On Friday, we reported on two of the most expensive phones. One of them contained shavings of dinosaur bone and I wanted to explore this area further.
There is a showroom in Pimlico, London, that offers the most amazing bounty of luxury crystals, fossils and minerals.
Fossil hunter and adventurer Dale Rogers has taken years to scour the globe, seeking out the finest historical artefacts…aka an interior designers dream.
Dale Rogers Ammonite houses a collection that includes pieces dating back over 450 million years.
His collection of geological wonders have taken years to accumulate, and have taken him to The Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the USA, Japan, Dubai, as well as including some perilous moments in Afghanistan.
Starting with a modest stall in London’s famous Portobello Road, Dale Rogers Ammonite has exhibited across the globe from the UK and USA (Arizona) to Japan and Dubai.
With pieces ranging from a few centimetres to over 2 metres, there are treasures to suit every price point, ranging from a modest £50 to over £20K. Still a little better on the pocket than that £6,000,000 phone!
These incredibly rare fossils, minerals and crystals can be bought from the gallery on 77 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8PH, and viewed on the website.
Trinity House Paintings is an international art dealership specialising in Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern British and 19th century works.
Although in the past, they might have been considered slightly nomadic, Trinity House Paintings have finally found a beautiful home to house their stunning stock. The new gallery is in the picturesque village of Broadway, Cotswolds.
The new gallery will open with a reception on the evening of 9th December 2011, 5:30-9 pm. The Broadway gallery will also manage the Trinity House Paintings galleries in New York and London.
‘The Broadway mother-ship will run the nuts and bolts of our three galleries and act as our hub for the research and cataloguing of the paintings,’ comments Steven Beale. The new gallery space used to be the furniture designer- Gordon Russell’s workshop and is perfectly suited for the display of their works. Simon Shore adds ‘Trinity House is eager to move into the heart of Broadway’.
The Broadway gallery’s stock includes a selection of British paintings spanning close to 300 years, including the works of Damien Hirst, John Constable, Alfred Munnings and George Stubbs.
In addition paintings by the Impressionist and Post-impressionist artists include Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Eugène Boudin as well as many from the Fauvist movement, including Kees van Dongen. Their full inventory can be viewed on their website.
In December, at the new Broadway gallery you can also view the gallery’s latest collection from their Inaugural Exhibition in New York.
Highlights include “Préparation en dedans”, a charcoal on paper drawing by Edgar Degas (1834-1917) which at the request of the Royal Academy has gone on loan to be included in their autumn blockbuster show, Degas and the Ballet; Picturing Movement (17 September-11 December 2011), a pastel of Claude Monet’s ‘Waterloo Bridge’ and a gouache titled ‘Arbres’ by Paul Cézanne.
I bet the villagers of Broadway are proper chuffed!
The Kotoli Giftbox launches at Masterpiece London 2011.
Maison Ruinart has collaborated with esteemed Japanese design house, Studio Nendo, to create The Kotoli Giftbox and the finished piece is simply beautiful.
As well as a bottle of Blanc de Blancs champagne in the box, Nendo has designed two beautiful champagne flutes and a delicate bottle stopper which doubles up as champagne flute holder.
Ruinart is the sole champagne partner for Masterpiece London 2011; a collection of the finest arts and design exhibits and luxury brands. This year’s exhibition runs from 30th June – 5th July, with a preview on 29th June.
Ruinart will be serving its signature cuvée Blanc de Blancs by the glass at all dining outlets at Masterpiece London – Le Caprice, Harry’s Bar and Mount Street Deli.
Kotoli is a wooden gift box that draws its inspiration both from architecture and the geometrical sculptures of designer, Kiichi Sumikawa. Kotoli is Japanese for ‘small bird’ and reflects its name with a perch-shaped stopper.
Make sure you head down to London’s Masterpiece fair to see The Kotoli giftbox and much, much more.
Jacopo de Barbari’s map of Venice has recently been sold by Daniel Crouch Rare Books to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for a seven figure sum.
Daniel Crouch Rare Books is a specialist dealer in antique atlases, maps, plans, sea charts and globes.
The map of Venice is significant, for both its age and creative process. It was created in 1500 and is one of the most spectacular achievements of Renaissance printmaking,
Daniel Crouch comments “It is refreshing and reassuring to know that institutions can still find the funds to acquire significant works of art. We are immensely proud to have played a key role in such an acquisition” he added, “It was a pleasure dealing with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and we are extremely pleased to have significantly enriched their collection as well as finding ourselves in a position to execute this type of transaction when we have only recently launched the business”.
This celebrated 16th century bird’s-eye view map is a first edition; second state. It is one of only 13 known examples and until recently was the only known version outside of an institution.
This version has been in the private collection of the Masséna (duc de Rivoli) family since the mid 18th century when it was first acquired by André Masséna (1758-1817), 1st duc de Rivoli and 1st prince d’Essling, a leading French general of the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.
The map of Venice was printed from one of three woodcuts created by de Barbari and remains the largest woodcut map ever created, with the original prints measuring 1.315 x 2.818 metres, made from six blocks. The original woodblocks can be viewed in the Correr Museum in Venice.
Unknown artist Stanley Dyson (1920 – 2007) never exhibited or sold any of his work. It’s a huge shame we are only getting to know of the secretive man and his works after his death.
Fish and Chip Saloon By Stanley Dyson
But, the art world welcomes a vast collection with such an extraordinary use of colour and a perfectly balanced palette.
It is thought that the paintings were created to help children understand how to paint. For me, and many others, they are more than a tutorial for children.
The works, simple as they seem, are great examples of naïve art and also have huge historic relevance. The supporting children’s work adds to the flavour. It is compelling to view a Dyson piece and then the interpretation by a pupil.
Dyson was an art teacher for 3 years at a local school in Derbyshire. It is here that his unique art masterclass took place.
After Stanley Dyson’s death, his daughter discovered a large number of paintings hidden in the attic, along with two folios of childrens work.
Paddle Steamer Leaving Harbour By Stanley Dyson
Now, the collection is up for sale. The works are being showcased by Robert Young antiques in Battersea. The exhibition is entitled “Stanley Dyson and His School”, Robert Young Antiques specializes in naïve and folk art, and is perfect for the works of Dyson.
Running from 17th March to 23rd April, this exhibition offers a different take on art and is sure to delight all who attend. With all the vibrant colours, it might be worth taking your shades.
With individual prices ranging from £100 to £7500, there is something for everyone.
Not bad for the “next Lowry”!
