Fine Living

Coming up on 13 February is an auction that bookworms will adore. It is the Bonhams & Butterfields Fine Books & Manuscripts auction. A number of rare, vintage manuscripts will be going under the hammer as the auction gets underway, and collectors had better be prepared. Among the top picks at the auction is a book focussing primarily on the California region that features 100 hand-coloured lithograph plates German-Russian painter Louis Choris. Choris was also an explorer which explains why there are also scenes from Chile, the Philippines and Alaska. The book is valued at about $100,000 to $150,000. Another collectible is a second-edition The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands by naturalist Mark Catesby, featuring 220 hand-coloured plates as illustration. This is also valued between $100,000 and $150,000. Poetry enthusiasts would appreciate a typed letter by poet Sylvia Plath containing her poem ! Lament. The letter is valued between $15,000 and $2...

Jerry Schatzberg is practically an institution. The photographer and filmmaker has done plenty of groundbreaking work over the years. As a filmmaker, he is associated with films like Scarecrow and Street Smart . However, his film career began only in the 1970s. Prior to that, he was busy making his way through Hollywood armed with his camera and lens. Best known as the photographer who clicked the iconic cover photograph of Bob Dylans popular album, Blonde on Blonde , Schatzberg has gone down in photography history. His new book, Women Then: Photographs 1954-1969 , is testament to just how significant his work was, and continues to be. During the 1950s and 60s, Schatzberg went around capturing iconic moments from the fashion and celebrity scenes. And he was not just another shutterbug. Schatzberg was part of the high-profile action. What set him apart from the rest was his unique style of photography. Not for him the highly posed shoots that were all the rage at the time. He was not o...

Whats a wedding without extravagance? Swarovski certainly agrees. The Austrian crystal giant has created a bejewelled wedding cake that is sure to set your mouth watering and your eyes aglitter. The giant wedding cake has been decorated using as many as 500 Swarovski crystals. And standing atop the highest tier are crystal figurines of a pair of blue and green birds. This masterpiece of a cake is being housed at Signorini Villa, located in the southern Italian town of Herculaneum. The crowds are going gaga over this bejewelled work. The occasion is bridal exhibition Bride Villa , now into its fifth edition, which is being held from 4-6 February. Designed by well-known pastry chef Laura Aguglia, the Swarovski-studded wedding cake is the ! result o f 36 intensive hours of work. Assisted by her mother Heidi, Aguglia worked painstakingly to great this magnificent masterpiece. Aguglia has five separate degrees in cake design. A glance at the ingredients is enough to send one spinning. 200...

Luxury brand Herms is known for its craftsmanship. It is one of the reasons that we awarded it the Luxist Awards' Editors' Choice Award for Best in Accessories last year and the reason that the Birkin bag has become one of the world's most coveted luxury posessions. That craftsmanship is on display at a new Herms festival, The Festival of Crafts, that begins on the west coast at T he Bravern in Bellevue, Washington on February 23 through February 28. From there the festival will travel to Chicago, Washington D.C. and then abroad offering a glimpse behind the scenes at how the beautiful objects that Herms fashions come together. Continue reading Hermes Showcases Craft In New Exhibit Filed under: Handbags Hermes Showcases Craft In New Exhibit originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

Classic coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has been doing the dirty work for the most famous marques since 1926, starting off with Alfa Romeo . This gorgeous Bentley caused a lot of rubbernecking as it was presented at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show with its off-kilter design somewhere inbetween a wagon, a coup and a sports car. The base model is a Continental GTC which has been thoroughly modified to give it its new spacious appearance. Under the hood youll find the powerful 6 liter W12 and on the inside some of the finest leathers made by Belgian company Delvaux. The seller claims it to be the only one of its kind, so dont miss out. Hes asking 750,000 . Tweet

Okay, gentlemen, you officially have ten days until Valentines Day. Ladies, that means you have three more days to get in reasonable gift requests or drop relevant hints. If youre the kind of woman that likes glossy, pop art inspired jewelry, this Hot Lips ring by Solange Azagury-Partridge would be a great addition to your collection. The sterling silver base has been coated with an extra thick layer of enamel, which makes the lips look extra glossy and lacquered. The bubblegum pink color is bright and eye-catching. But if the eye-popping color isnt enough to attract attention, the substantial size will be. I have to say that while Im not usually the kind of girl that goes in for pink anything, theres something cute and kitschy about this ring that is really appealing. Even girls who arent girly girls can find a way to work this one into their wardrobes.

It seems like theres a festival for just about everything these days. Most of them involve camping, dancing in the mud, and a lineup of popular indie rock bands. But if rubbing elbows with blissed out hipsters isnt your bag, dont worry, theres a festival for you, too. If youre into yoga, spa treatments, and luxury hotel stays, Wanderlust might be it. The Wanderlust Festival is a four-day wellness festival being held at the beautiful Standard Hotel and Spa in Miami Beach, Florida. Its taking place March 17-20, and it might prove to be the most holistic festival out there. First of all, The Standard is a fabulous bayside hotel with luxury accommodations and a world-class spa. Also, the festival lineup doesnt include traditional festival fare. The hotels Lido Restaurant and Bayside Grill are known for their healthy, gourmet Mediterranean menus. The spa has gorgeous hamam baths and an aromatherapy steam room, and a gorgeous pool. Activities include several times daily yoga classes with pro...