Bronze

Bronze, now on exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts is exhilarating viewing! It is an incredible international collection on a scale never yet attempted of over 150 bronze sculptures forming an exciting display from Ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan bronzes, to Medieval and Renaissance works by Rodin, Picasso and Henry Moore. Professor David Ekserdjian, its curator has brought sculptures together, categorised into themes : heads, animals, reliefs and gods to name but a few which stretch across eras, side by side, from 400 BC to the 1950s!

The highlight as you enter the exhibition is simply magnetic: The Dancing Satyr, circa 4th

Century BC from ancient Greece. He hovers above your head, a striking dancer, discovered

from the west coast of Sicily uplifted from the sea, and found by fishermen in 1998. The leg

was discovered first and then in 1999 the remaining body of the sculpture was raised from the depths, the bronze oxidised by the water. He stands alone, heroic and unique. There is nothing like him anywhere in the world!

On loan from Florence, the Etruscan Chimaera of Arezzo sculpted circa 400 BC, embodies a

monstrous lion with serpent’s tail and a goat’s head which grabs the attention. Animals include a turkey by Giambologna and an extraordinary oversized spider by Louise Bourgeois. ‘Baboon and Young’, by Picasso, in 1951, incorporates toy cars belonging to his son Claude! Not to be missed is the Chariot of the Sun, found in 1902 in Denmark preserved in a peat bog , from 14^th century BC!

It is a fascinating exhibition to thrill and amaze you, and I recommend it to anyone until

December 9th 2012...

 by Gemma Darlington 

Gemma is a FOCUS member and a jewellery specialist and gemmologist of Gem’s Fine Jewels

www.gemsfinejewels

More information on the Bronze exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts

Visit the FOCUS website www.focus-info.org

Fab at 50

Alhtough I grew up in Brazil in the 60's, I had a much older brother who was really into British pop culture.  Because of him, this was an integral part of growing up, even in my early years. Beatles and 007 were as familiar to me in São Paulo as to any kid in Manchester in the 1960’s.    As time passe,d I began to realise that familiarity wasn't the only reason why I couldn't live without listening to British music. Even before I could speak my own language properly, I could attempt to sing Beatles songs, even though I doubt any English speaker would ever understand me.

Without giving my age away, I’ve really recently felt the years ‘weighing on my shoulders’, a big anniversary celebration: 50 years of the first James Bond film and 50 years of "Love me Do", the first Beatles’ single. There were celebrations up and down the country over the entire weekend, even my local pub was offering a special 007 Martini: shaken not stirred. And I had to go back to my iTunes library and fill my weekend with early Beatles songs: 'Love me do', 'Help', 'Please, please me', 'Yellow submarine' and 'Sergeant Pepper' brought back good memories as they were the soundtrack to my childhood, thanks to my brother. Those fun days are still so present and familiar after all these years, despite being so far away from my hometown.

Back to the present, I have to say again how lucky I am to be living in a country whose culture is so rich, rebellious, sometimes naive, sometimes eccentric but mostly edgy, and so internationally influential. What other movie can you remember that has been so fashionable and up-to-date, even after having gone through so many facelifts, but which still has universal appeal to every age of fan, from teenagers to pensioners, at 50 years of age? And which band do you know whose songs can be sung by 3 year-olds, are hugely covered by 30 year-olds, and can still generate hysterical screams from the baby boomers who were lucky enough to have been teenagers in the swinging 60's?

That's what British pop is all about, and these are just two examples of so many. After all, they are still here, young as ever, after all these decades. Some things never die, some never change, some change for the better, just to keep a young image.  But some are forever... like diamonds...even at 50! 

by Valeria Fleury

Visit the FOCUS website www.focus-info.org 

Sometimes you win big...

It had been a long day at work and the thought of attending an evening event seemed less than appealing but I certainly did not want to let my colleague down so I put on some lipstick and a smile and rushed out the door.  We met at the Relais & Chateaux office on Beauchamp Place and the minute we walked in I was pleased I had mustered the energy to attend.  We were welcomed into the intimate space by the managers of four stunning hotels located in Ireland.  To top it off we were treated to some delights from the Cliff House Hotel’s Michelin starred chef who had flown from Ireland with some exquisite delights as stunning to the eye as they were to the taste buds.
 

As we spoke to each of the hotel managers it became clear to us just how exquisitely special and unique each property was.  I felt like I was, for an hour or so, in Ireland itself. Not having had the opportunity to travel to Ireland before the experience certainly whetted my appetite.  My thoughts began to dream about escaping with my husband to one of these amazing hotels.  The trouble would be which one to chose, amongst many common family obstacles.

It was clear the evening was going to draw to an end when the host announced the prize draw would take place.  ‘Ahhh, lucky people’ were my thoughts as this process began.  There was a cook book or two signed by the Cliff House Hotel chef and then came the big one... the trip of a lifetime.  One lucky couple would win the Route du Bonheur- a night at each of the stunning Relais and Chateaux properties in Ireland.  Well, for some one that has never won a prize the thought of winning never even entered my mind, but then it happened and just like that I was the lucky winner.

I retuned last week from this dream of a trip.  Ballyfin made me feel like I was stepping into the life of a Royal (in the most positive sense) with the perfect balance of luxury, service and discretion.  Marfield House was memorable for the most romantic and superb meal.  Sheen Falls Lodge sits next to the most delightful waterfall in the stunning county of Kerry and walking distance from the quaint town of Kenmare.  Cliff House has a wow factor and has to be seen to be believed, leading in the cool category with stunning views over the cliffs of Ardmore.  

If ever you get the chance to visit Ballyfin, Marfield House, Sheen Falls Lodge or The Cliff House Hotel then you will be in for a spectacular treat.  I will always enter prize draws from now on because... sometimes you really do win big!!!

www.relaischateaux.com
www.ballyfin.com   www.marlfieldhouse.com   www.sheenfallslodge.ie  www.thecliffhousehotel.com

 by Nancy Dickinson

 Visit the FOCUS website www.focus-info.org