquence that gave a new voice to American art. Across a career spanning the most troubled years of the 20th century, Rothko explored the tragic and the sublime, and his canvases remain a testament to the deep humanism he brought to modern painting. More than 60 paintings will trace the artist’s full career arc and highlight milestones in the development of his signature style. • The exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Images: Courtesy of solomon r., guggenheIm museum, new york; © natIonal gallery of art, washIngton, gIft of the mark rothko foundatIon, InC.; © the Queen’s gallery, BuCkIngham PalaCe; © VICtorIa and alBert museum; © getty VIlla.

The Young Collectors Council Acquisitions Committee recently acquired works by artists Karla Black and Margaret Lee for the Guggenheim. Black’s sculptural installation Make Yourself Necessary (2012) and Lee’s sculpture and photograph Eggplant (phone) and Eggplant (hello) (both 2012) are exciting additions to the museum’s contemporary holdings. • The Young Collectors Council (YCC) is a dynamic leadership group for young professionals ages 21-40, who seek to further their understanding of contemporary art and culture.

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EvEnts // happenings

sHoes: Pain and PleasuRe From folklore to Ancient Egypt to the extremely elaborate contemporary, the Victoria and Albert Museum explores the transformative power of footwear throughout history with this display of more than 250 shoes from around the world, many displayed for the first time. The VA explores the agonizing aspect of shoes as well as the rapture and obsession they inspire. Shoes worn by high profile figures including Marilyn Monroe, Queen Victoria, Lady Gaga and the Hon Daphne Guinness are on display, as well as footwear from designers Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Prada. Tickets priced at £12 for non-members, and the exhibition runs until 31 January 2016.

Roman TReasuRe HoaRd aT THe GeTTy Accidentally discovered by a French farmer plowing his field near the village of Berthouville in rural Normandy in 1830, the spectacular hoard of gilt-silver statuettes and vessels known as the Berthouville Treasure was an ancient offering to the GalloRoman god Mercury. Following four years of meticulous conservation and research in the J. Paul Getty Museum’s Antiquities Conservation Department, the exhibition ‘Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville’, has been on view at the Getty Villa (November 19, 2014, to August 17, 2015), presenting a unique collection of ancient silver in its full splendor and offering new insights about ancient art, technology, religion, and cultural interaction. The opulent cache—in the collection of the Cabinet des médailles (now the Department of Coins, Medals and Antiques) at the Bibliothèque nationale de France—has been displayed in its entirety for the first time outside of Paris, together with precious gems, jewelry, and other Roman luxury objects from the Cabinet’s royal collections. ‘Since 2010, this magnificent collection of silver objects has been undergoing extensive conservation and study at the Getty Villa, providing us a unique opportunity to examine the production of Roman luxury materials

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“American money is very well-designed, really. I like it better than any other kind of money. I’ve thrown it in the East River down by the Staten Island Ferry just to see it float” —Andy Warhol, 1962

and seeing what this has to teach us about the art, culture and religion of Roman Gaul,’ says Timothy Potts, director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. ‘Being able to display this dazzling hoard at the Getty Villa is a great privilege for us and our visitors, and we have the added satisfaction of knowing that they will return to France much better understood and looking spectacularly better than before.’ The Roman treasure, consisting of some 90 silver objects weighing more than 50 pounds, was first discovered in 1830, but it was not until 1861 and again in 1896 that the site was extensively surveyed and excavated.

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Happenings // events

January 2016 promises another hit show for the Royal Academy of Arts, based in London’s Piccadilly. Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse commences January 30 to April 20. The exhibition will bring together over 120 works, from public institutions and private collections across Europe and the USA, including 35 paintings by Monet. Arguably the most important painter of gardens in the history of art, Monet was also an avid horticulturist who cultivated gardens wherever he lived. As early as the 1860s, a symbiotic relationship developed between his activities as a horticulturist and his paintings of gardens, a relationship that can be traced from his early years in Sainte-Addressed to his final months at Giverny. ‘I perhaps owe it to flowers,’ he wrote, ‘that I became a painter.’ A rich selection of documentary materials

including horticultural books and journals, as well as receipts for purchases of plants and excerpts from letters, will be included in the exhibition. Highlights of the exhibition will include a magnificent selection of Monet’s water lily paintings including the great Agapanthus Triptych of 1916-19. It will be the first time this monumental triptych has been displayed together in Europe. This exhibition will be among the first to consider Monet’s Grandes Décorations as a response to the traumatic events of World War I, and the first to juxtapose the large Water Lilies with garden paintings by other artists reacting to this period of suffering and loss. Other highlights will include works by Edouard Manet, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Paul Cézanne, John Singer Sargent, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt and Edouard Vuillard.

“Art doesn’t just capture and convey the excitement, the thrill of life. Sometimes it does even more: it is that thrill”

—Julian Barnes, Keeping an Eye Open: Essays on Art, Jonathan Cape, 2015

VeRmeeR at BuckiNgham Palace From mid-November comes a rare chance to see Johannes Vermeer’s Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman also known as ‘The Music Lesson’, 1662-65. The painting is central to an exhibition of twenty masterpieces from the Royal Collection. Entitled ‘Masters of the Everyday: Dutch Artists in the Age of Vermeer’, the show may be seen at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, from Friday, 13 November 2015 to Sunday, 14 February 2016, and also includes works by Gerrit Dou, Gabriel Metsu, Jan Steen and Pieter de Hooch. Images: © THe sTaTe HeRmITage mUseUm, PHOTOgRaPHY BY VLaDImIR TeReBeNIN; © THe QUeeN’s gaLLeRY

Royal academy’s gReat New yeaR show

Above: Lady in the Garden, Claude Monet, c.1867.

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ART // COLLECTIONS

The Collection of a Hollywood Legend LAUREN BACALL This rare collection of fine art and jewellery gives an insight into a film star’s personal style and taste, and attracts 1,500 bidders from around the world.

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COLLECTIONS // ART

Facing page: Lauren Bacall’s piano with photo frames, selection of artwork displayed in her home. Below [l-r]: A 14K yellow gold long chain, Tiffany & Co.

Many of the 740 lots to be auctioned had graced three of Bacall’s residences: the Los Angeles house she shared with her first husband, Humphrey Bogart, her country home in Amagansett, New York, and her apartment in New York’s famed The Dakota, overlooking Central Park, which she shared with second husband, Jason Robards until 1969. The preview show organized by Bonhams included six bronze maquettes by Henry Moore, Britain’s greatest 20th-century sculptor and one of Bacall’s favourite artists. Bacall’s deep admiration of Moore began in the 1950s while she was living in Los Angeles. After finally meeting the sculptor at his studio in 1975, she wrote: ‘It was and will ever be a high point of my life ... the realization of a dream.’ Other highlights included bronze sculptures by noted American artist, Robert Graham, whose works fascinated Bacall. She was captivated by the precise realism and bold expression of the female form in Graham’s work, and she referred to these three favourite sculptures as her ‘girls’. Robert Graham was married to Bacall’s close friend, Anjelica Huston. The Bacall collection also included contemporary and modern prints by » (text continues page 21)

Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

A pair of gem set and 18K gold ear clips by montures Schlumberger.

here is something poignant about the sale of a private collection: accrued over a lifetime, tracking down a particular item, the obsession, the careful assessment of each painting, each work of art—and that sweet moment of acquisition. A collection tells us much about the collector. Then, under the hammer, the collection is dispersed, gone. This was the case earlier this year when a Hollywood film star’s collection came under the hammer in New York. The American Film Institute named her as one of the greatest actresses of the twentieth century. She was married to Humphrey Bogart and, latterly to Jason Robards Jr. It was Lauren Bacall (19242014), with her smouldering looks that could set start a fire, who not only delivered some of the sharpest lines in the business but also had the exceptional taste and Hollywood wealth that enabled her to bring together a uniquely personal collection of fine art and jewellery. The collection, comprising 740 lots through Bonhams, commanded worldwide attention due to a pre-sale exhibition tour of the collection highlights, taking place in London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Paris, and New York.

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ART // COLLECTIONS

American White Pelican, 1831-32, John James Audubon. Two Pembroke Studio Chairs, David Hockney, 1984. Standing Man and Woman, Henry Moore, 1984.

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Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Above [l-r]: Four carved and polychromed Commedia dell’arte figures.

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COLLECTIONS // ART

Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Above: An ecletic mix of art, sculpture and furniture in Lauren Bacall’s living room.

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ART // COLLECTIONS

Above [l-r]: Black Tulips, David Hockney, b. 1937. Mrs. Coaxer and Mrs. Tawdry, from The Beggar’s Opera, Georges Wakhevitch, b. 1907. Celia Amused, David Hockney, c. 1979. An enamel, cultured pearl and diamond brooch by Elizabeth Gage.

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COLLECTIONS // ART

David Hockney, Jim Dine, Richard Avedon, Henry Moore and John James Audubon, as well as paintings by Noël Coward, Aaron Shikler, and Georges Wakhevitch. Some of the actress’s best loved jewellery pieces, created by designer Jean Schlumberger, were included in the pre-sale exhibitions, with other items including an 18ct yellow gold, enamel, cultured pearl, and rose diamond Mogul-inspired camel brooch by British jeweller, Elizabeth Gage. This piece was accompanied in the sale by the original drawing and correspondence, showing the extent of the collaboration and friendship between the jeweller and the client. The collection of Lauren Bacall was sold by Bonhams at the auction house’s New York salerooms. More than 1,500 bidders from 34 countries took part in the sale, which totalled £2.45 million with 100 per cent of the 740 lots sold. 

Left: An amethyst, turquoise and diamond ring by Jean Schlumberger.

Bottom left: Inside Lauren Bacall’s home - showing collection of sculptures, artwork and furniture.

“If you want me just whistle. You know how to whistle don’t you? Just put your lips together and blow”

Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; REX FEATURES

— Lauren Bacall in the film To Have and Have Not (1944)

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Collections // Fine wine

Raising a

GLASS

Food writer and critic Matthew Fort muses on a lifetime’s engagement with wine. CHAMPAGNE MOMENTS

WINES FOR EVERY OCCASION

The truth is, whether the spirits are high or low, there’s nothing better than champagne. Other fizzes have their moments and occasions, but when it comes to celebration or contemplation, you ease out the cork, wait for the pop, listen to the music of bubbles winking in the glass and murmur a word of thanks to Dom Perignon who started it all.

What is a fine wine, exactly? What makes one wine fine, and another not? Is it just a matter of price? Certainly wine lists would have you believe so. Or is there some higher order of criteria, mysterious, cryptic, decipherable only by the great gurus of the wine world? Is it a wine around which you build a dish or a dinner? Or is it a wine that so perfectly matches a dish that you experience that rare pleasure of a gastronomic marriage made in heaven? A good many years ago I was invited to join a tasting of Pommards at Apicius in Paris. There were the sommeliers of several notable restaurants, a fellow who edited a magazine about Burgundian wines, the friend who had invited me, a French journalist of impeccable palate and encyclopaedic knowledge, and me, who had neither of those things. My friend had not warned me that it was to be a blind tasting we would be commenting on each wine - in French. The discovery that I was expected to contribute to the debate very nearly turned my first mouthful to acid. However, we pressed on, through fifteen or so wines going back to 1968, sniffing, swilling, spitting, and holding forth. Some of the great names of Burgundy were on display—Boissey, Morey, Montille, MoillardGrivot, Piat, Faiveley, Jadot, Boillot—and a good many of the wines were pretty splendid even to my rather pedestrian palate. Then we paused for lunch, of a great pie of duck and foie gras, if memory serves me rightly, helped

LIQUEURS

“What is a fine wine, exactly? What makes one wine fine, and another not? Is it just a matter of price? Certainly wine lists would have you believe so.”

I’ve always been a sucker for liqueurs ever since I discovered Fine Champagne brandy in my teens. Explorations have led me through pastures of pleasure - kummel on ice, eau de vies of and orchard of fruits, caramely armagnacs, suave grappas, rollicking rums, surprisingly lively Chartreuse (green, naturally), smooth and full flavoured apple brandies from Somerset. Somehow there made the natural finishing point of any meal, easing the passage back into real life.

PORT/MADIERA/MARSALA It’s curious how many fine drinks are the result of the British passion for travel, trade and tippling. The cult of Madeira arose out of the habit of trading ships stopping off in those islands in the 16th century. The development of port owed much to the ingenuity of British merchants in the 18th century and the trade in Marsala began when John Woodhouse, a Liverpool merchant, came to Sicily looking for soap and found the local wine to his liking instead.

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Fine wine // Collections

Do you know … How many grams of sugar do you need to make 1% alcohol? Roughly 17g/l of sugar is needed to produce one degree of alcohol. So, if a grape is picked at 204g/l of sugar, it will produce a wine that has a potential alcohol of 12% (17 x 12 = 204).

“The vintage was 1928, but who made it? Do you know, I can’t remember. I was too carried away to make a note. But at least I knew what the phrase ‘fine wine’ meant” along by several glasses of a Pommard Domaine Pousse d’Or Jarollières 1966. There was just a salad and some cheese after. It was getting pretty late by now, 4pm or so, and I made a move to go. ‘Mais, Monsieur Fort, il faut rester,’ I was told firmly. ‘Nous avon quelque chose spéciale.’

‘Pas vrais.’ ‘Pas possible.’ ‘Mais il n’y a pas une bouteille de ce en France!’ ‘Le 1928!’ ‘C’est formidable.’ ‘C’est plus que ca. C’est fabuleux. C’est un rêve.’

IMAGES © Sotheby’s; © RICHARD YOUNG/REX

And so on, and so on. I’d thought we’d been drinking quelque choses speciales all along, but I did as I was told. Our glasses were changed to things the size and shape of goldfish blows on slender stems. Presently in came a waiter bearing a double magnum wrapped in a crisp white napkin. A reasonable amount of the precious liquor was careful poured into each of our glasses with a sense of reverence and ritual. The room was silent. Only when all the glasses had been poured with their measure did we begin inspecting the contents. The wine was the faded reddish-brown of bricks left in the sun. It didn’t look very promising, to be truthful. But then I did a little gentle swilling, and stuck my nose into the goldfish bowl. As I did so, several of those around me were doing the same with audible gasps of astonishment.

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There was an extraordinary intensity and focus simply on the nose. Fragrance and fragrance seemed to penetrate to nooks and corners of the brain, sharply defined, dancing and yet balanced. And then a sip, a roll around the mouth, over the tongue and under, releasing ravishing flavours, wave after wave of them. Here was a wine that was years older than anything else we had drunk that day, and yet it had a majestic power and vividness that made all the others - and we had been drinking some very good wines seem pallid by comparison. What was it? The vintage was 1928, but who made it? Do you know, I can’t remember. I was too carried away to make a note. But at least I knew what the phrase ‘fine wine’ meant.  Above: Matthew Fort

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03/08/2015 12:58

ART EVENTS // AROUND THE WORLD

ART

CULTURE

Events From Around The World Presenting a selection of international exhibitions from the thrilling yet familiar pop art of Roy Lichtenstein to fifty Van Gogh masterpieces.

OTTERLO, NETHERLANDS VAN GOGH & CO. CRISS-CROSSING THE COLLECTION

April 1 – September 13, 2015 The National Gallery

25 April - 27 September 2015 Kröller-Müller Museum

Rarely the main focus of an exhibition, it is frames—not paintings—that steal the spotlight in the National Gallery’s exhibition, Frames in Focus: Sansovino Frames. The exhibition unites a collection of one of the most striking, innovative types of frame, the Sansovino; a 19th century term coined in honour of Jacopo Sansovino’s ornate, earlybaroque style of frame, enhancing the way in which we view the painting itself.

To commemorate the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh’s death, a series of exhibitions across Europe will showcase several traditional genres of painting to celebrate the masterpieces of Van Gogh’s oeuvre. More than 50 of Van Gogh’s works of art from the Kröller-Müller collection will be on show, alongside works by some of the artist’s most famous contemporaries including Paul Cézanne and Adolphe Monticelli.

NEW YORK CITY, USA YOKO ONO: ONE WOMAN SHOW May 17 – September 7, 2015 Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Yoko Ono was already a household name in Fluxus art circles in NY and Japan before her famous marriage to John Lennon overshadowed her career, leading to ‘her work not being recognised as it should be’, says Christophe Cherix, the MoMA curator who has co-organised Yoko Ono: One Woman Show, 1960-71. Public participation is pivotal as her interactive work is recreated, and Ono herself has hinted she may join in during unannounced visits.

EDINBURGH ROY LICHTENSTEIN 14 March, 2015 - 10 January, 2016 Modern One, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Best known for his iconic pictures such as Whaam! (1963) and Drowning Girl (1963), American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is celebrated as one of the 20th century’s most influential art pioneers. Famously inspired by comic books and advertising imagery, Lichtenstein’s bold and visually striking pieces continue to provoke debate about how images saturate our day-to-day lives. A newly assembled collection of some of the artist’s most compelling works, including Reflections on Girl (1990) is currently on display at Edinburgh’s Modern One as part of the museum’s dynamic REFLECTIONS series.

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IMAGES © THE NATIONAL GALLERY; © KRÖLLER-MÜLLER MUSEUM; © THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, PHOTOGRAPH BY RYAN MUIR; © SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY OF MODERN ART

LONDON, UK FRAMES IN FOCUS: SANSOVINO FRAMES

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around the world // art events

NEW YORK, USA China: Through The Looking Glass M7 May – 16 August, 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art From the 16th century to the modern day, enigmatic imagery and objects from the Far East have captivated the Western imagination. This exhibition traces the story of how Chinese aesthetics have inspired the Western fashion imagination, influencing designers from Christian Dior to Jean Paul Gaultier. Over 100 haute couture pieces and ready-to-wear garments will be displayed alongside Chinese costumes, paintings and porcelain artifacts to reveal thrilling reflections of Chinese imagery. Filmic representations of China are also incorporated throughout the exhibition to highlight how the Western vision of China is informed by popular culture.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Our Spirits Lie in the Water

IMAGES © ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES; Gert Jan van Rooij. © Succession H. Matisse, c/o Pictoright Amsterdam 2014; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photography © Platon

15 November, 2014 – 1 November, 2015 Art Gallery of New South Wales Abstract paintings and sculptural weavings provide the looking glass for this exhibition, which delves into the various ways that artists have explored the theme of water. The exhibition takes its name from a quote by artist Ivan Namirrkki, which denotes the innate attachment Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have to country and to water. From intricate bark paintings of sea life to sculptural weavings of fish traps, the works on display—all of which are taken from the Gallery’s own collection—highlight the complex knowledge that the Indigenous people had of water, in it’s many forms. Works from the 1930s to the present are included in the collection.

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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS The Oasis of Matisse 27 March - 16 August, 2015 Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam The Oasis of Matisse is the largest exhibition of Henri Matisse (1869-1954) in the Netherlands ever. Enter an exuberant world of colour and discover masterpieces by Matisse alongside work by his contemporaries from the Stedelijk Museum’s permanent collection.

BOSTON, USA Class Distinctions: Dutch Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer 11 October, 2015 – 18 January, 2016 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Class Distinctions offers an alternative approach to our current understanding of 17th-century Dutch painting. Featuring 75 carefully selected pieces from public and private collections across the U.S. and Europe, the exhibition comprises portraits, genre scenes, landscapes and seascapes. This ground breaking exhibition is the first to explore the ways in which art was characteristic of various socioeconomic groups in the new Dutch Republic, from the Princes of Orange to those living in poverty. Includes works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jan Steen and Gabriel Metsu.

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03/08/2015 13:10

auction highlights // news

Auction SHOWCASE At the major auction houses where both sellers and buyers are driven by fierce competition, rarity is a highly prized attribute as these lots demonstrate.

Piece of Cake

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Taste of The Royal Court IMAGES © courtesy of Julien’s; © CHRISTIE’S

Julien’s held a unique auction on 27 June in Beverly Hills for slices from the cakes of five British royal weddings–dating back 42 years. The slices, accompanied by a health warning stating they are ‘not suitable for consumption’, were collected by Queen Elizabeth II’s late chauffeur Leonard Massey, who kept the slices in original packing with monograms celebrating the unions. The most recent piece is from the 2011 wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, which collected $1,600, the same price raised for a slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding cake. 

Christie’s recent auction, Taste of the Royal Court: Important French Furniture and Works of Art from a Private Collections, held in London on 9 July, featured Marie Antoinette’s exquisite armchair from one her most personal retreats: the Pavilion Belvedere in the Jardin Anglais of the Petit Trianon. The armchair is the only surviving piece from the most expensive suite made for the French Queen, and set a new world record price at auction for an 18th-century chair, selling at £1.76 million (estimated at £300,000-50,000). 

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news // auction highlights

A Precious Manuscript In July this year, Christie’s sold the oldest Western manuscript of The Gospels in private hands (and one of the best-preserved ninth-century manuscripts in existence), the Gospels of Queen Theutberga. It’s thought to have been written at the Benedictine Abbey between the years 825 and 850, as suggested by Professor Bernhard Bischoff on the basis of the script. The manuscript has remained in exceptional condition and was sold for just under £2 million in London. 

Picture Perfect Following the success of previous movie memorabilia auctions totaling $16 million, Bonham’s furthered their partnership with Turner Classic Movies by holding Picture Perfect: The Art of Movie Posters in Los Angeles on 20 July. The auction explored movie posters from the early days of cinema in the 1910s through the Golden Age and the post-studio era. The sale featured a preliminary painting for Star Wars by Dan Gooze, bringing in $16,250 and a Bob Peak preliminary painting for Apocalypse Now raising $11,250. The prized piece was an extremely rare poster from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ most successful film pairing, Top Hat, bringing in $37,500. Bonham’s next movie memorabilia auction will return to New York on November 23. 

IMAGES © CHRISTIE’S; © BONHAMS; © SOTHEBY’S

The Sunrise Ruby

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Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels auction in May saw many of the world’s wealthiest individuals gather in Geneva to bid on the most coveted watches and jewellery. The main attraction was The Sunrise Ruby, toted by Sotheby’s International Jewellery Chairman David Bennet as the most impressive stone he’d seen over his 40-year career. The extremely rare ‘pigeon blood’ colour grading of the ruby, set in a Cartier rang, attracted the attention of two private collectors who fiercely competed for the gemstone, with the hammer coming down at $30.3 million–breaking two world records. Sotheby’s next Magnificent Jewels auction will be held in New York on 9 December. 

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auction highlights // news

Contemporary Living On 22 July, Sotheby’s held the inaugural Contemporary Living sale in New York. An auction combining the categories of Photographs, Prints and 20th Century Design by artists and designers such as Diane Arbus, Helmut Newton, David Hockney, Ellsworth Kelly, Mies van der Rohe and George Nakashima. Consisting of approximately 250 objects from the 20th and 21st centuries, this event ignited a compelling discourse between a varied selection of works from each discipline. Leading the auction was Andy Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians, selling for $346,000. 

The Exceptional Sale Christie’s The Exceptional Sale was fittingly held on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the Battle of France. The star of the sale was a unique and outstanding piece of British history––an authentic and flawlessly restored Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1A––which sold for £3.1 million, setting a world record price for a Spitfire at auction. As part of a generous gift from American philanthropist and art collector Thomas Kaplan, Spitfire P9374 was sold to benefit the RAF Benevolent Fund, leading wildlife conservation charity Panthera, WildCRU and Stop Ivory. P9374 is one of the only two remaining Mk.1 models restored to the original specification and still flying; the other model, Spitfire N3200, also belonging to Thomas Kaplan, was gifted to the Imperial War Museum Duxford on 9 July 2015. 

The Collection of a Distinguished Swiss Gentleman

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IMAGES © courtesy of SOTHEBY’s © CHRISTIE’S

Having been assembled over a period of 75 years, this collection featured fine Early European Sculptures, Old Master Paintings and Silver. Milo Dickinson, Specialist of Sculpture and Head of Sale said, ‘We are very pleased with the results, they are a testament to the taste and connoisseurship of the family, and the enduring appeal of discerning collections at auction. There was extremely competitive bidding in the room, on the telephones and on the internet throughout the sale, which demonstrates the strength of the market.’ The sale held in Sotheby’s, London on July 8 and totalled £2.5 million. 

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03/08/2015 14:20

sotheby’s view // news

Sotheby’s Highlights The world’s leading auction house highlights a selection of rare and unique collectors items to look out for in upcoming auctions across the globe.

Made In Britain

London, 30 September 2015 The Made in Britain auction celebrates the diversity and innovative spirit of British art, design, photography, printmaking and studio ceramics. Including works by Lucian Freud, Dame Lucie Rie and Rankin, estimates range from £200-£60,000. Made in Britain offers something for every collector at every price level. Dame Lucie Rie (1902-1995) A restored large waisted white vase impressed with potter’s seal stoneware, a large American yellow bowl impressed with potter’s seal stoneware with ‘American’ yellow glaze. Images of guitars from the Collection of Jack Bruce, the bass player and singer from the seminal rock group Cream. Guitars from the Jack Bruce Collection are estimated up to £12,000.

Rock & Pop

images © SOTHEBY’S

London, 29 September 2015 A new addition to the London calendar, Sotheby’s will be auctioning the highestlevel pop and rock memorabilia. Recent auction highlights include Mick Jagger’s love letters to former lover Marsha Hunt, selling for £187,250, and a collection of John Lennon manuscripts and drawings which sold for a total of $2.9 million. This auction will bring exceptional pieces of popular music history, including instruments, lyrics, photographs, stage clothing and rare association items.

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A Pale Celadon Jade Figure Of Magu And An Attendant, 20th century.

Saturday at Sotheby’s: Asian Art New York, 19 September 2015

Featuring a wide range of decorative and collectible Asian art, including a New York private collection of Dehua porcelain, Qing dynasty and Republic period porcelains, this season’s Asian art sale will also include Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian and Japanese works of art. Estimates will range from $500-$100,000.

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03/08/2015 14:33

news // sotheby’s view

Finest & Rarest Wines

Hong Kong, 4 October 2015 This auction composed from top collections will feature Harlan Estate and BOND direct from the winery, a rare vertical starting with the inaugural vintage of 21 bottles of Harlan Estate (1990-2010), all signed by Bill Harlan. The Bordeaux selection features left bank classed growth from 1980s to 2010, with parcel lots available from the greatest vintages: 1982, 1990, 1995, 1996 and 2000. Estimates range from HK$160,000-$240,000.

Harlan Estate Vertical 1990-2010 (21 bottles) Estimate: HKD160,000-240,000

A Prince Holding a Falcon and Galloping Through the Rocky Landscape, Accompanied By a Hunting Party on Foot, Deccan, 1700 or earlier.

The Sven Gahlin Collection London, 6 October 2015

The Sven Gahlin collection compromises 160 lots, predominantly Indian miniature painting ranging from the 16th to the 19th centuries from the Mughal, Deccani and Rajput courts, as well as the Company School painting from the period of the British Raj. As past of ‘Indian and Islamic Week’, the collection is estimated at £2 million to £3 million. Many of the paintings are signed or attributed to royal court artists, representing scenes of the refinement, power and privilege of courtly life. Sven Gahlin is known for connoisseurship and has been actively collecting since the 1960s; the majority of this artwork has not been seen on the market for decades.

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A White Jade Three Friends Flower Receptacle Qing Dynasty, 18th century.

Monochrome

New York, 15 September 2015 An innovative concept sale, Monochrome will feature both traditional and modern Chinese works united in their shared aesthetic of clean lines and subtle variations in colour. To present a unified vision of simplicity and elegance, traditional monochrome wares will be juxtaposed with monochromatic ink paintings and contemporary ceramics by 20th-century artists.

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03/08/2015 14:33

sotheby’s view // news

Treasures Our series highlights a single item of artistry or craftsmanship that is both rare and exquisite.

L Rudolf Ernst The Carpet Merchant.

Regards sur l’Orient - Tableaux et Sculptures Orientalistes et Art Islamique Paris, 22 October 2015

ouisiana heiress and philanthropist Matilda Geddings Gray (1855-1971) obtained her first object from Fabergé in 1933. An artist herself, she was a sophisticated collector, at a time when the name of the Russian-artist-jeweller Peter Carl Fabergé was virtually unknown. Over the following years, Gray compiled one of the finest Fabergé collections in the world, as his art became renowned and internationally coveted. Iconic works from the house of Fabergé have not been on public view in New York since 2004, but a selection of works from Gray’s sumptuous collection is on long-term loan at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Important objects originally commissioned by the Romanov family, such as the Lillies-of-the-Valley basket, and three magnificent Imperial Easter Eggs, are on view. •

images © SOTHEBY’S; Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation

In 2014, Sotheby’s Paris saw increased interest in Orientalist and Islamic Art, attracting international collectors looking for original high-quality pieces. The forthcoming sale will feature The Carpet Merchant by Rudolf Ernst, estimated at €35,000-50,000.

Platinum, Sapphire and Diamond Brooch, Van Cleef & Arpels, France.

Important Jewels

New York, 19 September 2015 The first major sale of the autumn auction season will feature a compelling array of period and signed jewels from private collections. Highlights include pieces designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston, Bulgari, David Webb and Buccellati as well as a selection of fine white diamonds and coloured stones.

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Imperial Napoleonic Egg, consisting of gold, guilloché enamel, rosecut diamond, platinum, ivory, gouache, velvet, silk. House of Fabergé. Workmaster: Henrik Emanuel Wigström (Finnish, 1862–1923). Miniaturist: Vassily Ivanovich Zuiev Russian (St. Petersburg), 1912.

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03/08/2015 14:33

TRAVEL FEATURE

BEYOND THE FAR HORIZON An exclusive collection of Worldwide Journeys from leading travel company Captain’s Choice presents a unique way of experiencing some of the world’s most enchanting destinations. Above: A condor soars over the Andes. Below [l-r]: Monks at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap; Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon, Burma.

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f you’ve ever dreamt of taking a journey to see the wonders of the world but you find all the planning and logistics rather daunting, then there’s a perfect solution for you—an opportunity that will take you in comfort, style, and safety on escorted tours to some of the most exotic and romantic destinations. The well-known luxury travel company, Captain’s Choice, has this year unveiled an enticing collection of eleven escorted Worldwide Journeys that provides the complete and inclusive premier travel experience—all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the experience of a lifetime. The Worldwide Journeys Programme has already proved so popular that several of the Journeys sold out almost as soon as they were announced. However, a choice of some of the most enticing Worldwide Journeys taking place in 2015 is still available...

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TRAVEL FEATURE

Burma 21 days, October 17 – November 6 Countries: Burma Includes 11 nights on luxury river cruise ship Sanctuary Ananda Highlights include Yangon, Inle Lake, cruising the Irrawaddy, Mandalay

Legends of the Andes 23 days, August 8 - 30 Countries: Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia Highlights include Quito, Devil’s nose railway, Lake Titicaca, La Place and Sucre Silk Road by Private Train 23 days, September 22 – October 14 Countries: China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia Includes three nights on the Shangri La Express and 10 nights on the Golden Eagle Luxury Train Highlights include Beijing, Terracotta Warriors, Samarkand and Moscow Wonders of Indochina 23 days, September 13 – October 11 Countries: Vietnam, Cambodia Includes seven nights on luxury river cruise ship Mekong Princess Highlights include Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Saigon, Mekong and Angkor Wat

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These are just four of the exclusive Worldwide Journeys you can take, carefully planned down to the finest details by Captain’s Choice. Each one promises the experience of a lifetime and unforgettable memories to treasure— they are the perfect opportunities for landmark occasions such as honeymoons, anniversaries, or just to travel the world for no other reason than seeking adventure in style. Solo travellers are also warmly welcomed, and frequently make up around one third of the convivial, likeminded tour groups. Phil Asker, the Founder of Captain’s Choice, says: ‘Captain’s Choice Worldwide Journeys are simply the finest way to see the world. A varied selection of meticulously planned journeys which allow our guests to experience the world’s most remarkable sights and cultures in style, safety and unparalleled luxury. ‘Every journey offers a host of unique and unforgettable moments,‘ Phil adds, ‘which would be almost impossible to experience by any other means. At Captain’s Choice, we don’t offer you the ordinary but the extraordinary. With extensive experience within the travel industry and first-hand knowledge of over 160 countries, we create touring itineraries that combine popular destinations and iconic sights with remote and offbeat places that are often inaccessible to those travelling independently but made possible by utilising private planes, trains or ships. Our tours combine all the ‘must-see’ sights, awe-inspiring scenery and cultural heritage, as well as regional dining experiences.’ Travelling with Captain’s Choice couldn’t be simpler or more reassuring. Everything is taken care of for you and it’s all included in the tour cost: from flights and stays in the very best accommodation available in remote destinations, to friendly service and expert advice from an experienced tour ▶

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TRAVEL FEATURE

Above: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam Facing page [top bottom]: A view from the banks of the Yamuna river as the sun sets behind the Taj Mahal; Ta Prohm temple in the ancient city of Angkor Wat; a view of Bolivian mountains from Titicaca Lake, Peru.

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escort team (there is even a dedicated team doctor on hand). These tours avoid any hassle by taking care of every detail. In addition to providing the finest accommodation, fine dining is a highlight of the Worldwide Journeys. Most drinks and even tips are all included within the cost of the tour. Guests always enjoy the special Welcome and Farewell dinners, as well as the opportunity to experience the gastronomic delights at some of the finest restaurants in the many regions visited. Within those far-flung regions, Captain’s Choice also takes its corporate social

responsibility very seriously, commenting: ‘We are passionate about giving back to the communities we visit. We continue to support home grown industries by hiring experienced local guides in each region and working with Rotary International to complete much-needed projects around the world. Together with generous donations from our guests we have contributed over £1.6 million towards health, hunger, humanity and educational projects including: the Tsunami Appeal in Sri Lanka; the construction of a lift irrigation system in India; hurricane relief in the Philippines;

03/08/2015 11:19

TRAVEL FEATURE

and the building of many new schools and classrooms in Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya and Cambodia. Also, to reflect our commitment to the environment, we are working with Climate Friendly to reduce our carbon footprint.’ So, if your dream is indeed to travel the Silk Road in the comfort of a private train, or perhaps see the Victoria Falls in full flow, visit the exotic region of Mandalay in Burma, or go where the condors soar in the high Andes, then 2015 is the year you can wake up and realise your dream, by taking one of the ‘Worldwide Journeys’ with Caption’s Choice, your choice of a lifetime.

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Worldwide Journeys from Captain’s Choice are proving immensely popular. For that reason it’s strongly recommended that you get in touch soon by calling 0800 046 3007. For further information please visit www.captainschoice.co.uk where you may also download the company’s detailed travel brochure.

03/08/2015 11:19

COLLECTABLES // PENS

A Fair Hand

Good handwriting and fine calligraphy may be increasingly uncommon, but fine writing instruments both old and new continue to fascinate and appeal, providing a vibrant market for collectors worldwide. By Natasha Tierney

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may be declining, but the collectors’ market for limited edition and rare pens, both old and new, continues to thrive. Looking to the high-end pen brands, it is clear that manufacturers have tapped into the appeal of pens as collectables in recent years. The dedicated following of numerous societies, internet forums and periodicals devoted to the collection of writing instruments has encouraged luxury brands to produce limited edition lines, targeting this discerning audience and their diverse range of interests. Mont Blanc—famous for its premium

IMAGES © COURTESY OF MONT BLANC

eautiful writing pleases everyone, it makes one sought after.’ so said the writer Père Gregoire Martin in 1761. Although his assertion may not ring quite so true today, even in the digital age—when few of us set aside time to perfect our calligraphy or sit down to write a letter—there remains an enduring admiration for a skilled writing hand. London’s Victoria & Albert Museum recently showcased an exhibition entitled ‘The Lost Art of Writing’. The display was dedicated to an assortment of historical writing instruments, and highlighted the important place in society that such artifacts have held for centuries. From extravagant gold inkstands to quill pens, the writing accessories that were presented could well be considered works of art in their own right, something that the exhibit’s curator Rachel Church was keen to draw attention to. ‘The investment of time, materials and imagination into the creation of beautiful writing accessories shows that it was an activity of importance, not just as a practical means of communication, but also to display taste and education. The response to my small display suggests that writing instruments still hold interest and charm for modern viewers, perhaps particularly as they fade further into the past,’ says Church. An elaborate ink stand may no longer be required to prove one’s good taste, but even now, our fascination with accomplished handwriting as an endangered art form, at risk of obliteration by the fast-paced world of email and autocorrect, has in many ways proven to be good news for leading pen makers. Demand for pens in everyday use

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03/08/2015 14:32

PENS // COLLECTABLES

Left: The Parker ‘Awanyu’ Aztec sold at Bonhams in December, 2014. Below: Quill pen cutter, 1725-1750 (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

IMAGES © BONHAMS; © VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSUEM, LONDON

Facing Page: The Daniel Defoe Writers Edition by Mont Blanc, available as both a fountain and ballpoint pent, from £580.

pen designs—produces a limited edition collection inspired by well-known artists, writers, thinkers and patrons. A recent addition to the collection, the Daniel Defoe Writer’s Edition is an intricately designed piece modeled on Defoe’s masterpiece, Robinson Crusoe, and exemplary of the kind of modern collectable popular in today’s market. With a precious resin cap and elaborate silver engravings, each tied to a different aspect of the Robinson Crusoe story, one can see why the detail displayed in the pen’s decorative features would make it a draw for collectors, showcasing both technical and artistic craftsmanship and paying tribute to a literary heritage that itself exists only thanks to writing instruments such as this. However, for those with a little more time and money to spend on their collection, the greatest treasures are to be found at auction. Bonhams hold ‘Fine Writing Instruments’ sales several times a year, with rare and precious pens frequently achieving impressive results. In December, the Parker No.60 ‘Awanyu’ Aztec was sold for $25,000 to a collector at a San Francisco auction, demonstrating just how valuable certain models can be. The early 20th-century gold fountain pen was the creation of the company’s founder George S. Parker, who was inspired by

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a Native American motif on his travels in New Mexico. He instructed his artisans to create a writing instrument to convey Native American ‘mysticism’, and the result was the ‘Awanyu’ Aztec, widely regarded as the most desirable Parker pen ever made. For collectors interested in the fine penmanship of days gone by, rare auction finds such as this are the holy grail of the pen-collecting world. That is not to say, however, that age and rarity are necessarily the most important attributes, and for those interested especially in using the pens themselves, there is plenty to be said for more recent designs that focus on delivering technical excellence. Models such as Parker’s ‘Ingenuity’ or Waterman’s ‘Edson’—described by American novelist Douglas Kennedy as ‘the writer’s Ferrari’— combine contemporary technology and innovation with classic design, ensuring an optimum writing experience simply not achievable using older pens. The good news is that with an impressively wide array of fine writing instruments still being designed and sold by brands and auction houses around the world, the art of handwriting looks set to be preserved for quite some time to come. Bonhams’ next ‘Fine Writing Instruments’ sale will take place in Hong Kong on 24 September 2015. 

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03/08/2015 14:32

Collections // MOVIE MEMORABILIA

Movie Moments Some of the world’s most precious movie memorabilia has recently come under the hammer, causing excitement amongst an increasing crowd of competitive collectors.

By Rebecca Foster

ith premium items dating back as far as the golden era of film in the 1940s, movie memorabilia has always held a certain mystique for collectors, whether they are knowledgeable film buffs or simply fans of the picture. While usual factors like rarity and condition often determine the value of such memorabilia, movies that are well-loved by audiences are those most likely to peak collectors’ interest. Thanks to the allure of Hollywood, entertainment memorabilia is likely to intrigue collectors for years to come, especially with social media to whip up interest amongst the growing number of online collectors. For investors, the best items from the most treasured movies are also likely to rise in price, with fierce competition at auction houses raising the stakes. From the nostalgic melody that opens Herman Hupfeld’s classic song ‘As Time Goes By’, most of us are transported to the smoky surroundings of Rick’s Café Américain, the centre of action in Casablanca. Sam, played by Arthur ‘Dooley’ Wilson, performs Rick and Ilsa’s love theme on an ornate salmoncoloured piano. A focal point of Rick and Ilsa’s romance, the piano also acts as a major

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plot device when Rick hides stolen letters of transit inside it. This double significance is perhaps why the piano attracted so much attention when it went under the hammer at Bonhams New York in November 2014, selling for $3.4 million. Other prominent lots in Bonhams’ ‘There’s No Place Like Hollywood’ auction included Aragorn’s sword from The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and the Cowardly Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz, which sold for $437,000 and $3 million respectively. As well as sparking enormous excitement on social media, the 90 percent of lots that sold at the auction fetched a total of $9.1 million. According to Catherine Williamson, Director of Fine Books and Manuscripts and Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams Los Angeles, the buzz surrounding the auction demonstrates the appeal of both iconic contemporary films and silver screen classics. ‘Key props, costumes, and scripts from films of all eras continue to reach new heights at auction,’ she explains. Another notable auction at the Los Angeles branch of Bonhams included a collection of

Above: Aragorn’s sword from The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

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IMAGES © bonhamS

MOVIE MEMORABILIA // Collections

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Above: Richard Gere’s 1979 Triumph motorcycle from An Officer and a Gentleman. Left: Pirate hat worn by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean.

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Collections // MOVIE MEMORABILIA

Above: Cowardly Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr in The Wizard of Oz.

Hollywood treasures, including a suit worn by Sacha Baron Cohen in his role as Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev. The suit, which is one of only two suits worn by Cohen in his role as Borat, fetched $5,250. Other lots to excite collectors included a cast-signed copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind ($20,000-30,000), Richard Gere’s 1979 Triumph motorcycle from An Officer and a Gentleman ($10,000-15,000) and a pirate hat worn by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean ($8,000-12,000). ‘The interest in movie memorabilia is directly related to the world’s interest in movies,’ says Williamson. ‘Anyone who has seen a movie and been moved can understand the magic that a relic from a beloved film has for a collector.’ Williamson also believes that the more popular a movie is, the more compelling the memorabilia that eventually makes its way to the auction house. ‘Casablanca, The Lord of the Rings and The Wizard of Oz are among the most beloved and well-regarded films of all time, so not only have most people seen these films, but they also happen to love them,’ she says.

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According to Alastair McCrea, an Entertainment Memorabilia specialist based at Ewbank’s, films with longevity across several decades create collector interest. ‘The James Bond franchise is still releasing movies and Star Wars is going to generate a new wave of collectors this year with the release of the next installment,’ he predicts. Treasured movie memorabilia encompasses everything from costumes and props to scripts and signed posters, and Williamson notes the growing popularity of unique production material such as concept artwork and costume designs. ‘Posters are eternally popular, especially with people new to the collecting area,’ she explains. ‘While owning a costume or a prop might be daunting, as caring and storing this kind of memorabilia can be a bit more tricky, most of us have a little wall space to dedicate to the poster from our favourite film.’ Provenance, rarity and condition are all elements that determine value, according to McCrea. ‘If an icon signs thousands of autographs over their career the price drops as the market has been flooded, whereas stars like Alfred Hitchcock rarely signed, so

when an autograph does appear collectors go crazy for it.’ Williamson also highlights the importance of how well the film is regarded by the public, and whether the memorabilia plays a key part in the movie—like Sam’s memorable piano from Casablanca. ‘Is it a central plot device? Is it a costume that is instantly recognisable and identifiable with a star role? Or, if it’s a poster, is it rare and striking, and does it convey a good sense of the film itself?’ she asks. Premium items that do tick these boxes provide collectors with a tangible connection to the movie, making the item all the more covetable. Memorabilia from critically acclaimed films is also particularly sought-after. Despite the price growth of movie memorabilia over the past five years, Williamson says that the area has always proved consistently attractive for collectors— particularly for those treasures that evoke fond memories of our favourite movie moments. ‘There will always be peaks and valleys in this discipline, as there are in every collecting area, but the better things seem to be evergreen.’

IMAGES © bonhams

Right: The famous piano featured in Casablanca sold at auction for $3.4 million.

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03/08/2015 14:37

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Art

ART INVESTMENT // culture

Investing in

images courtesy of christie’s images ltd.

ollectors and investors are said to be two different animals. Collectors collect with passion and sometimes with obsession, while looking down on investors because they’re only in it for the money. Whereas successful investors in art are likely to be more risk averse and therefore are tuned in to changing trends and the many pitfalls in the art market that await the unwary. Iain Robertson, head of art business studies at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, argues that it goes both ways, saying: ‘Art is a consumer good and a potential investment, but essentially it is a passion investment. That is what we try to convey to our students at Sotheby’s Institute.’ Therefore being passionate about your investment in art means that you will do your homework, thoroughly researching the art sector or artist in which you’re considering making an investment, tracking price trends over a number of years, and understanding how and why the market fluctuates.

Good Investment/Bad Investment The most volatile sector is contemporary art, where significant profit can be made as well as lost. Buying low and selling high is the aim of every serious art investor. But

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Collectors and investors know the pleasure and the pain that investing in art can bring. The following overview looks briefly at the ups and downs of today’s art market.

Bird And Rock Bada Shanren (Zhu Da, 1626-1705) Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper. Inscribed and signed by artist, selling for $1,000,000.

buying low will generally mean investing in a little-known artist where your chances of an increase in value are much less than if you have significant funds for investment in a middle-weight or major artist. At the highest level, the millions-of-dollar art investments in the great majority of cases profit is often equally significant (over time) on the re-sale of the artwork. There are any number of influences that can cause fluctuations in the contemporary art market. It may be that too many works by a major artist, such as Warhol for instance, have come onto the market within too short a period of time, diminishing the scarcity value. Or it may be that a number of works

by another major artist have questionable provenance, or have doubtful authenticity, or have even been proved to be fakes. All of which can make dealers and investors nervous, which in turn affects market values. A recent case in point has been contemporary Chinese art where a librarian at a leading Chinese fine arts gallery stole 143 paintings by grandmasters over the course of two years, replacing them with his own forgeries. This included a work by Bada Shanren, Rocks and Birds, which has an estimated value of £4.7 million. This is just one of many art forgery cases coming out of China that cause investors to become extremely nervous and no doubt cause losses

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03/08/2015 14:40

culture // art investment

The Holy Virgin Mary, Chris Ofili b.1968 Signed, titled and dated. Acrylic, oil, polyester resin, paper collage, glitter, map pins and elephant dung on linen. Sold for £2,882,500––a world record price for the artist at auction.

Buyer Beware Caution is the watchword of the successful investor, and perhaps more than ever for the art investor. A particular essential is to ensure that that work of art you’re considering buying (or selling) has all the necessary paperwork in order. Provenance records, previous valuations, bills of sale, all these documents together will help to give a reliable degree of authenticity—especially in cases where particular artists, such as L.S. Lowry and Alfred Wallis for example, are well known to have been the target of forgers. Equally, beware of making a purchase that seems to be a tempting bargain. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

for unwary investors. An upcoming major sale by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong of Chinese art shows the estimate totals are considerably lower than Sotheby’s record $447 million for a series of auctions in Hong Kong set in April 2011. This would appear to be the year that the downward trend began, with auction data providers maintaining that fine art sales in main land China fell by 44.2 per cent from $9 billion in 2011 to $5.1 billion in 2012. The trend has by no means been entirely driven by revelations of fakes and forgeries— collectors and investors seem to be in

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agreement that they were simply paying too much for their acquisitions in earlier years. However, it is not all bad news for potential investors in Asian art: at the recent New York Asian art sales, Bonhams sale realized $9 million, its highest total yet in this category in New York, while Sotheby’s sold over $41 million of Chinese ceramics and classical paintings, significantly above the estimated $22 million minimum, and Christie’s sold $45.7 million, three times the estimate.

If you’re investing in art, you should probably be prepared to be in for the long term. That means you may have to hold your new acquisition for many years before you can return it to the market with any certainty of making a reasonable profit—and even then, nothing is guaranteed. Finally, if you don’t have the time to research and pour over art books and market trends as much as you’d like to, there are many reputable firms that will advise on wealth management and art investment such as Berenberg Art Advice, Chetcuti Cauchi, Fine Art Wealth Management, and Investment Art. What all the experts agree on is that investors should invest for pleasure—the enjoyment of the acquired artwork—as much as for profit. •

Images courtesy of christie’s images ltd

Best Advice

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24/07/2015 09:27

Art events // around the world

Giacometti

Pure Presence

IMAGES © The National Gallery AMERICA, GIACOMETTI: PURE PRESENCE COLLECTION

This autumn the first exhibition of Giacometti’s portraits will open at London’s National Portrait Gallery. By Rebecca Foster

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around the world // art events

Left: Annette IV, 1962, cast in 1965, Alberto Giacometti. Bronze. Object: 578 x 236 x 218 mm, 13kg. Below: Venice Woman IX, 1956, Alberto Giacometti. Bronze. Object: 1130 x 165 x 346 mm. Facing Page: Bust of Annette, 1954, Alberto Giacometti.

IMAGES © THE NATIONAL GALLERY AMERICA, GIACOMETTI: PURE PRESENCE COLLECTION

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lberto Giacometti is most famous for his striking, spindly sculptures of the human figure. However, while works such as Giacometti’s Walking Man are instantly recognisable, the National Portrait Gallery’s upcoming exhibition will take a different approach to the artist’s work by focusing on his lifelong immersion in portraiture. The exhibition, which will run from October 15 2015 – January 10 2016, comprises over 60 of Giacometti’s paintings, sculptures and drawings, spanning the whole of the artist’s career. ‘Giacometti is widely celebrated as one of the giants of modern art, but his almost continuous involvement with portraiture is less well known,’ says Paul Moorhouse, curator of Giacometti: Pure Presence. ‘In devoting rooms to his main models, the exhibition exposes the singular, obsessive and intense nature of Giacometti’s portraits. Repetition, variation, accretion and dissolution are revealed as vital elements in his extraordinary vision,’ continues Moorhouse. According to Moorhouse, the decision to leave out Giacometti’s more familiar work was taken in an attempt to focus on the alternative and less well-known path the artist pursued in relation to his portraiture. In particular, the exhibition will focus on Giacometti’s unique engagement with the human figure and the way in which he represents human presence based on a handful of sitters, including his wife Annette and his brother Diego. ‘We have a long-standing relationship with the National Portrait Gallery having

supported recent exhibitions including Irving Penn Portraits and Lucian Freud Portraits. We are therefore very proud to continue our partnership through this beautiful retrospective of Giacometti’s work,’ says Andrea Sullivan, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, EMEA, BofAML. With the recent record-breaking sale of Giacometti’s sculpture, Pointing Man, the exhibition is sure to attract and captivate visitors, explains Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery. ‘It is fitting that the National Portrait Gallery is staging this major exhibition of portraits by one of the greatest 20th century artists, in the 50th anniversary year of his death,’ he says. ‘Visitors will be able to experience the extraordinary range of Giacometti’s work from modernist master engaging in cubism, expressionism and surrealism, to his startlingly original representation of the human figure in space.’ Christie’s New York sale in May saw Giacometti’s Pointing Man (referred to above) make a new world record for the artist’s work, selling at just over $141 million. The life-sized sculpture of a thin man in typical Giacometti style was created by the Swiss artist in just one night, between midnight and nine the next morning. It was rapidly made for his first exhibition in New York in 1947.  The exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is sponsored by Bank of America Merril Lynch.

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03/08/2015 14:50

ART // HOKUSAI

HOKUSAI A collector’s obsession with Japanese art reminds us of the exceptional influence one artist’s work has had on the western world. Not in his own lifetime would the Japanese artist, Hokusai, ever have anticipated such far-reaching and enduring acclaim. By Charles Ford

t was the time when Vincent Van Gogh was collecting woodblock prints, many that were discarded packaging from goods shipped from Japan to Europe. As is well known, Van Gogh became strongly influenced by the style, as did many other painters of the period, including Gauguin, Monet, and Toulouse-Lautrec, and this

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influence changed the course of western art. There does seem to be a charming air of serendipity about just how the Impressionists fell under this eastern spell: both Van Gogh and Gauguin, we know, scavenged Japanese prints that had been used as packing paper for porcelain, and there is a similar link for Monet who found a stash of prints in an

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03/08/2015 14:55

HOKUSAI // ART

Facing page: Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa-oki nami-ura), also known as the Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjûrokkei). Hokusai, c.1830–31 (Tenpô 1–2). Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper.

Below [l-r]: Gift cover (fukusa),1844 (Koka 1), Hokusai. Silk plain weave with ink and colour.

regarded, eventually converting to Buddhism and also having the honour of being awarded the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, with the rank of Commander. On his return to America, Bigelow gifted his collection of more than 40,000 works of art to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA). The MFA has an ace card to play this year as the museum has one of the richest holdings of Japanese art outside of Japan, and many of these beautiful and rare prints have been on display in the exhibition, Hokusai, (April 5 August 9, 2015). The influence these powerful and innovative Japanese woodblock images have had on several generations of artists has been so pervasive that there can be few artists in the west today who have not, at some time during their creative development, come under their spell. Standing out as one of Japan’s most famous artists is Hokusai (1760-1849), artist, ukiyo-e painter (images of ‘the floating world’) and printmaker of the Edo period. Perhaps everyone has their own list of the world’s Top 10 most famous pictures, but surely Hokusai’s The Great Wave is amongst them (Under the Wave off Kanagawa, c.1830-31), which is part of the series ‘Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji’ (Fugaku sanjūrokkei).

Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Woman Looking at Herself in a Mirror, c.1805 (Bunka 2), Hokusai, c.1805 Hanging scroll; ink, colour, gold, and mica on silk.

Amsterdam porcelain shop in 1871. He recorded the moment as follows: ‘I had the good fortune to discover a batch of prints at a Dutch merchant’s. It was in Amsterdam in a shop of Delft porcelain.’ Monet had been haggling over an object without success... ‘Suddenly I saw a dish filled with images below on a shelf. I stepped forward: Japanese woodblocks!’ The merchant, unaware that the prints had any value, sold Monet both the prints and the oriental jar. This was also around the time when a young American physician and surgeon, William Sturgis Bigelow, had travelled to Japan in 1881, aged 31, where he stayed for seven years, amassing a unique collection of Japanese prints. After graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1874, Bigelow studied in Europe for five years, in Vienna, Strasbourg, and Paris (under Pasteur, no less). It is interesting to speculate that Bigelow’s obsession with Japanese prints began during his time in Paris, a time that coincided with the increasing influence of Japonisme in the west. It’s not recorded if it was the visual impact of Japanese prints seen in Paris that drew Bigelow to Japan, but whatever the case, during his time in Japan he became highly

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The Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisoji no oku Amida-ga-taki), from the series A Tour of Waterfalls in Various Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri) Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849) c.1832 (Tenpô 3) Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper.

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Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

ART // HOKUSAI

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HOKUSAI // ART

MFA’s exhibition will showcase an array of works from Hokusai’s seven-decade career, including some lesser-known pieces depicting whimsical instructions on how to draw, dynamic paintings on paper lanterns, and elaborate cut-out dioramas. Also displayed are some of the most famous images in Japanese art, including the previously mentioned masterwork Under the Wave Off Kanagawa (Great Wave) from Hokusai’s series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji—and the brilliantly colored multi-panel screen painting Phoenix (1835). Spanning Hokusai’s work from his 20s through to his 80s, the exhibition will explore common themes through sections dedicated to topics such as landscapes, nature, fantasy, and ‘the floating world’ of urban culture (including depictions of the Kabuki theatre and the Yoshiwara pleasure district). Works that depict Japanese historical and literary motifs are featured along with ‘perspective prints’ with exaggerated vanishing points, often used in toy peep shows. A rare public display of an extremely delicate silk square of a mythological Chinese lion, most probably used as a gift wrapper (fukusa), is also included in the exhibition.

Below: Phoenix, 1835 (Tenpô 6), Hokusai. Eight-panel folding screen; ink, colour, cut gold-leaf, and sprinkled gold on paper. Bottom left: Carp and Iris Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760–1849) Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and colour on paper. Bottom right: Chrysanthemums and Horsefly, from an untitled series known as Large Flowers, c.1833–34 (Tenpô 4–5), Hokusai. Woodblock print (nishiki-e). Ink and colour on paper.

“Although I had produced numerous designs by my 50th year, none of my works done before 70th year is really worth counting” —Katsushika Hokusai

Images © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

A further aspect of Hokusai that continues to intrigue us is just how enigmatic an artist he was, changing is name several times during his life (including the name ‘Manji, The Old Man Mad About Drawing’), changing his style, transforming with the changing, floating world he set out to put on paper. Even with this great mass of work behind him, Hokusai seems to have remained aloof from his undeniable successes, even dismissing at a late age most of his earlier work, when he wrote... ‘From the age of six I was in the habit of drawing all kinds of things. Although I

had produced numerous designs by my 50th year, none of my works done before my 70th year is really worth counting. At the age of 73 I have come to understand the true form of animals, insects and fish, and the nature of plants and trees. Consequently, by the age of 80 I will have made more and more progress, and at 90 I will have got closer to the essence of art. At the age of 100 I will have reached a magnificent level and at 110 each dot and each line will be alive. I would like those who outlive me to observe that I have not spoken without reason.’ 

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03/08/2015 14:54

Conviction Investing for Private Clients Odey is a leading investment firm managing £8.5bn* for private investors, professional investors and institutional investors. The firm was set up in 1991 to focus on active fund management with an equal emphasis on preserving capital and generating superior returns. We have worked hard to build an investment team and a client base committed to these principles and today we continue to focus on performance. Around half of our 110 employees are investment professionals and the partners are amongst the largest investors in the strategies we run.

Strong performance For the last two decades we have managed portfolios for many of the world’s largest and most demanding institutional investors and have a strong long term performance record. Our clients tell us that they trust Odey because of the strength of our investment team, our concentrated approach, a willingness to take risk and, above all, our single-minded focus on results.

Investment Principles Below are the investment principles we have stood by over the years: • Think and invest like an owner – know when to take risk and when to preserve capital - and always base decisions on primary data; • Have a flexible approach that allows you to change your investment style if market conditions dictate; • As good investment opportunities can occur anywhere, do not be restricted by sector or by region; • Know what to do when you are wrong. Investing is as much about acknowledging your bad ideas as profiting from your good ones.

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Investment Performance: High Growth Portfolio 2015 - Finalist 2014 - Winner

Our private client service For many years we have seen private clients being offered increasingly poor value; too many firms charging high fees for preserving capital and too few firms able and prepared to take enough risk to generate strong returns. And so in 2008 we set up Odey Wealth Management to extend our investment services to private clients and charities and are growing rapidly, currently with c. £700m (as at May 2015) of clients’ assets under management. Our client base is very diverse but united by a desire to take risk to build wealth.

Putting clients first At the heart of Odey is the client. We ask for your trust to take the risks necessary to make good investment returns and in return we offer transparency, good communication and ultimately – we hope – strong performance. We invest considerable time getting to know you as an individual, your circumstances and investment ambitions so that we can build a portfolio that is right for you and your family. As part of our service we also undertake a range of financial planning. When we take on a client we hope it is the start of a long relationship.

Is Odey right for you? Odey Wealth is not for everyone but in our experience more and more investors are looking for managers who have strong views, who are performance focused and who invest alongside their clients. Odey has benefited from this and over the last twenty years we have earned the trust of more than 2,500 investors. For a copy our latest market views, or to arrange a meeting, please do get in touch with Fay Dalby. T: 020-7208-1414 E: f.dalby@odeywealth.com w: www.odeywealth.com

As with any investment clients should remember the value of all investments and the income derived from them can decrease as well as increase.

*Assets under management as at 30 April 2015. The Odey Group (‘Odey’ or ‘We’) comprises Odey Asset Management LLP and all of its subsidiaries and group companies, including Odey Wealth Management (UK) Limited and Odey Wealth Management (C.I.) Limited. Odey Wealth Management (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 12 Upper Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 2ND. Telephone calls may be recorded.

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13/07/2015 16:40

art // My choice

A Personal Choice

Our new series presents a favourite painting or object that is our guest’s personal choice. Our first guest is Rena DeSisto, Bank of America.

Right: Boy with a Basket of Fruit, c.1593, by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Galleria Borghese, Rome.

IMAGES © COURTESY OF GALLERIA BORGHESE, ROME; © BANK OF AMERICA

I Rena DeSisto Global Arts and Culture Executive, Bank of America

’m actually thrilled to be asked to make my choice of an all-time favourite painting because it’s made me think about it for the first time. I guess I never articulated to myself before that my personal taste in art is all a function of my being drawn to images that are sensual. I’m not particularly fond of landscapes, although I can appreciate them, but a landscape by John Constable, for example, is about as far away from my taste as it can be. The pictures that resonate most strongly with me are those that convey a feeling of sensuality. So for instance I love Renoir, and in my apartment in New York I also have a lot of nudes, both men and women—in fact when

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my family and my young nieces come to see me they make fun of me about all the naked people on my walls! For the same reasons, I’m also very much drawn to paintings of fruit, still lifes particularly. So, if I had to choose something that hits me in the stomach with delight, I would say my favourite painting is Caravaggio’s Boy with a Basket of Fruit. I love the way the fruit is in various stages of ripeness—it’s very lavish. I also respond to the incredible technical ability that Caravaggio displays in this painting. And for me there is also the sense of drama that’s always present in Caravaggio’s paintings—to me he’s the painter equivalent of Rachmaninov. I keep a print of this painting in my

kitchen where I see it every day, and I never get tired of looking at it. • Bank of America provides vital support to cultural institutions and arts

organiations

throughout

the

world via an extensive programme of sponsorships and grants. The company also preserves and protects art for future generations through its unique Art Conservation Project. Recent

sponsored

exhibitions

have included, Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, Henri Matisse: The CutOuts and Magritte: The Mystery of the Ordinary, 1926-38. 

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03/08/2015 14:59

ART // TOURISM

10 reasons to visit… Rijksmuseum

n the heart of Amsterdam is the national museum of the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum. Thousands visit each year to experience the unique collection of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages onwards, along with many other spectacular pieces of European and Asian art. There’s no doubt that there are many more than 10 reasons to visit this magnificent museum-gallery. The Rijksmuseum not only has the largest number of paintings by Rembrandt in the world, including The Night Watch, there are also other exceptional masterpieces such as Vermeer’s The Milk Maid; a Van Gogh self-portrait and five other

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works by this artist… the list of treasures is a long one. Our focus, however, is Rembrandt, particularly ‘Late Rembrandt’. The recent exhibition attracted a record breaking number of visitors–over half a million–during its stay at the Riijksmuseum. If you weren’t one of the 520,968 visitors, here’s a second chance to see the key pieces of ‘Late Rembrandt’. Over a hundred paintings, drawings and prints that Rembrandt produced in the final phase of his life can be seen here, gathered from museums and private collections across the world. Here is a selection of some of Rembrandt’s best-known pictures.

Two years ago, April 2013, the Rijksmuseum finally reopened its doors after a decadelong refurbishment—a radical, and for some controversial, makeover costing €375 million (£317 million).

IMAGES: © COLLECTION OF THE MAURITSHUIS, THE HAGUE

The pride of Amsterdam, this world-famous museum showcases an impressive collection of Dutch art and history from the middle ages to present day: a priority on every art enthusiasts must-visit list. Selection by Charles Ford

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TOURISM // ART

Young Woman Sleeping, c.1654 The subject is believed to be Rembrandtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s common-law wife, Hendrickje Stoffels. The study, drawn with marvelous economy of line, is done entirely with the brush (a rare technique for Rembrandt) in brown wash with some white gouache. 24.6 x 20.3cm The British Museum, London

Self portrait with two circles, c.1665-69 Rembrandt, at the height of his creative genius, gives us this supreme example of self-portraiture, showing himself at work. The Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood House, London

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ART // TOURISM

The conspiracy of the Batavians under Claudius Civilis, c.1661-62 An allegorical portrayal of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish monarchy, this picture is a section, cut down by Rembrandt himself, from a much larger commissioned work. Oil on canvas, 550 × 550cm Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, Stockholm

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IMAGES: © COLLECTION OF THE MAURITSHUIS, THE HAGUE; THE RIJKSMUSEUM.

Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph, 1656 Interpretations of some of Rembrandt’s works continue to differ—a situation the artist would no doubt relish. It seems likely that here Rembrandt chose to give us a sense of glimpsing this serene and intimate biblical scene, showing his own sense of empathy with the subject. Oil on canvas, 173 × 209cm Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Kassel

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TOURISM // ART

Portrait of Jan Six, c.1654 Jan Six’s family had an active trading business that included ownership of a silk dyeing works. This portrait of Jan Six is still owned by the Six family. Oil on canvas, 112 × 102cm Collection Six, Amsterdam

Portrait of a Couple as Isaac and Rebecca, known as The Jewish Bride, c.1665-69 This portrait was named The Jewish Bride only at the beginning of the 19th century, but the subject of the picture remains a mystery. Art historians believe the couple represents Isaac and Rebecca. In a letter Van Gogh wrote: ‘What an intimate, what an infinitely sympathetic painting.’ Oil on canvas, 121.5 × 166.5cm Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

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ART // TOURISM

Nude woman resting on a cushion, c.1661-62 We can only look with awe at Rembrandt’s magnificent late drawings in pen and brown ink, with the compositions so modern, they seems to leap forward by two centuries to the era of Degas. Pen, brush and brown ink with wash, touched with white 13.5 x 28.3cm Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

IMAGES: © COLLECTION OF THE MAURITSHUIS, THE HAGUE; HAMPSHIRE HOTEL AMSTERDAM AMERICAN; THE INTERCONTINENTAL AMSTEL AMSERDAM

Portrait of Catrina Hooghsaet, 1657 The painting is one of the very few in private ownership. This is on loan from Penrhyn Castle in Wales and is owned by the Douglas-Pennant family. The Rijksmuseum was keen to buy the portrait in 2007, but was unable to raise the asking price of £40 million. In 1949 the painting was valued at £1,000. Oil on canvas, 125.5 x 98.5cm Private collection

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TOURISM // ART

10.

Self Portrait, 1669 Painted in the last year of Rembrandt’s life, aged 63. Rembrandt painted more self-portraits than any other artist of the 17th century. This self portrait has had a remarkable history: sold in 1811 by Phillip’s for 19 guineas (reputedly); on loan to the Rijksmuseum, 1925-40; in the possession (1940-45) of Adolf Hitler; recovered 1945 and returned to rightful owners 1947; the same year, bought by Mauritshuis, The Hague, with the support of the Rembrandt Society and private benefactors. Oil on canvas, 65.4 x 60.2cm Mauritshuis, The Hague

WHERE TO STAY

We’ve picked two luxury hotels in Amsterdam that aim to fullfil all your expectations.

HAMPSHIRE HOTEL AMSTERDAM AMERICAN Located at the Leidse Square, the Hampshire Hotel - Amsterdam American is within walking distance to the Rijksmuseum. The luxurious hotel boasts a rich history itself––the current building dating from the 1990s and is officially listed as a monument, and is an excellent example of Jugendstil. The hotel is home to the famous Café Americain: a sparkling ‘hot spot’ for writers, artists and international film stars. Surrounded by cafés, restaurants, clubs and theatres, you’ll find yourself at the cultural hub of Amsterdam. hampshire-hotels.com/american

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THE INTERCONTINENTAL AMSTEL AMSTERDAM Situated on the banks of the beautiful Amstel River, this striking building first opened its doors in 1867 and has received praise ever since for its regal presence. Dine in style at the Michelin starred La Rive whilst enjoying tranquil views of the river, or make a trip in one of the hotel’s authentic saloon boats along the historical canals, cruising past many of the old houses, warehouses and mansions that line the scenic canals. intercontinental.com/amstel

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03/08/2015 15:14

SUPERCAR // COLLECTOR

Sovereigns of

SPEED

With the hotly anticipated launch of the Ferrari 488 GTB fast approaching, the story of one man’s passion for motor racing provides a fascinating insight into the history behind Italy’s most iconic automobile brand.

hink of Ferrari and you think of speed. The name itself conjures an image of the flash of Ferrari scarlet hurtling around a track, and of that prancing horse (or ‘rampante’) that has become a symbol of record-breaking racing success and the highest calibre of sports car. It is unlikely that Enzo Ferrari ever dreamt of the legendary status his marque would one day acquire when he made his own racing debut. Finishing in a modest fourth position at the wheel of a Construzione Meccaniche Nazzionali 15/20 at a 1919

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hill-climb race in Milan, Enzo Ferrari’s competition success in the early 1920s led to a 20 year collaboration with Italian car giant Alfa Romeo, who appointed him as head of their Alfa Corse racing division. It was Alfa Romeo too, that—upon leaving the company in 1939—Enzo Ferrari vowed to one day beat on the track with his own designs. And beat them he certainly did. Although initially focused on his beloved Scuderia Ferrari team, it was Enzo’s decision to begin designing road cars that propelled

the Ferrari name to the acclaim and prestige that it still holds today, with the income from the popular road models used to fund the Scuderia. Following the historic debut of the first Ferrari 125S in 1947, Ferrari won the Mile Miglia (1948), the Le Mans 24 Hour Race (1949) and the World Championships Grand Prix (1951), becoming World Champions by 1952. Having competed in Formula One since 1950, today the Ferrari Scuderia is the oldest surviving and most successful team in the championship’s history—no

By Natasha Tierney

www.artsandcollections.com

03/08/2015 15:09

COLLECTOR // SUPERCAR

A Lucky EmbLEm?

small feat for a man who began his career as a test driver who dreamt of competing himself one day. The final Ferrari car to be made under Enzo’s management was the F40, unveiled in 1987 just one year before his death at the age of 90 and culminating a lifetime’s devotion to automobile design and engineering at the highest level. Over 25 years later Enzo Ferrari’s legacy remains an important presence at the company. Having once famously stated ‘my motors have soul,’ Ferrari’s latest models demonstrate how the marque strives to uphold Enzo’s ambitions, combining a prestigious heritage with boundary pushing innovation that ensures Ferraris remain among the world’s most desirable vehicles

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on both track and road. The latest of Ferrari’s celebrated eight cylinder models, the 488 GTB, made its public debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2015. Hailed by reviewers as a ‘turbo-charged super car’, the 3.9-liter V8 engine is designed to provide track level performance in everyday use, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in just three seconds, with a top speed of an exhilarating 330 km/h. If you’re fortunate enough to find an empty road to test these credentials—and are prepared to pay the £183,974 price tag—then the 488 GTB looks set to fulfill the super car fantasies of many a sports-car enthusiast. 

Perhaps Ferrari’s enduring success has something to do with its signature ‘rampante’ symbol, gifted to Enzo at the end of the Second World War as a lucky mascot. Originally used by decorated First World War pilot Francesco Baracca on the fuselage of his aircraft, Baracca’s family offered Enzo the prancing horse symbol to use on his cars after the war. He later adopted the black rampante as the symbol for the Ferrari Scuderia, selecting the yellow background shield in tribute to his native Modena. With over 5,000 victories on tracks and roads around the world, to say that the prancing horse succeeded in bringing Enzo Ferrari and his team the luck that Francesco Baracca’s family once promised would be an understatement.

Above left: 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB. Below left: The famous ‘rampante’ Ferrari symbol. Above right: Enzo Ferrari, founder of Ferrari. Facing page: Ferrari 488 GTB.

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COLLECTABLES // MODERN COLLECTABLES

Smart Collectables in a Digital Age With modern technology rapidly evolving every day, the choice of the latest modern collectables offered by luxury brands becomes ever wider.

IMAGES courtesy of bmw

By Samantha Coles

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MODERN COLLECTABLES // COLLECTABLES

n an age where ‘smart’ prefixes many standard products, from ‘Smartphones’ to ‘Smartkettles’, consumers and collectors alike are inundated with the latest miraculous, life-changing technologies. Often considered the leading player, Apple carves the way with the most coveted and cutting-edge ‘smart’ products. Over half of all households now own an iPhone, iPod or iPad, and the iWatch looks set to join the family. Despite an initial negative response to the product from consumers, all models of the Apple iWatch sold out within 30 minutes of pre orders officially starting. Strong demand for the Apple iWatch isn’t tremendously surprising: Apple’s loyal fan-base, combined with its earned reputation for brilliance ensures the surge of sales. ‘Apple introduced the world to several category defining products, the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. And once again Apple is poised to captivate the world with a revolutionary product that can enrich people’s lives. It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made’, says Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. The iWatch collection features an 18K

gold edition, tagged as the ‘luxury’ version. It’s puzzling to think that an iWatch could compete with Rolex, Tag Heuer or Breitling as a luxury watch—where is the meticulous craftsmanship, limited edition designs and legendary sophistication? The iWatch does prove itself as a decent contender–with 34 variants on design to suit every style and substance requirement, Apple Force Touch technology, a number of built-in health apps, and even comes in a leather box that doubles as a charging cradle, this wearable technology has been dubbed ‘The Watch of the Future’. Many classic watches are taking on the demand for higher technology, incorporating digital technology into the classic design. ‘It is not a smart watch, it is an intelligent watch,’ states JeanChristophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari Group about Bulgari’s new concept watch, Diagono e-Magnesium—the first of its kind in the highbrow field of haute horolgerie. He explains that the ‘smart’ watch offers several features, which rely on mobile phone information. The Diagono e-Magnesium is totally secure—likened to a Swiss vault—as users can save all

“It’s not smart, it’s intelligent”

—Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bulgari Group

IMAGES courtesy of bulgari and apple

Above: BMW I Remote. Below: Bulgari Diagono Magnesium, the ‘intelligent watch’. Right: Apple iWatch Edition, made with 18-kt gold and display screen made of saphhire crystal. Facing page: The 2015 BM1 i8, described as ‘the future on four wheels’.

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速

Via Erbosa, 23 - 52014 Porrena di Poppi - Arezzo (Italia) Tel. 0575 550144 - Fax 0575 550478 e-mail: maggim@maggimassimo.it - www.maggimassimo.it

Wine storage mobile air-conditioned with automatics sliding for viewing bottles

Bench bar with drink pouring with built-in refrigeration system

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IMAGES courtesy of bulgari and rolls-royce

MODERN COLLECTABLES // COLLECTABLES

Above: Luxurious interior of the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Below: Apple iWatch Chrono Clock with Milanese Loop.

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private information such as banking details, traveling itineraries and ID without fear of anyone gaining access to this personal information. This, paired with the renowned elegance of the Bulgari design, renders the watch as a timeless classic. Luxury cars are following suit, with RollsRoyce creating the Wraith model, pegged as the most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce in history. Using GPS data to automatically select the perfect gear for the road ahead (whilst adapting to the driver’s individual style), the Wraith’s Satellite-Aided Transmission is a production-car first for the marque. Gerry Spahn, spokesman for Rolls-Royce, explains that the system works especially well on curvy terrain. As the car heads into a series of curves, the SAT will automatically hold a lower gear to prevent mid-corner up shifts and to avoid upsetting the car’s occupants with needless gear changes. Inspired by the words of company cofounder Sir Henry Royce, ‘Take the best that exists and make it better’, the model certainly embodies his mantra. Pushing the boundaries of both design and engineering, the Wraith possesses the refined luxury

associated with Rolls-Royce paired with future-predicting technology. The 2015 BMW i8, described as ‘the future on four wheels’, is the first sports car with the consumption and emission values of a compact car. The model features ‘connected mobility’, allowing you to always been connected to the car itself—even if you are nowhere near it. The BMW I Remote App connects to your smartphone so you can find the car’s location, charge level, lock it, and even set your ideal temperature before you get into the car. This hyper-hybrid certainly has the look of the future–the upward opening doors and low-slung body creates a unique, luxe look. An ideal choice for the environmentally conscious, the BMW i8 has recently been presented with the World Green Car award for the second year running Technology is forever charging forward, which can render certain products with a short shelf life. But the design of these on-trend collectable items has not been compromised by the latest technology installed; instead creating new hybrid models that are certainly set to be a smart investment. 

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music // culture

Heart Colours of the

Midori Komachi’s acclaimed performances in both the UK and Japan are helping to introduce new audiences to a realm of music that resonates with the beauty of landscape and countryside. In an exclusive interview with Arts & Collections, the Japanese virtuoso violinist talks about her passion for English music of the 20th century.

nspired by the colours used by PostImpressionist painter Paul Gauguin in his famous painting Nevermore, Komachi wanted to know more about the painting that now hangs in London’s Courtauld Gallery. She went on to discover that the painting had been owned by Gauguin’s friend, Frederick Delius, an English composer she had not heard of before. Thus began a voyage of discovery for Komachi that has taken her into the world of English composers of the 20th century, many of whom shared a love of English landscape and countryside that inspired their music. Amongst them we can count, Britten, Delius, Grainger, Holst, and Vaughan Williams, to name just a few.

MK: I found the colours used by Gauguin so inspiring and I went on to discover that for me, these colours were reflected in terms of harmonic colour in the music of Delius. I then started to find connections between the other composers whose music I have recorded in my album Colours of the Heart; so the word ‘colours’ in this instance actually applies more to the colours of emotion, tonal colours, rather than visual colours.

from Handel, of course, whom we might say Britain adopted? MK: Yes, English music developed quite late, unlike the long tradition of music in Europe that included Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert. So, in English music, we see a late renaissance happening around the beginning of the 20th century when Elgar’s music began to gain popular recognition in Europe. So we really have quite a gap in English music between the great Elizabethan composer, John Dowland, and what we might call the new renaissance. In this new renaissance for English music, would you say there is a thread of Englishness that informs it or runs through it? MK: I think there is, yes. I find that many English composers have taken their inspiration from landscapes and the countryside, and from folk song, too—great examples being Elgar, Delius, Holst, and Vaughan Williams.

The highly acclaimed debut album Colours of the Heart (Musikaleido Records, 2014) has ensured a busy concert schedule for Midori Komachi, which this year will include several visits to her home in Japan where many of

Would you agree that British music has not enjoyed the recognition and popularity of, say, the great composers of the 18th century, apart

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her audiences are being introduced to music by English composers for the first time.

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culture // music

Images: Midori Komachi

In April you’re playing a piece by one of the leading contemporary composers, Paul Patterson … MK: This is the Serenade for Violin and Orchestra. Paul writes in such a sympathetic way for the violin, he really understands how the violin works. Then in addition to this, I’m playing ‘The Lark Ascending’ by Vaughan Williams. There are strong emotions in this piece and capturing these feeling is very important. There’s the strong connection between the beauty of nature and the pity of war—this was the beginning of the First World War. For the future, Midori Komachi says she will be continuing her explorations of British music… ‘I do believe it is one of my roles as a Japanese violinist in the UK to introduce the Japanese public to these important British composers.’ 

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STYLE AND DESIGN // JEWELLERY

Once Upon a time in

Paris

Known for its innovative design and expert craftsmanship, Van Cleef & Arpels has become one of the most influential jewellery design houses in the world. By Rebecca Foster

The ‘Mystery Set’ technique requires such skill that producing a single brooch takes a craftsman 300 hours.

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Left: Peau d’Âne clip from Peau d’Âne collection with white gold, pink gold, round, square-cut, pear-shaped and rose-cut diamonds, pink and grey diamonds. Below: Margot Robbie wearing the Zip necklace at 2015 Academy Awards.

JIM SMEAL/BEI/REX SHUTTERSTOCK

Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels led to the formation of the company, it was the creative ingenuity of their daughter, Renée Puissant, which forged a path for the brand’s distinctive styles. On her appointment as Artistic Director in 1926, Puissant worked closely with designer René Sim Lacaze to establish a classic design heritage that endures to this day. ‘Van Cleef & Arpels considers its heritage an asset,’ says Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of the company. ‘Our history remains a great source of inspiration that gives us a strong legitimacy. Our challenge is to support our iconic creations and share our exceptional craftsmanship while reinterpreting our sources of inspiration.’ The unique stylistic composition of the Maison’s pieces makes them instantly recognisable, and collections originally created by Puissant and Lacaze have had a long-lasting influence on modern jewellery. ‘Yes, the Maison has a recognisable signature style in its approach to movement, articulation and the asymmetry of the pieces.

raceful princesses, fairytale chateaux and exotic creatures from far, far away are just a few of the magical elements found in the fantastical realm that inspires Van Cleef & Arpels’s Peau d’Âne High Jewellery collection. This exquisite collection tells the story of true love, not unlike the love story which led to the formation of the company in 1906. Once upon a time, at the end of the 19th century, the daughter of a precious stones dealer called Estelle married Alfred, the son of a precious stone cutter. This romance was to lead to the establishment of one of the world’s most sought-after jewellery brands— Van Cleef & Arpels. Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef established their own jewellery business in 1906. Their first boutique was strategically positioned in Paris’s fashionable Place Vendôme. Home to the Ritz Hotel, which attracted aristocrats and wealthy business magnates from across the world, Place Vendôme set the benchmark for Parisian style and opulence. While the marriage of

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03/08/2015 10:45

JEWELLERY // STYLE AND DESIGN

Left: Bague Cadeau d’Orient. Right: Forêt Merveilleuse Clip in white and yellow gold with round, pear-shaped and princess-cut diamonds, yellow diamonds, pink and purple sapphires and emeralds.

JIm smeal/beI/rex shutterstocK

Below: Cadenas Pavée Saphirs Roses Bracelet with pink sapphires and diamonds set on a pink gold base.

These balance with the transformability of our pieces, which draw their inspiration from unique sources including nature, poetry, ballet and imaginary worlds,’ says Bos. Signature Van Cleef & Arpels pieces include the Zip necklace and the Cadenas watch. The original idea for the Zip necklace was suggested by the Duchess of Windsor, a famous collector of Van Cleef & Arpels pieces, in 1938. Fashioned with round and baguette-cut diamonds, the first elaborate Zip necklace was not completed until 1951. Like many of the Maison’s pieces, the Zip necklace continually re-invents itself while still cresting the ever-changing waves of fashion, evidently so at this years Academy Awards in Hollywood where prominent actress Margot Robbie wore the piece. It is said that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were also behind the design of Van Cleef & Arpels’s eternally popular Cadenas (padlock) watch. During the early 20th century it was considered a faux pas for young ladies to glance at a wristwatch, or even to wear one. To remedy the situation, Van Cleef & Arpels designed the Cadenas watch—an elegant timepiece that united the delicacy of a bracelet with function of a timepiece. The geometry of the watch also allowed the wearer to glance at the time without appearing to do so. This year, the Cadenas watch made a welcome return at January’s Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). Building on classic design elements that include the timepiece’s padlock hoop, Van Cleef & Arpels’s innovative design team also enlarged the watch’s dial and added

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12 hour markers to enhance its readability. The jeweler has also created numerous design motifs that have become synonymous with the brand. The floral Alhambra pattern is one such example, and Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco wore jewellery incorporating the motif on numerous public occasions. However, the unlimited possibilities of the brand’s artistic inspirations are only one of the reasons its pieces make such treasured collectables. ‘Van Cleef & Arpels is also remarkable for its innovative techniques, the exceptional quality of stones and the virtuoso craftsmanship of its Mains d’Or,’ says Bos. Indeed, the company has developed and patented several unique ways of combining precious metals and stones. For example, the ‘Mystery Set’ was developed in 1933 as a way to set stones so no prongs are visible. The technique requires such skill that producing a single brooch takes a craftsman 300 hours, which is why the Maison produces only a few ‘Mystery Set’ items per year. The innovative design and craftsmanship exemplified by Van Cleef & Arpels means that the brand’s popularity is soaring, and many new boutiques have opened in the Middle East and East Asia over the past decade. ‘With 109 boutiques worldwide, we expect to offer the same high standards and enchanting universe to an international clientele,’ says Bos. ‘We will continue to reinforce and improve our presence in new markets but also in historical centres of style, including Paris, New York, London and Milan.’ 

“Our challenge is to support our iconic creations and share our exceptional craftsmanship while re-interpreting our sources of inspiration” –Nicolas Bos, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels

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Australia-Mooloolaba Mooloolaba Yacht Brokers www.yachtbroker.com.au doug@yachtbroker.com.au +61 418 980 776

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Italy-Monaco Mediterranean Yacht Management www.mym.mc info@mym.mc +33 680 867 692

18/02/2015 18:52

YACHTS // LUXURY

A FLOATING WORLD OF

Life’s little luxuries come in all shapes and sizes. Here is a superyacht that, at 60ft, offers a safe, comfortable and stylish way to set sail.

home afloat for a few weeks (or months) is an appealing idea: exploring the west coasts of Brittany down to Spain, Portugal and into the Mediterranean could be a compelling plan for those long summer months. Or you might choose idyllic calm-weather days in the Mediterranean to do short hops from port to port or perhaps island to island, if the Greek islands are your favoured destination. To do this in comfort and style, connoisseurs of the finer things in life will choose a multihull Ocean Explorer built by Ocean Quality

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Systems (OQS), the naval architects who know just how things should be at sea or in port to ensure safety and performance. Compared to a single hull, the multi-hull Ocean Explorer C-60—a catamaran—is a much more stable platform, with the large area enabling a luxurious layout of double cabins with queen-sized beds, a large dining and entertainment area, and superb kitchen or galley. In fact, you’ll be getting 25 percent more living and comfort space than you would in the equivalent single-hull yacht. We have the perfect balance between performance,

living comfort and safety that will provide the finest holiday or retirement experiences, as well as the option of some impressive business entertainment occasions. In addition to powerful diesel engines giving a cruising speed of 9-10kts, the Ocean Explorer C-60 also makes best use of wind power, with mains’l and jib or fores’l that are both easily managed single-handedly. In fact those with sailing experience have achieved a speed of over 25kts in exceptional conditions, but with an average speed of 12kts you » could cross the English Channel from, say,

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LUXURY // YACHTS

Falmouth to the French coast in around nine hours. The pleasure of switching off the engine and using the sails alone has to be experienced, and of course this is a great fuel saver that will greatly extend your cruising range. Also extending your range is the drop-keels that can be raised and lowered, giving you access to quieter, shallow waters normally only accessible to a much smaller craft. In addition to the sails, choosing the C-60’s other green options will give you all the critical electrical instruments running on solar power, as well as watermaker and sewage systems, fridges, navigation lights, etc. You’ll save money and conserve nature through less motor time, less emissions, less service intervals and most of all less noise. When the Ocean Explorer C60 was displayed for the first time on the

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international show arena in Cannes last year, Peter Granholm of OQS commented: ‘The feedback has been very positive. Visitors have been appreciating the outstanding Germán Frers design. The maestro has once more created very beautiful hull lines combined with real performance features. After having sailed more than 16,000 nautical miles during one year and crossed the Atlantic twice, Like a Breeze has tested all weather conditions, including severe storms and passed the tests with full honors. The current top speed monitored on the instruments is 25.9kts which is very acceptable for a fast luxury cruiser.’ The impressive C-60 has all the luxuries of a superyacht but reduced down to 60ft, enabling you to explore under sail or under power those dreamed of destinations just beyond the horizon. 

www.artsandcollections.com

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COLLECTABLES // WHERE TO SPEND IT

Where to

SPEND IT From high-end jewels and handbags to premium whisky, our diverse selection of luxury goods features something to suit every collector. By Natasha Tierney

FINE PENMANSHIP A MEMORABLE BOTTLE The Dalmore Constellation Collection 1976 is the most exclusive—and one of the most recent— additions to Fortnum & Mason’s selection of high-end whiskies. This whisky’s glowing gold hue shimmers with glints of copper, tempting whiskey drinkers with a sweet taste that hints of Bramley apple, chewy toffee and peaches and cream. Drinking this is sure to be a memorable experience for any Whiskey connoisseur.

fortnumandmason.com

For those looking for a writing instrument to impress, they don’t come much finer than Montegrappa’s ‘Extra 1930’. Inspired by an original design from the 30s, this opulent pen combines classic style with Montegrappa’s sophisticated approach to pen design and craftsmanship. Available in turtle brown celluloid, bamboo black and black and white celluloid, the pen features silver and gold details and a variety of nib writing grades—meaning there is no need to compromise elegant design with state-ofthe-art writing capacity.

montegrappa.com

A VALUABLE VEHICLE Taking the lead at Bonhams first ever sale in Chantilly on 5th September will be the signature concept car of the 1970s: the Maserati Boomerang. The oneoff prototype, considered the ‘grandfather’ to the Volkswagen Golf MK1, is set to roar ahead as a star lot of the sale. Classic car connoisseurs will no doubt take great interest in all of the impressive marque automobiles which are up for auction.

bonhams.com

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WHERE TO SPEND IT // COLLECTABLES

a SuperlatiVe SceNt

cuttiNg-edge cuFFliNkS It’s not often that jewellery designers take such an innovative approach to their choice of materials, but that is exactly what Harry Winston have done in their recent Zalium Collection. A zirconium-based alloy that was originally used in the aerospace industry, Zalium was first used by the brand in their 2001 collection of watches. It has now been adopted as a leading feature of the Zalium Collection, which incorporates Zalium into sleek and modern jewellery, combining it with more traditional materials. These stylish cufflinks—made from Zalium, white gold and diamonds—will ensure you exude contemporary elegance.

harrywinston.com

No ordiNary Bicycle Bicycles may not ordinarily be the domain of luxury designers, but Hermès is no ordinary brand. The ‘Velo La Flaneur Sportif’ is part of the Hermès ‘Surprise!’ collection, and features the stylish design features for which the company is so renowned. With a smart leather seat, leather handlebars and 11 gears, this lightweight bicycle—available in a number of finishes—will impress those passionate about both style and cycling.

hermes.com

Roja Dove has become renowned the world over for his masterful approach to perfumery. ‘Enigma Parfum’ takes it’s name as inspiration, with Dove describing the fragrance as ‘one that seems to be all things to all people, but itself is certain and assured.’ An intriguing layered blend of fragrances—a top note of bergamot, a base blend of musk, sandalwood, patchouli, orris and vanilla are fused with a heart of jasmine, peach, rose, ylang ylang and geranium— showcases Dove’s exceptional skill in creating unique and sophisticated scents.

fortnumandmason.com

a HigH-Society HaNdBag Delvaux holds the prestigious title of the oldest luxury leather brand in the world and has long been a favourite of royalty. The historic ‘Le Brillant’ bag epitomises the Belgian brand’s well-deserved reputation as a leading creator of understated style, a contemporary classic that is as appealing today as when it first launched in 1958, inspired by revolutionary architect Le Corbusier’s bold approach to design. Following numerous reincarnations, ‘Le Brillant’ remains an iconic piece. The ‘Brillant Black Edition’ in Ivory and Box Calf—from Delvaux’s Spring/Summer collection— is a timeless addition to any wardrobe.

delvaux.com

diaMoNdS are ForeVer Many of us probably wish we could recapture the glitz and glamour of the early 20th century, and Southeby’s ‘Fine Jewels’ auctions are an excellent place to start. Their first major sale of the season, in New York on 19 September, will feature a number of spectacular period and contemporary pieces designed by Harry Winston, Bulgari and David Webb that are sure to be a big draw for buyers.

sothebys.com

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CULTURE // BOOK REVIEWS

BOOK REVIEWS ANOUSKA HEMPEL MARCUS BINNEY, THAMES & HUDSON, £45

BARE LIFE: BACON, FREUD, HOCKNEY AND OTHERS, LONDON ARTISTS PAINTING FROM LIFE 1950-80, ANDREW BRIGHTON, CATHERINE LAMPERT ET AL., HIRMER PUBLISHERS, £34.00 The post-war years saw the British artists included in this volume adopt new and ground breaking approaches to objective painting, exploring what it means to be human through their work. This edition—which accompanies the ‘Bare Life’ exhibition on display at the LWL Museum of Art in Münster— focuses on the artists in the title who were known as the School of London, although reference is also made to a number of well-known influences to the group, including Marcel Duchamp and Willem de Koonig. The specialist essays featured provide a thorough commentary on the inspirations behind their work, and the artistic processes pioneered by these painters are engagingly explained. Photographs, illustrations and documents help to further illuminate the context behind these remarkable paintings and accompany reproductions of over 100 artworks.

The first monograph to cover the career of Anouska Hempel, this is an unmissable volume for design enthusiasts. The actress turned designer and hotelier has been widely praised since her high profile foray into architecture and design, and as this volume certainly justifies the critical acclaim. Respected author and architectural critic Marcus Binney CBE provides us with an insight into Hempel’s working practice and an overview of the various projects of her career so far. Covering designs across the globe, this is a truly international retrospective that reflects Hempel’s farreaching appeal through over 400 photographs of interiors, gardens and architecture. From her sleek hotel designs to luxurious interiors and neatly manicured outdoor spaces, Binney’s text and its accompanying images together emphasise the attention to detail and creative flair that has made Anouska Hempel one of today’s most sought after designers.

DARREN ALMOND ED. HANS WERNER HOLZWARTH, FULLMOON. TASCHEN, £46 This collection of photographs showcases British conceptual artist Darren Almond’s innovative approach to nighttime photography. In his ‘Full Moon’ photographic project, Almond captured landscapes across the globe under the unique light of the full moon, keeping the camera shutter open for over a quarter of an hour in each photograph. At first glance, many of these striking images appear to have been captured in the first light of day. However, the surreal misty glow that Almond accomplishes is in fact down to his unique approach to photographing some of the world’s most impressive landscapes. Almond himself argues that long exposure photography ‘allows the landscape longer to express itself,’ and looking at these images, it is not difficult to see his point. From awe-inspiring American mountains to Arctic ice fields and the British countryside, this volume showcases some of the world’s most remarkable locations in a way never before captured on camera. With accompanying essays by contemporary art specialists such as Sheena Wagstaff from the Metropolitan Museum in New York, for fans of both photography and nature, this publication is a pleasure to look at and to read.

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BOOK REVIEWS // CULTURE

RENDEZ-VOUS WITH ART PHILIPE DE MONTEBELLO AND MARTIN GAYFORD, THAMES & HUDSON, £19.95

This thoroughly enjoyable volume gives readers a glimpse into the minds of two eminent figures in today’s art world as they visit some of the West’s most prized works. As the longest ever serving director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (prior to his retirement in 2008), Philippe de Montebello draws from his wealth of artistic knowledge to guide us across empires, centuries and landscapes through painting and sculpture. He is supported by Martin Gayford, one of the most successful art writers and critics working today, and their informal conversations through museums, churches and galleries including the Prado in Madrid, the Bargello in Florence and, of course, the Met in New York, are recorded in a fascinating publication that carves out its own unique place between the worlds of art history, criticism and travel writing.

VELÁZQUEZ ED. SABINE HAAG, JOSÉ LÓPEZ-REY, ODILE DELENDA, WILDENSTEIN INSTITUTE, TASCHEN, £90

THE MINI STORY ED. ANDREAS BRAUN, HIRMER, £45 Since 1959 when the MINI brand was born, the car has become an international cult classic synonymous with British-cool. This smartly composed volume features original design drawings, advertisements and photographs of all 23 MINI models, providing a visually engaging—and highly informative—overview of the MINI design phenomenon. From Sir Alec Issigonis’s innovative first classic design through its numerous reinventions up to the present day, the enduring appeal of the revolutionary compact car is stylishly chronicled in this volume which looks set to become a collector’s favourite.

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An inspiration to artistic talents including Picasso, Manet, Dali and the Impressionists, Diego Velázquez remains one of Spain’s greatest artists thanks to his extraordinary ability to truthfully capture his subject. This updated Taschen ‘catalog raisonné’ coincides with recent Velázquez exhibitions in Vienna and Paris, and a number of newly restored works have been photographed to feature in this volume. As a joint initiative between Taschen and the major art historical research centre the Wildenstein Institute, expert commentary and several extra-large format reproductions of Velazquez’s paintings mean this book is the next best thing to visiting the exhibitions themselves. For fine art aficionados—or simply admirers of Velazquez’s work—this really is the definitive guide to the master of Spain’s Golden Age.

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COLLECTOR’S WORLD // WATCHES, VINTAGE AND MODERN

One to

Watch H

igh-quality watches have long been a wise investment, with some vintage watches soaring in value over the past decade. Former CEO of Continental Airlines (and one of the most notable watch collectors in America), Gordon Bethune decided to auction off 50 of his prized watches in 2012—realising $5,677,425—as he claims they became too valuable to wear: ‘I enjoyed them when I bought them 20 years ago. They’re wonderful, but you don’t wear them because they cost too much money. I want to put the money to use.’ Bethune then donated $2 million of the collection’s earnings to charity. Auction houses now sell more than $100 million worth of watches a year, with bluechip names leading the way for record breaking bids. In May this year, Phillips Inaugural Watch Auction saw an extremely rare Patek Philippe single button doctor’s chronograph in stainless steel selling to a telephone bidder for $4,987,383 after 21 minutes of bidding. The result doubled Phillips’ low estimate of $1-$2 million and set a new record price for a stainless steel wristwatch sold at auction. However, going with the big names isn’t always the best route, especially for those

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starting their collection. Adrian Hailwood, watch specialist at auctioneers Fellows & Sons, argues that ‘there’s a pressure on a new collector to buy pieces that impress your friends but that ignores a huge swathe of watch making history..’ Hailwood enthuses over a Lange navigator wristwatch made for Second World War German airmen that he sold 18 months ago: ‘a high-precision product that’s also a piece of history’. Investing in a unique historical piece is appealing to collectors—not only for the return on investment, but also to own a piece of history. For example, on 22 September in London, Sothebys will be auctioning ‘The Victory’ watch by Agassiz, a fine and rare gold enamel world time watch gifted to Sir Winston Churchill, which is estimated to sell for £60,000 - £100,000. Vintage watches are not the only way to invest. Collectors wishing to update their collection with more modern pieces need look no further than the ‘Superwatch’. Like the so-called supercar, the ‘Superwatch’ is handmade and highly technical. The pioneering development in this category is the HYT watch. The HYT Watch H1 uses liquid to indicate the time: the hour hand isn’t a hand, but a tube containing liquid. As this evolving and unique method of time telling is

From Winston Churchill’s pocket watch to wristwatches powered by liquid, the centuries old art of horology continues to capture the fascination of collectors around the world. By Samantha Coles

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WATCHES, VINTAGE AND MODERN // COLLECTOR’S WORLD

Left: The HYT H1 Gold uses liquid to indicate the time. Below right: The HYT H1 Titan. Facing page: ‘The Victory Watch’, front case, gifted to Sir Winston Churchill by Agassiz. Below left: ‘The Victory Watch’ back case.

very time-consuming to create, to date only a limited number of HYT watches have been made. Dominating luxury brand Tag Heur are also set to fuse the traditional with modern technology by teaming with Google to create an Android powered smartwatch. JeanClaude Biver, president of LVMH’s watch division, suggests the model will stand out from other smartwatches, ‘it will be a rational look. Our watch will have all the emotion and the DNA of Tag Heur.’

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Expert advice: Collectors should always go for uniqueness and high quality, and when it comes to high-end vintage watches, authentication and documentation is an essential element of any purchase. 

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undiscovered the

Mozambique

Zalala BEACH LODGE Zalala Beach Lodge, with its 10 elegantly furnished bungalows and family house, pool, bar and restaurant, is situated on the unspoilt coast of Zambezia in North Central Mozambique. The area, rich in history and culture, and only a few hours by road from Gorongosa National Park and other natural attractions, including hot springs, mountains and lakes, offers visitors an authentic experience of Mozambican life and nature away from the more well-trodden coasts to the North and South of the country. A little gem not to be missed!

Experience the undiscovered Mozambique.

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