index of sculptures 1988 to 2024
Taylor / Burton
2009
Bas-relief in salvaged wood #62, 165 x 95 x 11cm.
Private collection Bethesda, Maryland, United States.
Photograph of a diamond mine laborer placing explosive charges.
Copyright Uniepers. Image taken from the book ‘Vier Eeuwen Diamant’ (1986).
The image was applied to the back of the Taylor/Burton
Taylor/Burton
The rough diamond, weighing 241 carats (48.2 g), was found in 1966 in the Premier Mine in South Africa and was cut by Harry Winston to 69.42 carats in a pear shape. It was bought in 1969 by Richard Burton and Liz Taylor for over a million dollars, creating great publicity. Burton and Taylor were top movie stars in those days and arguably the most famous couple in the world. Sale of the diamond conferred naming rights and they accordingly named it the Taylor- Burton Diamond. After their divorce in 1974, Taylor auctioned the diamond for $5 million. Its current owner is Robert Mouawad, a Lebanese diamond dealer and owner of many famous gems.
(source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor-Burton_Diamond)
Hand of Harry Winston filled with precious stones.
‘In this photo, Harry Winston holds some of his famous gems in the palm of his hand. The 125.35 carat emerald-cut Jonker diamond is center. Just under the Jonker is the 94.80 carat pear shaped Star of the East diamond. The 45.52 carat blue Hope diamond rests between his index and middle nger. The 337.10 carat Sapphire of Catherine the Great is next to his thumb, and the 70.21 carat Idol’s Eye diamond is just above the Jonker. A matched pair of pear shaped diamonds and a larger ruby are also shown.’ In his day Harry Winston (1896 -1978) was possibly the most famous jeweler in the world. His name is immortalized in Marily Monroe’s 1953 film version of the song Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend: ‘Talk to me, Harry Winston, tell me all about it!’
(source: harrywinston.com; wikipedia.org/wiki/ Harry_Winston)
Part of the Shallow Wade exhibition in 2010 at OkOk gallery, in Seattle, WA, USA.
