Category: The Arts

The Royal Academy has long had a reputation for throwing a good party: its annual Summer Exhibition preview is one of the most glamorous events in London’s social calendar. And as the institution marks its 250th anniversary, a new merchandise collection, available next month, will tap into its hosting heritage with a range of products aimed at entertaining.

To produce it, the Academy has collaborated with Luke Edward Hall, a young artist and designer with a classical aesthetic, who has taken the interiors world by storm over the past couple of years. Having started out working with the architect and designer Ben Pentreath, Hall struck out on his own in 2015, and has since worked with companies including Burberry and Christie’s, completed private interior-design projects and produced his own range of prints, ceramics and fabrics. And all by the age of 28.

Here, Hall was briefed to focus on the RA’s place in London society, and the personalities who have frequented its parties and dining rooms. His research involved delving into the Academy’s archives to examine original event invitations, dinner menus, wine labels and other ephemera – something of a dream for a self-confessed typography nut.

‘I loved looking through the old menus in particular,’ he says. ‘They were absolutely beautiful – all these delicate little pieces of card; most were embossed, engraved or edged in gold. They were just so wonderfully elegant. Plus, of course, the menus themselves were fascinating to read.’

The resulting illustrations, which reinterpret motifs in Hall’s playful style, have been applied to bottles, ceramic tableware produced in Staffordshire, napkins and glasses, candles and gold-embossed stationery, along with hostess gifts. His favourite products from the collection are, however, the Coates& Seelysparkling wine and East London Liquor Company gin, whose bottles are labelled with his designs. ‘It’s been really exciting for me to work with such an iconic London institution that I’ve loved for many years as a visitor,’ he says of the RA. ‘And I must say, a gin with my own label will be quite a fun thing to own.”

Coates & Seely were delighted to have their Brut Reserve and Rosé sparkling wines served at a glittering viewing of Modern & Post-War British Art at the Sothebys galleries in London.

This is one of the most exciting categories of the global art market and the night was a celebration of the best of modern British genius, with works from artists such as Howard Hodgkin, L S Lowry, Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Stanley Spencer, amongst many, many others.

Coates & Seely are proud to be British, and to be served by such a peerless leader of the art world, and were rarely more so on an evening like this, in galleries be-decked with stunning art and fabulous floral arrangements.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/departments/20th-century-british-art.html

Photography by Lara Arnott

Coates & Seely were flattered to be asked to supply magnums only of their 2011 Brut Reserve ‘La Perfide’ sparkling wines to open the landmark online auction in Sothebys showrooms of luxury lifestyle items provided by leading Savile Row Taylor, Huntsman.

Curated by  Huntsman owner and financier, Pierre Lagrange, the auction featured a stunning array of bespoke pieces from his private collection,alongside commissioned new works that exemplify the Huntsman lifestyle, and included such stand-out items as 18 carat gold Givenchy cufflinks, Claret Adidas Stan Smith trainers and a custom-made Harley Davidson Crossbone 1600 cc.

One of the most glamorous group of friends assembled to ogle the exquisite objects on display, and to work their way through delicious canapés and every last magnum of Coates & Seely, in a celebration of true style and panache.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/news-video/blogs/all-blogs/sotheby-s-at-large/2018/05/sothebys-savile-row-tailor-huntsman-sons-online-auction.html

Coates & Seely were delighted to sponsor the drinks at Christies on 24th May, 2017, at a party held in aid of Mary’s Meals.

Mary’s Meals was founded by Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow in 1992 and now feeds over 1 million children every day in twelve countries across the world.  By providing all of its daily meals in a place of education, chronically poor children are attracted to the classroom by the promise of a free meal, where they can also gain an education, thereby providing a long term route out of poverty and hunger.

It is a simple but powerful idea, and Magnus held a packed gallery silent as he recounted his inspirational story.

To find out more about Mary’s Meals, please follow the link

https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/