The Design Museum in London has announced a major new exhibition on the history of girls’ doll Barbie™ in 2024, the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand. Three years in the making, (and just a bit too late to cash in on the release of the Barbie movie), the exhibition will explore the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls. Through a unique new partnership with Mattel Inc., the Design Museum has...
The poster of the 48th edition of the exhibition Rétromobile provided a taste of things to come: the centenary of the MG make will be the centre of attention at Rétromobile 2024. The event will thus provide an opportunity to collector car enthusiasts visiting the show to rediscover this monument of the British automotive industry. On the programme for this celebration are exceptional vehicles, first-time archive images, and many more surprises. For the 100th anniversary of...
Whisky believed to be distilled almost 200 years ago and sipped by a young Queen Victoria has been found behind a hidden cellar door in a 750 year old castle in Scotland. Understood to be the oldest known Scotch whisky in existence, it will soon be offered for sale at auction. In late 2022, Bertie Troughton, Resident Trustee at Blair Castle in Perthshire, found a number of old bottles in an unassuming cellar room. Around...
Visionary artist Lauren Baker fought through storms and floods to install her latest magnum opus – the spiritually significant Wisdom Totem collection at the recent storm-hit Burning Man Festival. The site-specific installation is the culmination of a year’s planning. Two monumental installations, each standing ten metres tall, became the highlight of this year’s annual Burning Man in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, USA. Comprising of Unity and Lunar Totems, the installation shares the ethos...
The largest known private collection of exceptionally rare antique sedan chairs is to be offered for auction at Chorley’s on September 20th, 2023. The collection was amassed by the late Stephen Loft-Simson, a world-renowned specialist on the subject, and includes three that were used for the award-winning film about the life of philanthropist, poet and playwright Hannah More (1745-1833). Others were used in historical dramas and films and history and antiques TV programmes, such as...
Auctioneer Chorley’s has announced the sale of a spectacular work by Royal Academician and one of the main proponents of the Arts & Crafts movement, William Simmonds (1876-1968). The Black Mare standing at 48cm x 76 x 41cm depicts a stylised horse turning to nip a fly on its hoof. It was created in Simmonds’ famed Gloucestershire studio and dates from 1925 and will be offered alongside a selection of other items from his studio, such as...
The Decorative Fair returns to Battersea Park, London for its Autumn edition from Tuesday 3rd to Sunday 8th October 2023. Highly anticipated by the interior design world, as well as collectors, the Fair features 135 exhibitors with an eye for the most exciting and unusual objects and works of art, and the many dealers in decorative antiques and 20th century design understand what is currently in vogue. Consequently, the interiors community makes a beeline to Battersea...
Professional and amateur photographers worldwide were invited to enter the third International Portrait Photographer of the Year competition for a chance to share in the prize pool of US$10,000 cash, and make it into the top 101 images to be included in the Awards Book. The winner of the International Portrait Photographer of the Year has been announced as Forough Yavari of Australia. Forough Yavari is an award-winning fine art portrait and fashion photographer based...
Can interior design be adapted to face the challenges of climate change? Carola Pimentel of Assure Interiors champions ‘tropical modernism’ Victoria Hood was immediately drawn to Carola Pimentel’s work when she was approached by a mutual friend to help with social media and public relations. Carola’s careful use of natural light, neutral colour palettes, and layering of statement art and vintage finds from Europe reminded her of time spent in Sao Paulo, Brazil as a...
With a new name, a new location and an exciting line-up of new exhibitors, the second edition of FAB Paris is set to capture the imagination of international collectors and visitors alike. Charting millennia of art history, from Ancient Egypt to today, the curated ensemble to be unveiled at the Grand Palais Ephémère from 22nd until 26th November will encompass no fewer than 20 categories in the fields of fine art, furniture, antiquities and jewellery, with provenance as illustrious...
