Focus

  • 4 SEPTEMBER 2009 Site Specific We have all experienced a deep connection to a particular place – one that remains etched in our minds long after we leave. For the artists shown here, it was precisely that connection to a place that moved them to paint it – often repeatedly. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 4 SEPTEMBER 2009 Works on Paper: The Creative Process Revealed This Untitled acrylic on paper by Sam Francis has many of the qualities you find in the artist’s best paintings. It is not only a great entry piece for the new collector, but also an appealing way to expand a collection of Abstract Expressionism, a movement in which Francis was a seminal figure. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 31 AUGUST 2009 Focus on 149th Hospices de Beaune Charity Wine Auction The Hospices de Beaune is the result of more than six centuries of history. Founded with the aims of healing the sick and comforting the destitute, the hospital has never ceased to develop, thanks, in large part, to numerous benefactors who have enabled the Domaine to grow, thanks to their gifts of vineyards. The funds collected at the Hospices de Beaune wine auctions are entirely destined for the institution’s charities. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 31 AUGUST 2009 A Run Up a Fabled Burgundy Hill From the wall outside the tiny vineyard of Montrachet, known as Le Montrachet on the Chassagne side, I could look back down to the village surrounded by the most sought after Chardonnay grapes in the world (apologies to Napa and Martinborough). CATEGORY: WINE
  • 27 AUGUST 2009 A Night to Remember: A Fabulous Collection – and a Fabulous Dinner During recent weeks, a team of specialists from the Wine department in London has been making a number of visits to a cellar in Holland. The collection numbers around 50,000 bottles and contains all the greats – Bordeaux, Rhone, Alsace, Germany, Australia and many other iconic New World classics. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 18 AUGUST 2009 Spotlight on... Pakistan A closer look at the work of three diverse and highly talented Pakistani artists reveals how indigenous tradition lives on in the 20th and 21st centuries. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 28 JULY 2009 Hans Erni: Past and Present Hans Erni, one of Switzerland’s best known artists, is one hundred years old this year and continues to paint. Erni is famous for his geometric lines which dominate his canvases. His geometric lines form part of the cubist style first invented by Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Cubism subverted the traditional depiction and perception of objects, taking them apart and analysing them in terms of their shapes. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 6 JULY 2009 Picasso: Master of his Medium A partnership with Madoura Pottery in the Southern France allowed Picasso to use studio space and make use of their materials. The ceramic medium allowed Pablo Picasso to experiment in three dimensions and explore the variety of colors, textures, glazes, decorations and finishes. CATEGORY: PHOTOGRAPHS & PRINTS
  • 1 JUNE 2009 A Musar Masterclass Christie’s Wine Specialist, Trim Triptee attends a tasting masterclass directed by Serge Hochar, the mastermind behind the classic fine wine from Lebanon - Château Musar. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 1 JUNE 2009 A Tasting with Raymond Blanc Christie’s Senior Wine Specialist, Carolyn Holmes, visits the renowned Michelin starred restaurant at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, deep in the Oxfordshire countryside and recounts one of her best food and wine experiences with M. Raymond Blanc. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 26 MAY 2009 Focus on Chelsea Porcelain The Chelsea Porcelain factory, one of a handful of manufactories operating around London in the mid 18th century was the brainchild of the silversmith Nicholas Sprimont. Sprimont was known for his expertise in tastefully combining the influences of other manufacturers and high standards of quality in production and decoration. CATEGORY: FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS
  • 26 MAY 2009 Focus on the Nuremburg Nef From the early 16th century to the mid 17th century Nuremberg, Germany was one of the primary cities in Europe for silver craft. The detail, from the masts and ropes to the enamel sailors made nefs a tour de force for the silversmith as a craftsman. CATEGORY: FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS
  • 26 MAY 2009 Focus on Portrait Miniatures by John Smart Portrait miniatures by John Smart, widely considered to be the pre-eminent painter of the Georgian Period, exemplify his skill in capturing not only the personalities of his sitters but also the social currents that underpinned the period. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 1 MAY 2009 Rolex: A History of Progression The remarkable success of Rolex can considerably be attributed to the way they constantly progress their product to suit society’s ever-evolving trends and needs, always aiming to improve the usability, durability, service friendliness and reliability of their timepieces. CATEGORY: JEWELRY & WATCHES
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Imperial Works of Art The 17th and 18th centuries can be described as a golden age in both craftsmanship and cultural patronage in China. At the heart of this flourishing enterprise lay the Imperial workshops, established by Emperor Kangxi, many of which were cited within the palace complex itself at Beijing. CATEGORY: ASIAN ART
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Falling Warrior by Henry Moore Drawing inspiration from the heroes of Greek mythology, Henry Moore’s Falling Warrior portrays a wounded soldier on the brink of death. Unlike the triumphant classic hero, Moore’s warrior falls to his demise, though he did not fall without a fight. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Chinese 20th Century Art From the beginning of the 20th Century Chinese artists have sought to combine traditional Chinese visual culture and Western Modern Art movements. This quest has generated some exceptional Chinese masters. CATEGORY: FINE ART
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Patek Philippe Patek Philippe, which was founded in 1844, has reflected the style, values, history and progress of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. CATEGORY: JEWELRY & WATCHES
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Swiss-Made Gold and Gem-Set Boxes For centuries, Swiss artisans have been celebrated for their skilled enamelwork and intricate gold boxes. In the early 19th century, artisans applied their talents to elaborate boxes designed to appeal to the Turkish market, ornamented with diamonds, pearls and other precious stones, often taking the shape of Ottoman calligraphy or the crescent moon and star. CATEGORY: FURNITURE & DECORATIVE ARTS
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Jadeite Jewels Perhaps no other gemstone possesses an aura of mystery as does the gemstone jadeite. Known as the ‘Stone of Heaven’, jadeite has great cultural significance in China. CATEGORY: JEWELRY & WATCHES
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Bollinger, Grande Année - Top Fizz The last remaining independent Champagne house, Bollinger comprises over 150 hectares of vineyards. Founded in 1829 by Jacques Bollinger and two friends, the estate has been run by members of the Bollinger family ever since. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Château d’Yquem – Wearing The Crown Proudly situated at the top of the hilly commune of Sauternes, Château d’Yquem produces the most famous dessert wine in the whole of Bordeaux, the famous winemaking province in the southwestern France. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 1 MAY 2009 Focus on Louis Roederer’s Millennium Cristal To celebrate the millennium, Louis Roederer produced 2000 six-litre bottles of its top cuvée, Cristal, from the excellent 1990 vintage. Almost 10 years later, the number of these bottles still in existence must be small. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 20 APRIL 2009 Focus on Large Formats Michael Ganne, Christie’s Wine Specialist, discusses the reasons wine connoisseurs love large format bottles - rarity; better aging potential; and resistance to temperature fluctuations. And there is nothing like bringing out an impressive, large bottle at a notable celebration or a great occasion. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 20 APRIL 2009 Focus on the Importance of Provenance David Elswood, International Wine Department Head discusses the importance of provenance and the significance ‘Case History’ when buying wine at auction. Perfect provenance of any valuable object increases desirability. This applies to wine as much, and maybe even more, as it does to any artwork or object. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 19 APRIL 2009 Focus on Domaine Leroy Amanda Crawford, Christie’s Wine Specialist, visits the Burgandy estate of Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy and discusses the rigourous and trendsetting methods of farming and pruning that she employs to produce the unique wines of Domaine Leroy, which reflect both the terrior of the land and the personality of the maker. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 30 MARCH 2009 Focus on Gibson’s Flying V Kerry Keane, Head of Department, Musical Instruments discusses the history of Gibson’s Flying V and how it rose in popularity to become one of the most classic and easily identifiable electric guitars. CATEGORY: COLLECTIBLES
  • 19 MARCH 2009 Focus on the Changing Face of Burgundy Burgundy, in terms of viticulture and vinification has changed significantly over the last few decades, however the wines have retained their charm, seductiveness, diversity and mystery, which keeps wine lovers fascinated and intrigued. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 19 MARCH 2009 Focus on the Wines of Bordeaux Among the red wines of the Bordeaux region, the most basic division is between the wines of the “Left Bank” and the wines of the “Right Bank” and there has long been a rivalry between these two districts. CATEGORY: WINE
  • 19 MARCH 2009 Focus on Whiskey Whether you prefer Scotch whiskey or American whiskey, there is a world of whiskey that waits to be tasted. CATEGORY: WINE
  • NOVEMBER 2008 Focus on Madeira from the Funchal Cellar of William Leacock The history and development of Madeira wines over the last 500 years are inextricably linked with England. Numerous references to Madeira and Malmsey specifically are to be found in the manuscripts of William Shakespeare dating from the latter part of the 16th century… CATEGORY: WINE