Four Seasons Cultural Capitals Programme showcases European craftsmanship
Monday 22, February 2010
It’s week five of Four Seasons Cultural Capitals Programme, enticing avid art and antique collectors off the beaten track to private galleries, artisans and auction houses across Europe’s most alluring cities.
Next month, hoards of antique lovers flock to Paris for the famous Parc des Princes (March 20-21) where some 250 exhibitors will display one-off furniture, silverware, artwork, jewellery and quality bric-à-brac. Novice collectors should put themselves in the hands of Four Seasons Hotel George V where the concierge team can guide guests through the fair, offer tips on the best sellers and even arrange an expert escort.
On a tiny lane in Old Prague sits the brand new Manto Gallery. Visitors are encouraged to create their very own art pieces against an inspirational back-drop of Antonin Manto’s most striking works. Visitors are taught the art of traditional glass painting before watching their designs come to life as they pass through the 800° C kiln. To enjoy other secrets the city has to offer, Four Seasons Hotel Prague has endless tips for art lovers and can even grant private tours of the Lobkowicz Palace’s private art collections with Prince Lobkowicz himself.
In Budapest, the Nagyházi Gallery on JárÅ‘r Street has drawn international collectors since 1984. Hungary’s first auction house, this gallery has grown from a modest 60 square metres space to a multi-storey gallery that spans over 200 square metres and hosts 10-12 auctions every year. Staff at the exquisite Art Nouveau landmark, Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, will handle safe home delivery of guests’ precious findings; which may include fine art, sculptures, furniture, watches, jewellery, folk objects and china.
Visitors to Lisbon’s Tile Museum can see five centuries of the decorative tiles or azulejos that cover the city. Housed in the monastic building of the Madre de Deus Convent, this unusual museum has one of the most magnificent interiors in the city and is home to the largest collection of its kind in the world. In addition to being an equal reflection of the fine nobility and charm of historic Portugal, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon is home to the largest contemporary art collection in the city. In the 1950s, a group of local entrepreneurs committed to showcasing contemporary artists in a new hotel, which today represents the region’s rich history and its vibrant present.
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