Gold: The Impossible Collection (Special Edition)

Preview: Gold: The Impossible Collection (Special Edition)

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Order number: V122455

About the Work

Gold, a precious metal that is pure, indestructible, and dazzling, has been the subject of countless fantasies and beliefs since the beginning of time. It has been used to symbolize both tangible and intangible forces, from leading powerful rulers to the afterlife to adding brilliance to the crowns of kings and popes. Its malleable nature makes it a versatile element for infinite metamorphoses.

What makes gold so universally fascinating? Its irresistible luminosity and remarkable resilience make it an ideal medium to represent visible and invisible forces. Artists such as Gustav Klimt, Andy Warhol, and Yves Klein have celebrated its metaphysical and fantastical qualities. The Ancient Egyptians saw gold as "the flesh of the gods," while Louis XIV transformed Versailles into a palace bathed in gold and light. As a symbol of victory, gold imparts a glowing aura to today's awards podiums and sports stadiums.

Gold has always added a divine spark to human endeavors and remains the supreme representation of luxury. This handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume features 100 rare and precious treasures that combine natural splendor and human craftsmanship, from detailed artifacts of ancient global civilizations to surprising modern creations by artists like Man Ray, Hu Qin, and Chris Burden. Art historian Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter provides insightful texts, and the volume is presented in a luxurious gold leaf-covered case with a clear sliding lid infused with gold flakes.

About the Author

Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter is an art historian, journalist, and art critic who contributes regularly to several art publications, including Beaux-Arts, L’OEil, L’Objet d’art, Le Journal des arts, and Connaissance des arts. She has written numerous books on primitive arts and the art of adornment and curated the exhibition Voyage dans ma tête, la collection de coiffes ethniques d’Antoine de Galbert at the Maison Rouge in Paris in 2010. Among her works published by Assouline are Ethnic Style (2001), the two-volume Primal Arts (2006), "The Panther in Art" for Cartier: Panthère (2015), and Les Mondes de Chaumet (2018).

"Assouline is more than a publishing house, it is a lifestyle brand."

New York Magazine

Number of pages: 214
Number of illustrations: 125
Language: English
Released in: July 2022
Size: W 45.1 x L 50.5 x H 8.7 cm
Weight: 10.8 kg
Further features: Handcrafted volume in a luxury painted gold leaf clamshell case
ISBN: 9781649801432