Gold Book: Impossible Collection (Special Edition) by Assouline

Description

Pure, indestructible, dazzling gold: since the dawn of time, this precious metal has sparked countless fantasies and beliefs. May it lead powerful sovereigns to the afterlife, delicately illuminate the Buddhist pagodas of Southeast Asia, illuminate the halos of saints, make the crowns of kings and popes shine, shine on haute couture catwalks or glitters on a rapper's grill, gold is an eternal symbol of wealth and glory, the highly malleable nature of the prized element lending itself to endless metamorphoses.

What explains such enduring and universal fascination? Thanks to its irresistible luminosity and remarkable resilience, gold is the ideal medium to symbolize visible and invisible forces. Artists from Gustav Klimt to Andy Warhol to Yves Klein have exalted its metaphysical and fantastical nature. The ancient Egyptians considered gold to be "the flesh of the gods", and Louis XIV, the Sun King, adopting Apollo as his symbol, transformed Versailles into a palace bathed in gold and light, setting a standard for all other royal courts of old Europe. . A symbol of victory, it gives a dazzling aura to the new gods of podiums and sports stadiums.

Gold has always added a divine spark to every human endeavor. The dazzling effect of hypnotic metal is universal, and it remains the ultimate representation of luxury. With insightful texts from art historian Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter, this handcrafted volume of the Ultimate Collection presents 100 of the rarest and most precious treasures combining natural splendor and human craftsmanship, incredibly detailed from ancient world civilizations to surprising modern creations by artists Man Ray, Hu Qin and Chris Burden. This special-edition, handcrafted volume is nestled in a luxury gold-leaf-covered slipcase with a clear sliding lid infused with gold glitter.

Exclusive white gloves and canvas tote bag are included with every purchase of an Ultimate Collection book.

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