ARTS & COLLECTIONS INTERNATIONAL
arts &
COLLECTIONS T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A G A Z I N E O F A R T A N D C U LT U R E
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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WWW.ARTSANDCOLLECTIONS.COM SPRING 2014
ART
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CULTURE
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LIFE
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EVENTS
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COLLECTABLES
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MARKET VALUES
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TRENDS 10/03/2014 09:44
Contents ARTS & COLLECTIONS INTERNATIONAL
features 18 Powerful Portraits
arts &
COLLECTIONS T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A G A Z I N E O F A R T A N D C U LT U R E
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
Considered a great of twentieth century photojournalism, Michael Peto’s career is celebrated in a new display of previously unexhibited portraits.
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40 henri matisse: the cut-outS
46 guitar passion
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The deceptively simple concept that caused a revolutionary development in art, by engaging simplicity with creative sophistication, that is recognised as a great artist’s final creative triumph.
The name of Martin has resounded across the guitar world for more than 175 years. A new exhibition and concert pays tribute.
51 opera & ballet
Opera and ballet of the highest order, in stunning settings of antiquity, are what we are promised in Turkey’s lavish festivals this summer.
It was a land where gold was so abundant it had no value in modern terms. What remains today makes up the world’s most extraordinary collection of exquisite gold artefacts.
64 fake or fortune
Investment in art is a popular option for collectors. However, all the experts agree that seeking knowledgeable advice is the first important step.
SPRING 2014
60 El dorado: the legend cast in gold
ART
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CULTURE
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LIFE
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EVENTS
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COLLECTABLES
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MARKET VALUES
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TRENDS
10/03/2014 09:44 Cover: Michael Peto’s portrait of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn rehearsing for their first performance together at Covent Garden (1962). Story on page 18.
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66 Piero della Francesca’s personal cover image © University of Dundee The Peto Collection
encounters
Four exquisite works of art, together with an outstanding new study by Professor James R. Banker, underline the importance of Piero della Francesca as one of the pre-eminent artists of Renaissance Italy.
81 spoilt for choice
Luxury properties continue to prove a major attraction for art connoisseurs, multi-millionaire investors and cash-rich celebrities alike.
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Contents 15
REGULARS 15 HAPPENINGS
Bringing you a mix of the high-minded, eccentric, regal, random, and unmissable events.
24 WINE: FOR CELLARING & FOR DRINKING
From the large-scale to the most modest wine collector, tracking the trends via auction house sales is enjoyable as well as educational, with always the chance of a bargain purchase.
28 EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD
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A regular calendar of key international arts and culture events.
32 AUCTION SHOWCASE
A round-up of the latest auction news and major sales still to come.
34 SOTHEBY’S HIGHLIGHTS
The world’s leading auction house highlights rare and unique collectors’ items from recent and future sales.
38 TREASURES
Our series highlights a single item of artistry or craftsmanship that is both rare and exquisite.
45 MAKING HISTORY
Our new series recalls landmark events that have shaped the course of art and culture as we know it today.
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55 STYLE AND DESIGN: FOREVER NOW
Few fashion powerhouses can claim to transcend time, age and cultural backgrounds quite like Gucci. Pay homage with a trip to the Gucci Museo in Florence.
70 WHERE TO SPEND IT
The latest high-end must-haves to add to your collection.
72 BOOK REVIEWS
The pick of the most recent Arts & Collections books.
76 COLLECTOR’S WORLD: BOOKS TO TREASURE
In the world of children’s books, classics old and new can command high prices as a result of significant collector interest.
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It Figures...
DAMSONMEDIA Publisher & CEO Kevin J. Harrington Managing Editor Charles Ford Sub Editors Glenda McCauley Jagoda Wachowska Contributors Brendan Connolly Mary Gibb Kathryn McCann Katherine Temple Designers Reneta Bozhinovska Juliana Martinhago Production Director Joanna Harrington Distribution & Production Coordinator Linda Young Commercial Manager Tony Ditri Production & Administration Jessica Costa Jessica Samuels EDITORIAL OFFICE Arts & Collections International Linton House 39-51 Highgate Road London NW5 1RT United Kingdom Telephone: 0044 20 7870 9090 editorial@damsonmedia.com www.damsonmedia.com CHICAGO OFFICE Arts & Collections International 730 N. Franklin St. Suite 604, Chicago, IL 60654, USA Telephone: (312) 701 0000 THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS MAGAZINE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER OR EDITOR. THE PUBLISHER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ALL EDITORIAL OR ADVERTISING MATTER. THE PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS, PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTWORK. IMAGES ARE SENT AT THE OWNERS’ RISK AND THE PUBLISHER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS.
Arts & Collections International has partnered with over 120 of the world’s finest luxury and boutique hotels to provide the highest quality coverage of global art and cultural events, as well as auctions of interest and the latest developments in the global art market. It is this blend of interesting and informative editorial that is most appealing to guests at these premier hotels, who have a great interest in admiring and purchasing fine art and collectables.
Arts & Collections International’s dedicated website, www.artsandcollections.com, features detailed information on each of the 120 luxury hotels promoting the publication in their exclusive rooms and suites.
All of the exclusive previews, reviews and expert commentary pieces that appear in the pages of Arts & Collections International are also available to view on www.artsandcollections.com. In addition, the website provides a directory of upcoming auctions by Sotheby’s and other top auction houses, plus exhibitions and popular cultural events, keeping visitors fully informed, as well as providing a comprehensive resource area for collectors and connoisseurs.
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1980 The year Paloma Picasso began designing for Tiffany & Co., a partnership that continues today. Page 38
The million-dollar winning bid for Picasso’s Femme Assise Près d’une Fenêtre which came to auction at Sotheby’s in November last year. Page 36
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Our new series picks landmark events in the world of art and culture. One such is Marcel Duchamps’ Bottle Rack, considered the first of his ‘pure’ readymades. Page 45
© 2014 DAMSON MEDIA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART OF ANY TEXT, PHOTOGRAPH OR ILLUSTRATION WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. PRINTED IN THE UK.
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Arts & Collections International is published quarterly and is available on subscription for €40 (Europe) or €45 (worldwide) per annum including post and packaging. Please email editorial@damsonmedia.com for further details regarding subscriptions.
1,145,000 The dollar price paid for an exceptional Rolex Stainless Steel Reference 8171 ‘Padellone’. Page 33
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GUCCI // STYLE & DESIGN
Left: The Gucci Museo in Florence recently featured a solo exhibition from Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos consisting of works loaned from the Pinault Collection. One of which included Red Independent Heart (2010) formed of thousands of translucent red plastic knives, forks and spoons half melted and shaped in an iron framework to create a beautiful, gracefully rotating heart-shaped form.
Forever NOW
Few fashion powerhouses can claim to transcend time, age and cultural backgrounds quite like Gucci. Pay homage with a trip to the Gucci Museo in Florence. By Kathryn McCann
‘An image of a young Jodie Foster skateboarding in a pair of Gucci loafers is testament to the appeal of the house.’ www.artsandcollections.com
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I
n many ways, the Tuscan capital of Firenze is a fitting backdrop to the Gucci Museo. The centre of Italian Renaissance exudes timeless glamour, intrigue and history whilst seamlessly mixing old and new—just like the luxury brand itself. Florence was also the birthplace of founder Guccio Gucci, and the chosen location for his first store in 1921. Yet it was in London where Gucci had the initial idea that luxury luggage was a common yet untapped requirement of those travelling on trains or in ocean liners or perhaps taking to the air for the very first time. Working as a porter at London’s Savoy Hotel, Gucci was inspired by the luggageladen clientele and wanted to emulate that same sophistication in Tuscany with ‘Valigeria
e Articoli da Viaggio’ (suitcases and travel accessories). This pivotal moment in Gucci’s history is recognised in the permanent exhibition space, which begins on the ground floor of the museum and is filled with trunks, suitcases, accessories and articles that helped bring Gucci to international acclaim and recognition from the 1950s onwards. Visitors to the museum can also embark on a journey through Flora World, revel in cult handbags and red-carpet creations or enjoy unique clutches and rare valuables. The internationally recognised double G monogram is celebrated in Logomania, while the final themes of Lifestyle and Loafer are an ode to the house’s iconic symbols and
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‘The 1921 Collection celebrates 90 iconic years of Gucci.’ products inspired by the worlds of sport and leisure. The British influence on Gucci is clearly visible throughout, from the red and green striped band originating from the world of English horse riding, to picnic sets, thermoses and other household items inspired by the more genteel sports of hunting, golf and tennis. Images of the many celebrity clients adorn the walls, with a particular image of a young Jodie Foster skateboarding in a pair of Gucci loafers, testament to the appeal of the house to both young and old. The museum not only caters to lovers of style. There are also contemporary art installations supported by the Pinault foundation, filling three rooms of the palazzo for six months at a time. Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos recently enjoyed a tenancy from June to December, with three exemplary works: Red Independent Heart (2010), Psycho (2010) and Lavoisier (2011) on display. Privately, the fourteenth century Palazzo della Mercanzia, located on the historic Piazza Signoria, also houses a vault containing the Gucci Archive. An immense collection of ready-to-wear, accessories, objects and photographs have been meticulously collected, catalogued and conserved to document Gucci’s rich and varied heritage. This legacy is also acknowledged through a unique collaboration with Christie’s auction house. Gucci Collector is the very first Guccicertified online destination for appraising vintage Gucci pieces for both avid collectors and enthusiasts alike. Since its launch last year, the service has received a remarkable response, unearthing rare finds and iconic models from the world over. Accessed by a team of experts, including Christie’s Specialists and Gucci’s own in-house archivists, select owners will have the opportunity to sell their items to Gucci, or in a future Christie’s auction, if they wish.
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This gives new buyers the opportunity to get their hands on iconic vintage Gucci pieces such as the bamboo bag: a 1950s classic which was devised due to a shortage of foreign supplies during the years of Fascist dictatorship in Italy. Bidders can also clamour for the Gucci shoulder bag, known today as the Jackie O, or the unstructured, unisex Hobo Bag, sported by Liz Taylor, Peter Sellers and Samuel Beckett in the 1960s. These classic Gucci looks were even given a recent twenty-first century makeover by Frida Giannini to celebrate 90 iconic years of the house. The 1921 Collection is an exclusive, limited edition range of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories for a new generation of Gucci Collectors. Crafted in calfskin and crocodile, with a colour palette ranging from dark brown, khaki and cherry to pink and bottle green, each item is embossed with an exclusive ‘G. Gucci 1921’ logo making this special collection all the more collectable for Gucci fans both old and new. Proof that this is a fashion house still at the top of its game, able to successfully re-interpret the creativity of the past as an inspiration for the future. Here’s to the next 90 years. • Above from top: A treasure of the Gucci archives, the Jackie bag holds a very special place within the house’s storied past. First created in the 1950s, the model became one of the preferred accessories of Jacqueline Onassis, who was photographed carrying numerous versions in the decade that followed; Gucci designs currently on display inside the Museo.
images © christie’s images limited; flickr/LisaRocaille/Ernesto Franco/Clyde Lin
STYLE & DESIGN // gucci
Below: Gucci Museo is situated in the heart of Florence, an homage to the city where Gucci’s story began.
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