Category: Art in Books

Patricia Corbett wrote a wonderful book about Sicilian nobleman Fulco Santostefano della Cerda, Duke di Verdura. He, in turn, brought the light and colours of his home island to his jewellery and with that to the whole world of people who could afford it or, at least, had the chance to look at pictures and… Continue reading Sicily in his blood – Fulco di Verdura’s life and jewellery

The social media age made cats the most loved YouTube stars, just think of “Grumpy Cat” and the likes. In the many centuries before, the cat in art was second to horses and dogs, as Caroline Bugler explains in her fascinating book “The Cat, 3500 Years of the Cat in Art”. Some of the facts… Continue reading The centuries before cat videos – “The Cat” by Caroline Bugler

When I bought Temple St. Clair’s first book “Alchemy”, read her name and saw the kind of jewellery she creates, I was convinced she is a descendant of one of the families in a Dan Brown novel. You know what I mean, those with ancestors in Scotland and France who have a direct bloodline to… Continue reading When a name creates an image – Temple St. Clair

I had never heard of Luisa Spagnoli before I stepped into the clothes store of the same name in Palermo’s Via Ruggiero Settimo a few years ago. I had not been hunting for clothes, just wanted a quick look around because the windows were so beautifully made up and all the clothes were so luxurious.… Continue reading How did she do it? – Luisa Spagnoli in book and film

Reading in Prince Dimitris book, it is difficult not to become jealous. I decided instead to admire him for his pose and for making the best out of being born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Some people stay idle when they already have a lot, Prince Dimitri grew his heritage further. Born into… Continue reading A charmed life – Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia

Aiming at an art review, I wanted to write first only about the beautifully illustrated book “The Windsor Style” by Suzy Menkes. When flipping through the book, the well researched and mostly friendly biography of Wallis Simpson “The Duchess of Windsor” by Greg King came back to my mind. This biography shaped my views about… Continue reading Give and Take – The Duke and the Duchess of Windsor

Venetian Jewelry House Nardi seems to be fallen out of time – one shop, one address, one family. No marketing, no international presence, no bowing to the changing zeitgeist. The current head of the family, Alberto Nardi, son of Sergio and grandson of Giulio, continues the family business from the premises at San Marco Square… Continue reading “Nardi Venezia” by Nicholas Foulkes

Elizabeth Taylor, one of the most admired actresses, beauty queens and role models of all time, died in 2011 after a life lived to the full. It was quickly announced thereafter that Christie’s would be auctioning off her personal belongings. I was always a huge fan of that exquisite beauty with her preference for jewels… Continue reading Elizabeth Taylor – beauty and jewels in abundance

“You gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs. It helps you get up in the morning. It’s a way of life. Without it, you’re nobody” This quote of Diana Vreeland is my most favourite one. It embodies everything the Italian concept of Bella Figura means and it is the best advice for… Continue reading Style is everything- three books on Diana Vreeland

Real Provence in the South of France is not the coastline Cote d’Azur, but the countryside a bit more inland from the coast. A mountainous, hot area where you can hear the crickets chirp non-stop in summer and where the lush colours from the coast change to a landscape in a completely different colour palette.… Continue reading Marcel Pagnols country – “Provence Glory”