Yves Saint Laurent: Sale of the Century

by CH Contributor

by Zeva Bellel

The "Sale of the Century" begins tomorrow when Christie's opens its doors to a dizzying array of Yves Saint Laurent's personal pieces.

Of the 1,200 objects to reach the auction block at Christie's France over the next four days, the majority come from Château Gabriel, the three-story country estate where YSL and his lifelong partner Pierre Bergé spent their weekends.

The abode, filled to the brim with ornate, rococo furnishings, fleur-de-lys quilted couches, Indian-patterned carpets and knick-knacks galore, was a cornucopia for the senses.

"The atmosphere they created was incredibly loaded. We are very far from minimalism, which is why there is such a profusion of objects,” says Simon de Monicault, furniture specialist at Christie’s France.

Unlike the first sale with its multi-million-Euro lots, this one presents more affordable offerings. Some pieces are estimated at only a few hundred Euros, while the highest, a gothic revival salon set (est. €80,000-120,000), is perhaps the only example of minimalism in comparison to the €32 million Matisse fetched in February.

“It’s not the very grand things, but it’s everything else, including lots of conversation pieces,” says Jonathan Rendell, deputy head of Christie’s America.

Wildly eclectic in terms of period, provenance and style, each piece packs a different decorative punch. While there are no celebrity objects in the lots, there are countless charmers and enough stuff to fill a few dozen homes. Items like an enamel and rock crystal reliquary (€1,000-1,500), an elk antler chandelier (est. €6,000-7,000) or a pair of 19th century stools created for a Queen Hortense ball (€7,000-9,000) turn a ho-hum living room into a style explosion.

The rest of the sale consists of personal bits and bobs from YSL’s Parisian apartment and office, including his 14-piece French Bulldog statuette set, his Hermés crocodile luggage and a treasured collection of eponymous jewels that he kept on his bedside table.

Check out more images after the jump.

Sale of the Century
7-20 November 2009
Théâtre Marigny
Avenue de Marigny
Paris, France 75008 map
tel. +33 01 53 96 70 30

Terence Koh x Converse 1Hund(red)

by Josh Rubin

Terence Koh's Converse 1Hundred(red) makes the classic over in his current trademark all-white, fashion-forward style. Trimming the sole and generally streamlining the look, the edition focuses on subtraction and seems to reflect his stated interest in "hiding reality."

Formerly working under the moniker "asianpunkboy" and never one to shy away from sexuality, the launch party for the shoe featured stick-thin, mostly male models posed as painters, wearing little more than tiny white shorts and the sneakers.

The design also keeps it luxe (another Kohian characteristic) with all-leather uppers and clean with the Converse license plate on only one side, leaving the other side completely bare. With a unique construction replacing the curved ankle with a square shape, the sculpture-like shoe makes a great addition to the artist series—a project in which Converse donates a percentage of sales to help fight AIDS in Africa.

The Terence Koh edition will be available beginning 21 November 2009 from Opening Ceremony for $150.

Macha Jewelry

by CH Contributor

by Richard Prime

The two-year-old brand Macha Jewelry marries style, craftsmanship and a sympathetic approach to materials that opts for a rough-hewn look over polish and flash for both men and women.

“It’s about a quiet rebellion, not necessarily beautiful but not without nobility either,” notes Bernice Kelly, the Irish designer behind Macha now based in London. Indeed, each piece seems to grow and develop new connotations each time you look at them.

Her mainline collections feature quality materials, 925 silver, gold plate and gemstones, with attitude and character—like a life-size Crab claw necklace cast in white bronze—central to each design. Kelly’s fine jewelry uses more extravagant materials and designs in 18 karat gold, fine silver, diamonds and precious stones with the aim of creating subtle pieces that grow classically with the passing of time.

The designer also works with clients personally to visualize and create a unique personal bespoke piece. “I encourage each client to become as involved as possible with executing their concepts and, in turn, with the progression of the brand itself as a result of creating their individual pieces,” Kelly says.

It’s this approach that makes for an intriguing brand that not only has a real edge to it but has staying power, thanks to the focus on creating pieces with longevity of narratives rather than flash-in-the-pan frippery.

Pieces sell online from Macha Jewelry. Stockists include Kabiri in London, Incu in Sydney, Envoy of Belfast in Northern Ireland and Clash in Hong Kong.

More images after the jump.

Photographer Rune Guneriussen

by CH Contributor

by Adrienne So

Norwegian artist Rune Guneriussen photographs groups of ordinary household objects mimicking wild animals.

The scenes capture a peculiarly Nordic combination of otherworldliness and dark humor. A herd of desk lamps turn their lighted heads downwards to graze in the twilight of a lonely Savannah. Two chairs battle for supremacy on a lonely beach amidst a group of helpless bystanders. A line of telephones negotiates a stony mountain pass.

While Guneriussen offers no interpretations of her work, the surreal juxtaposition of man-made objects with distinctly wild settings evokes the fragility and ultimately the ridiculousness of man's efforts to subdue nature. The clean, sterile lines of the objects stand in defiant contrast to the ragged edges of the stones, waves and trees around them.

A herd of lit globes on snowy rocks makes a delicately beautiful scene, but also suggests that, unlike the sea lions they emulate, globes can't survive outdoors for very long.

See more images after the jump.

via Wend blog

Rune Guneriussen
6-29 November 2009
Galleri Gathe
Strandgaten 86
Bergen, Norway 5004 map
tel. +47 45 27 94

Justin’s Nut Butters

by CH Contributor

by Maggie York-Worth

Made from quality, organic ingredients, Justin's delicious almond and peanut butters come packaged in smaller jars and convenient squeeze packs, ensuring they stay as fresh as possible. The range includes classic peanut butter and flavors such as chocolate hazelnut (from a newly-introduced chocolate line), maple almond and cinnamon peanut butters—all comprised of locally sourced, sustainably harvested nuts.

The assortment of flavors all deliver on taste, some more subtly while others are full of zest, but none of them overpower.

In addition to their nutty spreads, Justin's also nourishes impoverished communities (this year it's the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota) through their Conscious Alliance project, a humanitarian program that donates non-perishable foods. .

The travel pouches ($1) and jars ($10) sell at Whole Foods, Starbucks and Hannaford. They also sell online directly from Justin's.