12 août 2015

The building was rebuilt from scratch in strict accordance with Czech law. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov Living room. Vaulted ceilings painted patterns invented a local artist. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov The view from the windows of the house on the stairs leading to the park. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov Antique buffet - one of the random findings decorator. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov One of the bedrooms is equipped for children. Photo: Mikhail Stepanov Detail of the bathroom. Chest of black and white... [Lire la suite]

Ewer, Northern Song dynasty, 1000-1100. Ding kilns, north China. Stoneware with white glaze. Height: 15 cm. Museum no.C.615-1918. Aubrey Le Blond gift [2007] © V&A Images This ewer was made during the Song dynasty (960-1279), the classical period in the history of Chinese ceramics. Kilns appeared in all parts of China, each kiln with its own specialized products. Centuries later they were much sought after by collectors. A systematic classification of the different wares was already well... [Lire la suite]

Bowl, stoneware with black glaze and 'hare's fur' effect, Jianyang, Fujian province, China, Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). Stoneware, glazed. Diameter: 9.3 cm. Museum no. C.626-1918. Given by Aubrey Le Blond [2009] © V&A Images The kilns in the area of Jianyang in Fujian province (southern China) excelled in the production of a type of blackware generally known as Jian ware. This is characterised by an iron-rich dark body covered by black glaze and often decorated with distinct surface patterns.... [Lire la suite]

'Peony jar', Northern Song dynasty, 1100-1150.  Cizhou kilns, north China. Stoneware with white slip and glazed. Height: 5.7 cm. P.H.D.S. Wikramaratna Gift, in memory of his wife Nancy. Museum no. FE.32-1985 [2007] © V&A Images Cizhou is a term used to describe a variety of ceramics made in northern China during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Cizhou wares were popular wares, made for everyday use, and so were much more free-spirited in form and surface design than the wares made at the imperial... [Lire la suite]

Bowl, stoneware of marbled clay, Cizhou ware, China, Northern Song dynasty, 960-1000. Diameter: 12.2 cm. Given by Mr Aubrey Le Blond. Museum no. C.602-1918. © V&A Images Cizhou is a term used to describe a variety of ceramics made in northern China during the Song dynasty (960-1127). Contrary to the imperial wares of the time, which were prized for their perfection of form and glaze, Cizhou wares were made for everyday use, and were often decorated with bold patterns. This bowl was made by marbling, a... [Lire la suite]

Tea bowl and bowl stand, Northern Song dynasty, 1000-1100, Ding kilns, north China. Stoneware with brown glaze. [Bowl] Diameter: 11.5 cm - [Stand] Diameter: 11 cm. Museum no. C.603-1918. Aubrey Le Blond Gift [2007] © V&A Images This bowl and stand are examples of Ding ware, made in the Hebei province of China during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). Ding wares were of the earliest true porcelains made in China, and the world. The term porcelain is applied to ceramics made from a... [Lire la suite]

Large bowl with lotus petals design, Northern Song-Jin dynasty, 1050-1150. Ding kilns, north China. Stoneware with white glaze. Diameter: 28.6 cm, Height: 14.5 cm, Diameter: 12.5 cm base.  Museum no. C.217-1926 [2007]. © V&A Images This bowl is an example of Ding ware, made in the Hebei province of China during the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127). Ding wares were of the earliest true porcelains made in China, and the world. The term porcelain is applied to ceramics made from a mixture... [Lire la suite]

1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drop Head - Coupe Coachwork by Mulliner, 1 of 75 Produced. Estimate $115,000 - $145,000. Photo by David Newhardt, Courtesy of Mecum Auctions. The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was the first completely new post-war model from Crewe. Introduced in 1955, this watershed design fit midway between the aging Silver Wraith and low-volume Silver Dawn. Intended from the outset primarily to carry the “standard steel” factory coachwork, only a limited number of cars would carry the traditional... [Lire la suite]

1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster - 4-Speed, California Car. Estimate $125,000 - $150,000. Photo by David Newhardt, Courtesy of Mecum Auctions. Thanks to the efforts of New York sports car importer Max Hoffmann, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL went from the race track to the open road in just two years. Concurrent to that event, Mercedes-Benz created an attractive and affordable alternative to the expensive 300SL in the form of the new 190SL. Visually a scaled down version of the 300SL but with a wider track, the 190SL... [Lire la suite]

Cristobal Balenciaga (French, founded 1949), Coat, Fall 1950. Multicolored velvet. Gift of Jerome Zipkin.86.142.3. The Museum at FIT 2012 © The Museum at FIT. Balenciaga was a true sculptor in fabric, a master of cut and construction whose work approached pure form. Simple lines (the product of much subtlety and originality in cut) were executed in luxurious materials - in this case, broken stripes of gray, brown, tan, and black silk velvet. A reserved and intensely private man, Balenciaga has always been... [Lire la suite]