World War I

An Art World Cataclysm: 1910-1918

Filed under: Events, Art

Was there ever a time when the art world was more exciting and more dynamic than the years leading up to World War I? The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's new show, "The Great Upheaval: Modern Art From the Guggenheim Collection, 1910-1918," illuminates a time when artists were in a state of revolt. Consider Kazimir Malevich's 1912 "Morning in the Village after a Snowstorm." His inspiration is folk art. His figures are stylized and compact, geometric and tubular. Even his palette is limited to red, black, blue, white with touches of brown. What this show demonstrates so clearly is that the old European prescription for painting, especially landscapes, was no longer relevant.

Tags: Cubism, Futurism, kazimir malevich, Modernist art, World War I

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Pierre Ferrand Launches 100-Year-Old Cognac

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Pierre Ferrand, one of only a handful of Cognac houses in France specializing in old Cognacs from the coveted Grande Champagne region that are not blended with lesser varieties, has come out with a new 100-year-old bottling.

The limited edition L'Hommage de Pierre Ferrand was born of Cognac distilled prior to World War I stored in the shade of Ferrand's Logis d'Angeac cellar for more than a century.

Bottled in an exquisitely crafted, numbered crystal carafe, only 10 bottles will be available for sale in the U.S. by special order for the suggested retail price of about $3,000 apiece.

The aged spirit has taken on a beautiful dark shimmering bronze color after its long repose in its wooden cask. Exceptionally smooth, it has aromas of prune and candied fruits. Each bottle comes in a wooden case with a certificate of authenticity.

"We wanted to offer something supremely special from our cellars," notes Alexandre Gabriel, president/owner of Cognac Ferrand. "We chose a beautiful bottle to contain this rare Cognac [but] the taste is even more beautiful than the bottle."

Tags: brandy, Cognac, Cognac Ferrand, crystal, France, Pierre Ferrand, spirits, World War I

Rare British Ocean Liner Model for Sale at $175,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Yachts & Sailing

A massive, marvelous and rare model of a famed World War I British ocean liner-turned battle cruiser has been listed for sale at $175,000. The 640 ft. HMS Alcantara was built by Harland & Wolff of Belfast for Royal Mail Lines and launched in October 1913. Shortly after her maiden voyage in 1914 she was converted to an armed merchant cruiser; she was sunk by the German armed merchant cruiser SMS Greif on the 29th of February 1916 in the North Sea. Daniels Antiques of Miami is now offering a 14-ft. long model of the ship made in the 1920s in its original mahogany display case, a must-have for any moneyed enthusiast of maritime history.

[via LuxuryLaunches]

Tags: antiques, maritime, model ship, ModelShip, ocean, ocean liner, OceanLiner, ship, UK, World War I, WorldWarI