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Jeff Koons Plate Launch and Signing at Bernardaud
Famed visual artist Jeff Koons at Bernardaud. 
Jeff Koons 
Jeff Koons Plate
Michel Bernardaud, Jeff KoonsJeff Koons
Atmosphere
Eva Lorenzotti, Liz Swig
Jean Shafiroff, Jeff Koons
Doreen Remen, Jeff Koons, Yvonne Force Villareal, Casey Fremont
From Left: Claudette Blackwood, Anne Marie Kishbauch, Michel Bernardaud, Jeff Koons, George Kakaty, Corinne Oats, Staff
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Tableware Designed With an Eye on Peace
From celebrated French porcelain tableware company Bernardaud, and the Art Production Fund came a collector’s item plate conceived by leading artist Jeff Koons. The design of this special edition Limoges porcelain plate is a direct reference of Jeff Koons “Popeye series” sculpture Acrobat, an inflatable lobster balanced atop two readymades, a trash can and a chair.The idea behind this picture brings to mind the classical concept of beauty through the equilibrium of mind and body. I can’t think of a better porcelain company than Bernardaud, who over the years have had some of the most successful collaborations with top artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Cindy Sherman, George Segal, Joeph Kosuth, Arman, César, Pae White, and James Brown, to present this unforgettable piece which bears the image of the shape of a peace sign And the fact that the graphics are in black and white (we get enough colors from our food) makes the patterns even more striking. The project was made possible through a gracious contribution from Sotheby’s.
Bernardaud is a family owned-and-operated business which was founded in 1863 in Limoges, France. The trendsetting company is recognized worldwide for its commitment to the French traditions of refinement and creativity in the crafting of porcelain tableware, jewelry and interior design pieces.The 10.5″ limited edition plate retails for $98.00 and is available for purchase through www.worksonwhatever.com. Information on local stores is available from 800-884-7775.
Jeff Koons Plate
Photos courtesy of Bernardaud - At The Auction with Vyna, Auction Houses, Celebrities, Christie's, Events, Haute Couture, Jewelry, Life and Style, The Weekender
The Weekender: Elizabeth Taylor auction featured at Christie’s
The auction house devoted all 300,000 square feet of its facility to this museum-quality exhibit of Elizabeth Taylor’s Collections of jewelry, fashion, accessories, fine art, film memorabilia, costumes and decorative items. What can one expect to see at this once in a lifetime exhibition which is divided into four major sections?Left: La Peregrina, a natural pearl, diamond and ruby necklace by Cartier. Right: Pair of Natural Pearl and diamond ear pendants by BulgariThe Diamond Room: Which offers an up-close tour through Ms. Taylor’s most iconic jewelry, boasts an exquisite 33.19 carat D-color stunner, called the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond. The Lifetime Achievement Room: A special display of Elizabeth Taylor’s impressive honors and humanitarian awards, intermingled with memorabilia and costumes from her many beloved film roles.The Icon’s Closet is an awe-inspiring walk through. It is a treasure trove of flawlessly-maintained haute couture and ready-to wear fashion and accessories (many of which the actress brought herself with her own money, and without help from a throng of stylists), with over 200 designer handbags alone. Finally, The Art Gallery – the first comprehensive exhibition of her most impressive fine art collection, includes master works by Van Gogh (valued at $12 Million, it is the priciest item from the entire collection), Frans Hals, Degas, Pissaro, Renoir, and Warhol.The auction is expected to exceed $50 million in total (I believe that the actual realized figure will quadruple that number). Tickets to the landmark exhibition are on sale now at www.christies.com/elizabethtaylorviews. Portion of the profits generated by the exhibition admissions, events and select publications related to the exhibitions will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation, which was founded by the beloved actress in 1991. Ms. Taylor passed away on March 23 from congestive heart failure at the age of 79.Christie’s20 Rockefeller PlazaNew York City212-636-2000
The Essentials: The little black dresses
Photos credited to: Associated Press
Lot 347A Tiziani black velvet ‘Scorpio’ evening cape labeled ‘Tiziani Roma’, 1968-1969Estimate: $2,000-$3,000
Lot 52“The Night of the Iguana Brooch”A diamond and multi-gem brooch by Jean Shlumberger, Tiffany & Co, circa 1964Gift from Richard Burton upon the occasion of the premiere of the film Night of the Iguana, August 11, 1964Estimate: $200,000-$300,000
Lot 1758A black patent leather shoulder bag labeled ‘Lanvin’, probably 2000s, with an acrylic green marbled handle, magnetic closure and chunky goldtone chain strap, with a black ribbon tie and an interior integrated swivel mirror: 8″ High, 12″ Wide, 3″ DeepEstimate $300-$500Photos courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2011
Making a StatementPhoto credited to: Getty ImagesThe jaw-dropping Elizabeth Taylor Jewelry Collection which is up for auction this month, finally made its grand appearance at Christie’s. The show is open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, December 3, and ends on Monday, December 12. Among other things, this exhibit reveals that not only was Dame Taylor a genuine Hollywood icon, but she was also a connoisseur of art and fashion, and of course, her lifetime passion – jewelry. The auction starts on the evening of December 13 with Elizabeth Taylor’s most iconic jewelry. Orianne Collins, jewelry designer and owner of OC Concept Store, hosted the preview event at Christie’s (check out my interview with Ms. Collins).
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Art Déco Queen: Tamara de Lempicka
The Baroness with a BrushFor the remainder of the month, we’ll be focussing on some of our most beloved artists. I can’t think of a better way to begin than with the Déco Diva, Tamara de Lempicka. Her body of work, and style are often described as “soft, and synthetic cubism”.Hand Made Oil Reproduction, Le Bretonne. By Tamara de LempickaHer techniques were clean, precise, and elegant. In truth, Tamara de Lempicka’s art work mirrored the woman with the brush: independent, assertive, elegant, and precise. To say that she was a unique individual for her time is an understatement. She personafied the term avant garde. Today, her work is collected by high profile celebrities like Barbara Streisand, Jack Nicholson, and Madonna. On November 20th, her famous Musician portrait was sold for 30,000 €, when the gavel hits the rostrum at Drouot-Richelieu, Paris.
Left: Hand Made Oil Reproduction, Madagascan girls II. Right: MusicianBy Tamara de Lempicka
Left: Kizette in Red (Tamara’s daughter). Right: Hand Made Oil Reproduction, Study of handsBy Tamara de Lempicka
Hand Made Oil Reproduction, Le Chinois.By Tamara de Lempicka
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The Weekender: Marlborough Gallery — Le Cabinet de Curiosités
On November 12, my friend and I attended a VIP Preview of Le Cabinet de Curiosités in Tribeca. The swanky celebration was a combined effort between the Marlborough and Steinitz galleries. It was a rare occasion, to say the least. It’s not often that you’ll see a map table from Napoleon Bonaparte coupled with a mechanical insects collection (with metal bodies covered with the patina of a forgone age), and Manolo Valdés’ sculptures.But somehow the installation, under the supervision of renowned interior designer and architect, Thierry W Despond, came together beautifully.Thierry W Despont18th Century paneled rooms from the Steinitz Collection were flown over from France to accompany pieces of furniture and objects such as Renaissance bull’s head, 17th Century Japanese lacquered trunk, as well as art works from his artist friends, Manolo Valdez and Claudio Bravo. When I entered the first of these three rooms, I was quite taken by Claudio’s “tied papers” and “bookcases” which from afar looked real, but in reality was nothing more than segments of blank, raw, exotic woods, coyly implementing trompe l’oeil to comment on the use of books as fetish objects of aesthetic pleasure. This is a thought-provoking, and irresistible exhibition that is not to be missed.Le Cabinet de CuriositésNovember 15, 2011 – January 31, 2012New York Mercantile Exchange6 Harrison StreetNew York City
Insects Collection from Thierry W Despond
right: Princess Firyal of Jordan
Manolo Valdes Sculpture, Mariposas doradas II“For many years I have been consumed by the idea of creating a natural history museum of my artistic universe… dedicated to the accumulation of imaginary planets and their inhabitants, paintings, sculptures… brought back from my artistic Beagle journey.”Thierry W Despont
Ondine de Rothschild
Prosper and Martine Assouline
Claudio Bravo Aluminums, Aluminiosphoto courtesy of Malborough Gallery
Thierry W Despont’s Sculture
photos courtesy of Billy Farrell -
John James Audubon
Splendid BirdsBirdwatching is my favorite outdoor hobby. There’s something exhilarating about observing these feathered friends hop, skip, and fly to the sky. They always seem so engrossed in the moment, even when they’re motionless. I cannot look at a good looking bird without thinking of John James Audubon.
American White Pelican
Male Adult
“I felt an intimacy with them…bordering on frenzy [that] must accompany my steps through life.” JJAHis ornithological body of works always brings a smile to my face, and a little bit of joy into my life. My latest book purchase is The Birds of America. Eventhough the completed body of work was sold last December at an auction for $11.5 million, you can purchase the abbreviated version at your local book store. His original body of work consisted of 435 life-size, hand-colored prints that were published over the course of thirteen years.Lately, I’ve been thinking about Audubon’s splendid birds, and the fact that we have one major thing in common. He was born in Haiti, my motherland. John James Audubon was born at his father’s sugar plantation in Saint-Domingue, while I was born in Port-au-Prince. His father was a French navel officer, and his mother, Jeanne Rabine, was from Les Touches, France. John’s father eventually moved away from the island to his native France. As a young adult, Audubon came to live in the United States, and it was there he began his ornithological career. His father would note that John always had an affinity for birds. According to Jean Audubon, his son “would point out the elegant movement of the birds, and the beauty and softness of their plumage. He called my attention to their show of pleasure or sense of danger, their perfect forms and splendid attire.” How marvelous! I would have loved to meet him.
From left: Rock Grous. 1: Male in winter. 2: Female Summer Plumage 3: Young in August
Right: Pied oyster-catcher
Louisiana Heron
Male adult
Trumpeter SwanAdult
Wild turkeyNOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you. -
The Gritty Side of Photography
Richard Avedon Photographs from 1923-2004
Christies Paris – Nov. 18-21, 2010
Andy Warwol
Malcolm X
Bob Dylan
Marilyn Monroe
The Beatles -
Bellissimo Promemoria
“Remember the past to improve our future“When I walked into the luxurious showroom of furniture maker, Promemoria, I can see at a glance that their collection is greatly influenced by Art Deco, Far Eastern cultures and Italian craftsmanship. Italy is well-known for having some of the most sumptuous leather, and this family-owned company has been creating top-tier furnishings in the finest tradition since 1988.Roka ChairTheir collection covers cabinets, tables, writing desks, screens, mirrors, chairs, armchairs, beds, lighting, and a definitive collection of perfectly proportioned miniature versions of their essential pieces. Promemoria also carries a convivial outdoor furniture line which evoked a feeling of pure wonderment. The Roka chair (image number 1) also comes as a full-back version. It is handsewn and takes 24 hours as well as several working days to complete. While I was given a tour by their decorous manager, Elizabeth Schofield, it became apparent to me that the company’s standards are extremely high, and their roots is embedded in the tradition of cabinet making. Every piece from their collection is hand crafted, and are often made to individual specifications. The furniture they carry are classic whilst at the same time contemporary, and they lend themselves to different types of living spaces.
I’ve learned that the creative force behind this dynamic Italian company is Romeo Sozzi, cabinet maker and designer, and his three sons. Stefano is responsible for the carpentry, Davide, the architect and head of the project department and Paolo, who is in charge of the production department. Promemoria’s headquarters and workshops are located in between the mountains of Lecco and the two branches of Lake Como. They are organised into different divisions: the atelier of carpentry, fabrics and the workshops working with leather and skins. In all these areas, expert craftsmen combine ancient skills and techniques with the most modern technologies.Today, Promemoria’s creations are exported all over the world. Over the years, the company’s reputation has become synonymous with style, and a point of reference for both luxury and the design of unique pieces created in special finishes for more demanding and sophisticated clients.PromemoriaNew YorkThe Fine Arts Building232 East 59th Street, 5th FloorNew York, New York 10022646-588-4489MilanVia Bagutta 13Via Montenapoleone 8, 2012135 Rue de Bellechasse, 75007London99 Pimlico Road, SW1W 8PHMoscowSmolenskaya Street 7, 119121
Photos courtesy of Promemoria -
Top 7
Red Leather Stripes Side Table
The Impossible Collection of Cars by Dan Neil
Royal-Oud for men and women, the new sensation from the house of CREED
Fluorescent alkyd and epoxy paint on shaped canvasfrom Frank Stella Conway II, 1965
Bilou Bilou Chairs
From the Winter 2011 Collection, Beige brown wool double grand Prince of Wales double breasted polo coat
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The Look Book: Carine Roitfeld
Carine RoitfelNOTE: Please notify us directly, if you believe that certain images on this post are alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others, according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Thank you.
