Christie's World Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Christie's World Encyclopedia of Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Author: Tom Stevenson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 344
Release: 1998
Genre: Cooking
ISBN:

An instant classic and a breathtaking achievement. Originally published in 1998, this is the fully revised and updated edition of the outstanding tour de force by the world's leading sparkling wine expert. It is the ultimate reference work for all fizz fans. Beautifully illustrated and stylishly designed, with over 600 full-colour photographs, labels and maps, it has become and will continue to be an indispensable part of any true wine lover's library. Winner of the Noble Cuve du Champagne Lanson; the Salon International du Livre; Gourmand 'Best Wine Book'; and was shortlisted for the Andre Simon Award.

Christie's

Christie's
Author: Vincent Meylan
Publisher: Acc Art Books
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2021-05-10
Genre: Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN: 9781788841375

- Compiled with full access to Christie's famous archives - Reveals the romance, drama, intrigue - even danger - attached to some of the world's most storied jewels - Expertly curating Christie's extensive archives, Vincent Meylan has drawn out the key details of each momentous sale - Stories of the world's great jewelry collections For centuries, the stories of the world's great jewelry collections have lain hidden within the archives of Christie's, the celebrated auctioneers. From the tragic European queens, Mary, Queen of Scots and Marie Antoinette - both beheaded - to Hollywood royalty such as Elizabeth Taylor, the vaults sparkle with the most famous (and occasionally notorious) names of the last 250 years. Following on from the success of his books on Boucheron: The Secret Archives, Van Cleef & Arpels: Treasures and Legends and Mellerio: Jewellers to the Queens of Europe, author Vincent Meylan explores these remarkable jewelry archives, revealing the mysteries within for the first time. Each sale had its intrigue, each its story to tell. The first auction of jewelry from the British royal family took place at Christie's in 1773, after the death of the Princess of Wales, mother of George III. As the archives reveal, in the subsequent centuries, Christie's has been party to the sale of jewelry by several further generations of British royals, from Lady Patricia Ramsay and the Countess of Southesk through to Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. And, in the wake of revolution and regicide further afield, the crown jewels of France, Russia, Bavaria, Serbia, Egypt, India and Spain were all sold at Christie's. Aside from Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary movie star collections of Merle Oberon and Gloria Swanson are also revealed here, as well as the most famous pearls and diamonds in the world; each explored within the context of their owners' remarkable lives. Expertly curating the extensive archives, Vincent Meylan has drawn out the key details of each momentous sale. Original documents from the vaults are reproduced in the book, alongside hundreds of color illustrations of the jewels and their owners.

Stalin's Wine Cellar

Stalin's Wine Cellar
Author: John Baker
Publisher: Random House Australia
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2021-07-20
Genre: Georgia (Republic)
ISBN: 1761043668

The adventure of a lifetime to buy Stalin's secret multimillion dollar wine cellar located in Georgia; it is the Raiders of the Lost Ark of wine. In the late 1990s, John Baker was known as a purveyor of quality rare and old wines. He was the perfect person for an occasional business partner to approach with a mysterious wine list that was different to anything John, or his second-in-command, Kevin Hopko, had ever come across. The list was discovered to be a comprehensive catalogue of the wine collection of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia. The wine had become the property of the state after the Russian Revolution of 1918, during which Nicholas and his entire family were executed. Now owned by Stalin, the wine was discreetly removed to a remote Georgian winery when Stalin was concerned the advancing Nazi army might overrun Russia. Half a century later, the wine was rumoured to be hidden underground and off any known map. John and Kevin embarked on an audacious, colourful and potentially dangerous journey to Georgia to discover if the wines actually existed; if the bottles were authentic and whether the entire collection could be bought and transported to a major London auction house for sale. Stalin's Wine Cellar is a wild, sometimes rough ride through the glamorous world of high-end wine.

Going Once

Going Once
Author: Christie's
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016-10-24
Genre: Art
ISBN: 9780714872025

A celebration of evolving taste, told through the stories behind 250 objects sold by the world's leading auction house Founded in London in 1766, Christie's is one of the most important auction houses in the world. During its history, Christie's has sold masterpieces by artists such as Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Vincent van Gogh, often at record-breaking prices; and, away from the world of art, the personal possessions of such well-known figures as Napoleon Bonaparte, Marilyn Monroe, Yves Saint Laurent, and Princess Diana. From furniture to works of fine and decorative art, vintage cars to clothing and jewellery, the items sold at its auctions hold a mirror to our history and reflect our culture at large. Going Once vividly brings to life the shifts in aesthetic trends, fashion, and design over the centuries, showcasing 250 of the most outstanding objects in its storied history - including some of the very first pieces sold at the auction house.

The Last Seance

The Last Seance
Author: Agatha Christie
Publisher: HarperCollins
Total Pages: 401
Release: 2019-09-24
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0062959158

“Reading a perfectly plotted Agatha Christie is like crunching into a perfect apple: that pure, crisp, absolute satisfaction.”—Tana French, New York Times Bestselling Author From the Queen of Suspense, an all-new collection of her spookiest and most sinister stories, including an Agatha Christie story never before published in the USA, The Wife of Kenite! For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling stories from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Fantastic psychic visions, specters looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, a man who switches bodies with a cat—be sure to keep the light on whilst reading these tales. The Last Séance gathers twenty stories, some featuring Christie’s beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, in one haunting compendium that explores all things occult and paranormal, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans.