Tag: Wood Art

Legendary Stradivarius Violin Fetches $11 Million at Sothebyโ€™s, Falling Short of World Record

By on • ( Leave a comment )

A legendary Stradivarius violin, crafted over three centuries ago, has just sold for a staggering $11.25 million at a Sothebyโ€™s auctionโ€”fueling not only the dreams of its new owner but also those of countless young musicians. With a history intertwined with Brahms and one of the most celebrated violinists of the 19th century, this rare masterpiece is more than just an instrumentโ€”itโ€™s a living piece of music history. But who placed the winning bid, and how will this sale transform the future of classical music? Read further to uncover the full story behind this extraordinary event.

One of the Most Important Musical Instruments Ever to Appear at Auction: $18M Stradivarius to Shape the Future of Music

By on • ( 1 Comment )
Stradivarius Violin

A dazzling relic from music history is about to command the global stage. The Joachim-Ma Stradivarius, a violin crafted in 1714 during Antonio Stradivari’s legendary “Golden Period,” is poised to set hearts racing when it goes under the hammer at Sothebyโ€™s in February 2025. With a jaw-dropping estimate of $12โ€“18 million, this rare masterpiece promises not only to rewrite auction records but also to transform the future of classical music education.

Gates of the Underground: Sculptors Berรกnek and Proลกek Unveil Mesmerizing Exhibition in Istanbulโ€™s Basilica Cistern

By on • ( Leave a comment )

This large-scale exhibition is one of the most extensive Czech sculpture exhibitions in Istanbul to date. “Gates of the Underground” examines our deep connection to the past by immersing us in the landscapes imagined by Vlastimil Berรกnek and Jaroslav Proลกek. Berรกnek creates his unique sculptures in his studio in the Czech Republic. His expression of solid foundations encourages everyone to pause, or at least slow down, and appreciate the best feelings within each of us. Berรกnek is truly a Renaissance personality, excelling as a painter, architect, writer, graphic artist, poet, and designer, with his primary domain remaining sculpture. His simple forms, executed in materials such as glass, represent the perfectionist tendencies that Berรกnek contrasts with ancient 6,500-year-old wood in his later work, showcasing the ultimate expression of his post-minimalist approach to this medium. Berรกnek seeks a unique balance between abstract form, inspired by innermost values, and the irrefutable completeness of his sculptures.

Discovering The Shigir Idol: A 10,000 BC Artifact

By on • ( 3 Comments )

Imagine for a moment, that you are a miner in Siberia at the end of the nineteenth century, slogging with your colleagues through the moss-laden, muck-infused waters of the mire in search of gold, only to stumble upon something far more rare. This is precisely what occurred in 1890, within the Sverdlovsk region of Russiaโ€™s Ural Mountains, when a team of laborers who were busy excavating a peat bog inadvertently discovered a strange and ornate wooden figure featuring an eerie human face. Resting at an approximate depth of four meters beneath the surface of the acidic, oxygen-low, and therefore anti-bacterial conditions of the bog that had preserved it, the mysterious object that would come to be known as the โ€œShigir Idolโ€ (named after the Shigir bog it was found within) was discovered in a series of 10 fragments.

Braille Transformed into Art: Fulvio Morella’s Exhibition in Rome

By on • ( 2 Comments )

Following its acquisition by the Braille Museum in Milan, Morella brings a collection of works to Rome that delve into the very essence of limitations. At the heart of the exhibition lies OCULUS, a remarkable chalcography paying homage to Rome and the profound human ingenuity embodied by the Pantheon. True to Morella’s artistic style, OCULUS is enhanced and “completed” by a Braille inscription, translated into French, English, and Italian, which reads, “Not always closed eyes sleep, not always open eyes see.” Additionally, showcasing his interest in the artistic process, the artist offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into this ambitious project, presenting the magnesium matrices and preparatory works created from 2021 until present alongside the final artwork.

Exclusive Interview with Renowned Senior Expert Artworks Conservator & Restorer Venizelos G. Gavrilakis | Part 1

By on • ( 4 Comments )

VENIS STUDIOSย is a company thatย undertakes conservation and restoration projects of all fixed and portable works of art such as paintings, icon panels, artworks, antiques, historical monuments, etc., in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Jordan, United States, and many other nations. Its purpose is to save artifacts and artworks by combining science with art. Recently, The World Art News had the pleasure to interview its President, Venizelos G. Gavrilakis, who shared with us fascinating images, stories, and facts about his unique art career. Here’s Part 1 of that conversation.

Stunning Stingray Throne by Didier Guenard – An Oak Barrel Story

By on • ( 3 Comments )

Didier Guenard is a known artist, furniture maker, and restorer from France that specialized in wooden art and dรฉcor. His signature creations are works of fine furniture made from vintage and antique oak barrels. Didier uniquely repurposed, perfected, and mastered the wood of these vessels, teaching the world – the art of revealing a straight line within a curve.

For centuries oak barrels have been used to store and transport wine and spirits, but they also have a second life as a material for making artistic furniture. The sturdy and durable oak wood can be transformed into unique and beautiful pieces that add a rustic and vintage charm to any space. The process of making artistic furniture from these barrels is a creative and innovative endeavor that requires a skilled craftsman.

French Restorer & Furniture Maker, Didier Guenard, Tells His Story of Creativity and Innovation

By on • ( 1 Comment )

The different woods used in this piece were turned, sculpted, and include marquetry. It had six drawers, one cylindrical with a sprung ejection mechanism that can be used to store a bottle, and another with a retractable curtain closing. Pushing theย button made of boxwood burl makes the midnight blue writing table advance, revealing aย half-cylindrical pen holder. Opening the door with the horn handle reveals partitions andย two small drawers with varnished interiors. It goes without saying that this piece also contains a secret space โ€ฆ location of which must remain a secret!