A book containing two personal entries by Rembrandt will travel outside of the Netherlands for the first time since its creation in 1652, as part of Dulwich Picture Gallery’s forthcoming exhibition, Rembrandt’s Light (4th October 2019 – 2nd February 2020). The Album Amicorum (‘Friendship Book’) of Rembrandt’s influential friend and patron, Jan Six (1618-1700), will be displayed on the page showing the intricate drawing, Minerva in her Study, 1652 (Collectie Six, Amsterdam). This and Homer...
Legendary comics publisher Marvel and The Folio Society are teaming up for a Collector’s Edition of Marvel: The Golden Age 1939-1949, available for pre-order now, to be published on 25th September 2019. In celebration of the 80th anniversary of Marvel Comics #1, the volume presents five specially curated comic books, selected, edited and introduced by Marvel stalwart Roy Thomas, including a painstakingly produced facsimile of the comic that started it all back in 1939. This...
Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, one of the pioneers of kinetic and optical art, has died in Paris aged 95. His abstract, often geometric works are on display in many of the world’s leading museums. He used colour and lines to create dizzying displays which would change depending on the visitor’s viewpoint, and said his art “constantly changes because light constantly changes”. Carlos Cruz-Diez was born and studied in Caracas, but spent much of his career in...
The International Mini Meeting (IMM) is the most anticipated and highly awaited annual Mini Event, visiting the UK only once every five years. This year, which coincides with the Mini’s 60th birthday, it opens on mid-day on Thursday 8th August, at Washingpool Farm, Easter Compton, Bristol, welcoming Mini and MINI owners from all over the World to the first ever South-West IMM. A 60th birthday party for the Mini will be held on Sunday 11th...
Following its global launch in Dubai, the world’s most expensive unisex perfume, valued at £1.015 million, is set to come to London. The Spirit of Dubai Parfums SHUMUKH, which in Arabic means ‘deserving the highest’, unites the art of jewellery and perfumery to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece telling the tale of the Emirate through seven core design elements. The 1.97m tall bottle is set with 3,571 sparkling diamonds (totalling 38.55 carats), topaz, pearls, 2479.26 grams of...
Rare bookseller Peter Harrington has recently acquired a large collection of books on voyages in the Pacific Ocean from legendary book dealer Louis (Lou) Weinstein, formerly of Heritage Book Shop, Beverly Hills, California. Since his retirement to Maui in 2007, Lou has been an enthusiastic collector of Hawaiiana with his collection boasting over 1,000 unique items. Harrington’s first selection of books from the Weinstein collection contains 106 fascinating rare books and is augmented with a...
From 29th June to 17th November 2019, the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France is celebrating Joan Miró, a major player in the foundation’s creation alongside Marguerite and Aimé Maeght and their architect friend Josep Lluís Sert. The exhibition Joan Miró: Beyond Painting, curated by Rosa Maria Malet, former director of the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, gives visitors the opportunity to discover an essential aspect of the artist: his exceptional graphic work. A set of...
Julien’s Auctions of California presents an online-only auction event of classic Marilyn Monroe photographs on August 5th 2019. This 11″ x 14″ photograph collection, beautifully represented in both colour and black and white prints, features timeless images of Marilyn Monroe taken mostly in 1962 during her now-iconic last photo sessions, harking back to her earlier days as a pin-up model on the beaches of Southern California. Other featured images depict Marilyn drinking champagne in the...
With average house prices rising 70 percent between 2008 and 2018, at some stage a downturn could well have been predicted, Brexit or not. But growth is continuing in cities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool, while flagging or going into reverse in places like Aberdeen and parts of London. The renovation market is pretty much played out, with more potential buyers than there are derelict houses, and the traditionally buoyant buy-to-let sector is looking less than rosy too, with tax and regulatory changes...
The House of Messika was born in Paris in 2005 and is run by Valérie Messika, daughter of the famous diamond merchant André Messika. Core values have been passed down from father to daughter: to enhance the diamond, to push the boundaries and to strive continuously for excellence. A prominent figure on the diamond trading scene since he started out in 1972, André Messika brought his daughter up on dreams dusted with jewels, punctuated with trips around the world to source extraordinary stones. Surrounded by legendary gems from...
