historic

Fendi Restores Grandeur To Villa Medici With Refurbished Historic Reception Rooms

by

FENDI Re-Enchants Villa Medici, refurbishing six historic reception rooms. In collaboration with the French Academy in Rome and with the support of the Mobilier National, Fendi Artistic Directors Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi have refurbished six reception rooms of Rome’s Villa Medici. Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi, the two artistic directors at Fendi … Read more

Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 Is Inviting Owners of Exceptional Classic Cars To Sign Up For 2023 Edition

by

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 Is Europe’s Most Exclusive And Tradition-Rich Festival Weekend For Historic Automobiles.

@Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este

On 19 – 21 May 2023, BMW Group Classic and the Villa d’Este luxury hotel in Cernobbio, Italy will showcase the most spectacular cars of their eras.

On 19 – 21 May 2023, BMW Group Classic will host the legendary Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in cooperation with the Villa d’Este luxury hotel. The most spectacular cars of their respective eras will once again do battle in exclusive competition classes for the coveted prizes. Most prestigious of all is the Trofeo BMW Group, awarded by the high-calibre Jury to the overall winner of the Concorso d’Eleganza.

To this end, the Selecting Committee of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 is inviting owners of exceptional classic cars to sign up for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

The category “A Century of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: heroes of the most famous race in the world” honours the centenary of the classic endurance race near the Sarthe river in France. The 75-year anniversary of Porsche is an occasion of comparable distinction, and fully deserving of its own category: “Porsche at 75: delving into the Stuttgart legend’s iconic and eccentric back catalogue”. The third already fixed competition class is: “Incredible India: The Dazzling Motoring Indulgences of the Mighty Maharajahs”. Cars can also be registered outside of the categories set out so far.

@Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 poster

On Sunday 21 May, the Public Day – Il Festival will once again give the wider public the opportunity to experience the parade of the cars in the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

This will be a festival day for all the senses, celebrating the cars and mobility of the past, present and future. And an enthralling programme of entertainment will also be laid on for the whole family.

The Amici & Automobili – Wheels & Weisswürscht event format familiar to many from its Munich roots and adapted for the Concorso d’Eleganza for the first time this year will also be part of the festival weekend in 2023.

This established get-together for car enthusiasts will return to Lake Como on Saturday 20 May and give a warm welcome to the models of all luxury brands brought over by car clubs and communities from around the world.

@Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este / @instagram.com/concorsodeleganza_vde/

These elements of the programme reflect the commitment of the event organiser to evolve the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with sensitivity and without detracting excessively from its historic character. With this in mind, further pre- and side events are in the pipeline, more details of which will be revealed at a later stage.

The Hotel Villa d’Este will celebrate another anniversary in 2023: 150 years as a hotel, because the company Villa d’Este S.p.A. was founded back in 1873. For this reason it will host special events throughout the year and will stay open during the winter period.

@Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este / @instagram.com/concorsodeleganza_vde/

2023 Art Deco Weekend is Showcasing Miami Beach’s Unique Art Deco in Open-Air Style

by
@Avalon Hotel/ @artdecoweekend.org/

The 46th annual Art Deco Weekend returns January 13 – January 15th, 2023, showcasing Miami Beach‘s unique collection of Art Deco design and architecture in open-air style. Offering a variety of experiences including live music, a classic car show, guided architectural tours, outdoor film screenings and more, visitors will find inspiration through activations that showcase how Miami Beach became the birthplace of Art Deco design and the most visited Art Deco District in the world. Created by the Miami Design Preservation League, Art Deco Weekend signifies the distinct effort to preserve Miami Beach’s more than 800 historic, pastel-colored buildings and history of this signature architectural style, saving it for future generations.

“Art Deco Weekend is an immersive celebration of architecture with national and international appeal. For 46 years, our city has come together to share the beauty and ingenuity of marquee buildings that have made Miami Beach a pilgrimage for design and architecture enthusiasts,” says Steve Adkins, Chairman of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). “The MBVCA is proud to continue our support to enhance Art Deco Weekend to help raise awareness of, and show appreciation to, the architects and talents that continue to inspire the design community today.”

@artdecoweekend.org/

Whether visiting during the official celebration or if Miami Beach is on the travel agenda in the near future, visitors can embrace the essence of Art Deco style easily throughout their stay. For an artistic and retro hotel experience, signature properties like The Gabriel South Beach and The Breakwater offer comfortable rooms in an ideal location along with Instagram-worthy facades. For a splurge, visitors can opt for a stay at The Shelborne South Beach, a recreated icon dating back to the 1940’s exuding timeless luxury and elegance with impeccable service delivered in Art Deco architecture on Collins Avenue. Miami Beach is a year-round destination to discover the bevy of geometric-ornamented facades and it’s easy to become a quick study with a visit to the official Art Deco Museum on Ocean Drive. The museum provides a deep dive into the layers of design that serve as the foundation for the city’s glamorous reputation.

@National Hotel Miami Beach; @artdecoweekend.org/
@Serena Bar

Discovering design can work up an appetite.

Head to Serena, located on the second-floor rooftop of the Moxy South Beach on Collins Avenue, and take a bite out of a modern interpretation of Mexican cuisine in an open-air and laid-back setting. Perfect for sunset cocktails, al fresco dinners surrounded by the energy of the Art Deco District or buzzy brunches, diners will taste and feel the cultural inspirations of Mexico right on South Beach.

The beauty of Miami Beach’s design and architecture stands proud any time of year, making it a vibrant destination to explore solo or with friends and family. Visitors can download the new EXP Miami Beach Tour App now available on Apple and Google and access four marquee itineraries including Art in Public Spaces, Hidden Art, A Day Inside Miami Beach Architectural Wonders and Public Art and Iconic History in Miami Beach.

“Miami Beach’s Art Deco District is an open-air museum and we invite visitors to easily access information and resources to help plan their next trip and to get an interactive look at what makes Miami Beach the unrivaled crown jewel of Art Deco architecture,” adds Grisette Marcos, Executive Director of the MBVCA. “We are continuously working on new ways to bring experiences rooted in design and architecture to travelers, understanding the ongoing desire to get up, close and personal with the history of what shapes the destinations they visit.”

Albion Hotel/ @artdecoweekend.org/

Pure Brilliance: Experiencing The Glamour of Luxury Jewels Through A Liverpool Story

by

This exquisite exhibition of Boodles jewellery is bound to mesmerise visitors to Lady Lever Art Gallery Liverpool as part of the art gallery’s centenary year celebrations.

“Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story” exhibition at @Lady Lever Art Gallery Liverpool

“Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story” exhibition at Lady Lever Art Gallery Liverpool showcases the jewellery brand’s 200 year story and shows how Liverpool has helped shape the company’s growth, from a family jewellery business to purveyors of some of the most stunning jewels in the world.

Visitors are invited to see how the heritage of Liverpool’s vibrant and creative jewellery industry in the late 19th century created a market for quality jewellery and metalwork, for which Boodles soon acquired a reputation.

@Boodles The Firebird Necklace
“Pure Brilliance: The Boodles Story” exhibition at @Lady Lever Art Gallery Liverpool

Lady Lever Art Gallery

The Lady Lever Art Gallery sits at the heart of the picturesque village of Port Sunlight on the Wirral peninsular, near Liverpool, UK. Both the gallery and the village were built by William Hesketh Lever (1851-1925), 1st Viscount Leverhulme.

Lever built the village to provide housing for the workers who worked in his soap factory. His most famous brand of soap was called ‘Sunlight’ soap. Today, Lever’s legacy, particularly the impact of his business practices around the world, is being researched and re-evaluated.

Lever’s interest in art developed after purchasing paintings of cosy, homely, scenes to use in advertisements for his soap. As both his wealth and his interest in art grew, his art collection also expanded and became more diverse. Lever built the Gallery to house his immense art collection and to make it accessible to everyone. Most notable is Lever’s collection of paintings by Pre-Raphaelite artists and their successors, which is of international importance. The ornamental Wedgwood jasperware collection is unrivalled anywhere in the world and Lever’s collection of British 18th century furniture is one of the best in the country.

In this the Gallery’s centenary year, the collections are continuing to stimulate and inspire visitors, just as Lever intended.

Stunning pieces of historic jewellery from Liverpool makers and racing trophies made by Boodles illustrate the early years of the firm. The company’s rise from city jeweller to the pinnacle of high-end design and manufacture are shown through the dazzling and contemporary jewellery on display.

GRAND NATIONAL TROPHY (1950); racing trophies made by @Boodles
@Boodles Lady Lever bracelet

Lady Lever Bracelet: This stunning bracelet has been made in celebration of the Boodles exhibition in the Lady Lever Art Gallery

Inspired by the beauty of the gallery the ‘Boodles Lady Lever’ bracelet has been designed to honour the exhibition. The choice of stones was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite paintings the gallery houses, in the central hall of the gallery. Paintings by Rossetti, Millais, John William Waterhouse (Tale from the Decameron). The Movement had a very distinctive colour palette using newly available pigments. This luminosity of colour is a key characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and inspired the unique selection of gems stones, morganite, aquamarine, heliodor, green beryl & kunzite. In the gallery the paintings are all in decorative gold frames giving a warmth to the colours, so 18 carat gold was selected as the mount for the gems to bring the same warmth.

To further connect the design to the Lady Lever Gallery, the motifs in between the stones are inspired by the architecture. The figure of eight detailing that features between the stones can be seen in the architecture of the gallery by looking up to the dome and can also be seen in the architectural drawings displayed on the walls. Attention to detail and hidden elements of beauty are part of Boodles design ethos so as you look more closely at the design you will see diamonds tucked underneath the crescent and a loop of diamonds on the outer edge of the gold collet holding each coloured gemstone.

A DESIGN SKETCH OF THE #BOODLES GREENFIRE NECKLACE FEATURING MUZO EMERALDS (2013)
JUST BEYOND THE SETTING SUN: A DESIGN SKETCH (2019) by @Boodles

Boodles Lady Lever design bracelet is set with octagonal shape multi-gems and diamonds in 18 carat SMO yellow gold. The total weight of the aquamarines is 11.77 carats and 12.04 carats, morganite is 11.83 carats, kunzites is 14.15 carats and 15.58 carats, green beryl is 11.85 carats and yellow beryl is 11.92 carats.

Visitors will have the opportunity to see the story behind the pieces of jewellery on display, from the sourcing of precious stones and metals through to the design and the manufacture of the pieces. It’s an opportunity to get close to some of the most imaginative and luxurious jewellery in the world, created by a family firm which still has its head office in Liverpool today. The skill, creativity, and craftsmanship of the jewellery on display is of the highest quality, something which resonates with the craftsmanship shown in the collections of the Lady Lever Art Gallery, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in December 2022.

The Boodles Story at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Liverpool will run during the gallery’s 100th anniversary year, until 5 March 2023.

@Boodles Lady Lever bracelet

Historic Textiles Transformed by Oscar de la Renta Into Wearable Art

by

Oscar de la Renta gives Ann Getty’s historic textiles new life. The rare velvets and laces from the collector have been fashioned into one-of-a-kind handbags and dresses, exclusively at Christie’s Auction House. Statuesque with fiery red hair, Ann Getty, who stood nearly six feet tall, was eternally clad in the finest of fashions. She made … Read more

Historic Palazzo Marini in Rome transforms into a new luxury hotel

by

Fort Partners Acquires Historic Palazzo Marini in Rome. Leading developer closes on the €165 million deal with the intent to develop the property into a luxury hotel managed by Four Seasons. Fort Partners Puerto Rico LLC (Fort Partners), led by Founder and CEO Nadim Ashi, announced the acquisition of the historic Palazzo Marini (3-4) for … Read more