22 juillet 2009

Webb Ruby and Diamond Snowflake Brooch. US. 1960s An 18 karat yellow gold, diamond and cabochon ruby brooch by David Webb. The brooch is designed as a snowflake composed of graduating ruby and diamond set tear drop shaped sections that surround a large cabochon ruby. The brooch is set with a total of 17 cabochon rubies and 144 diamonds weighing approximately 8.28 carats. If interested, this brooch is part of a suite with a ring and a pair of earrings. Price contact dealer David Webb Gold Leopard Cuff. US. 1960s An 18... [Lire la suite]

Chinese: Qianlong (1736-1795). Circular covered box with dragons in clouds, c.1736-95. Red, green and yellow lacquer on wood, 8.0 x diameter 20.0 cm, (?)presented to George III by the Emperor Qianlong, 1793. RCIN 10806.1. The Royal Collection © 2009, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  By the end of the eighteenth century the East India Company had been trading with Chinese merchants for two hundred years, but in a strictly limited way. They were only allowed into Canton for five months in a year, and all trade had to be... [Lire la suite]

Sèvres. Pair of mounted vases (vase à monter) c.1785. Hard-paste porcelain, gilt bronze mounts, onyx stand. Overall height 35 cm; dimensions excluding stand 32.7 x 19.2 x 12.8 cm. Purchased by George IV. RCIN 253.2. The Royal Collection © 2009, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  The elegance and beauty of these vases lies in the skilful combination of a simple form, mottled brown-black ground in simulation of lacquer and finely chased gilt bronze mounts, including mermaid figures and lion’s paw monopodia. The vases resemble... [Lire la suite]

Vase, fifteenth century (French mounts, c.1760-70), 15th cent. Porcelain and gilt bronze, 52.5 x 47 x 32.5 cm. Probably bought by George IV. RCIN 2315. The Royal Collection © 2009, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Among George IV's large collection of celadon porcelain (the term denotes the grey-green glaze) probably only two pieces are earlier than the eighteenth century, suggesting that the quality or rarity of the porcelain was of less concern to him than the formal variety and lustre of the metal mounts. In this instance a... [Lire la suite]

Marshmallow Sofa, 1956. Photo: Vitra A CORUNA, SPAIN.- In the year 2008, the American designer George Nelson (1908-1986) would have celebrated his 100th birthday. To commemorate this occasion, the Vitra Design Museum is planning the first comprehensive retrospective of his work. Nelson was one of the most influential figures in American design during the second half of the twentieth century. With an architectural degree from Yale, he was not only active in the fields of architecture and design, but was also a widely respected... [Lire la suite]