Michaan’s Exceptional Jewelry Auction tops $1M

Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger ‘Cooper’ diamond, platinum, 18K yellow gold bracelet.
Sold for $57,000. Michaan’s image

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Fine designer jewels of great beauty and the highest quality drew crowds of admirers and bidders to Michaan’s on Dec. Prices soared on a wave of enthusiasm for designs by Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Buccellati, Verdura, David Webb and many more such as Chanel and Hermès. The special Monday event brought scores of visitors to the auction gallery, with many flying in for the occasion. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Landmark Air Force chapel suffering from leaks, corrosion

Air Force Cadets at the ceremonial Oath of Office formation on June 26, 2009. The Cadet Chapel is in the background. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 

DENVER (AP) – The landmark Cadet Chapel that towers over the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado is suffering from leaks and corrosion, so the school has drawn up the most ambitious restoration project in the building’s 55-year history.

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Notre Dame to cover up murals of Christopher Columbus

Luis Gregori’s ‘Return of Columbus and Reception at Court’ from the Columbus Murals was featured in the 10-cent stamp of the U.S Columbian issue. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – The University of Notre Dame will cover murals in a campus building that depict Christopher Columbus in America, the school’s president said, following criticism that the images depict Native Americans in stereotypical submissive poses before white European explorers.

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Cartoon library gets Marmaduke collection spanning 56 years

Brad Anderson original Marmaduke drawing. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Profiles in History

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A Great Dane known for making mischief has a permanent home in Columbus.

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum has acquired more than 16,000 Marmaduke cartoons from 1954 to 2010. The cartoons are part of a collection that includes strip’s creator Brad Anderson’s original art, correspondence, fan mail, memorabilia and more.

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Lalique car mascots: Art Deco treasures

Rene Lalique ‘Longchamp’ car mascot of clear and frosted glass, circa 1929, on original mount and black glass base, molded ‘R. LALIQUE,’ base stenciled ‘R. LALIQUE FRANCE,’ 4¾ inches tall (est. $10,000-$15,000). Sold for $11,025 on Sept. 29, 2007 by Craftsman Auctions in Lambertville, N.J.

The Roaring ’20s were in a full-throated roar when the esteemed French jewelry designer and glassmaker René Jules Lalique (1860-1945) decided to introduce a line of Art Deco-inspired car hood ornaments that were dubbed car mascots. The basic idea wasn’t new; auto companies had been putting identifying badges, or ornaments, on the front center portion of the hoods of cars almost since the inception of the car itself. They were just waiting for the magic of René Lalique.

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