A Great New Blog "DC By Design"

I've been away. I promised a few weeks back that I'd send my congrats to a great new addition to the DC design, arts, and architecture blogger society.

However, my timing couldn't be better because Jennifer Sergent's new blog, " DC by Design," has a great new post on this year's DC Designer Showhouse, 2010. The Showhouse opens to the press tomorrow morning and regular work duties will keep me away, but I hope to cover the show in the near future. I know however that Jennifer will keep us up to date on all the exciting news from this worthwhile event. Cheer's Jennifer, and great good luck in this new adventure.

Althorp House Auction

Paul Fraser Collectibles:

"Princess Diana’s Rubens for sale in $29m Spencer estate auction

From the childhood home of the People's Princess, this Peter Paul Rubens painting is up for sale

Around $29m of possessions owned by the Spencer family, relatives of the late Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales, will be sold in London this Summer.



Rubens' painting, A Commander Being Armed for Battle, will take pride of place in the auction with a pre-sale valuation of £8m-12m.

In December last year, a re-discovered unfinished portrait of a lady by Peter Paul Rubens was usurped as the top lot at a Sotheby's Old Master and British paintings auction.

(In the end, the surprise highest-grossing lot was a self portrait by Van Dyke, that sold for an incredible £8.3m.)

Later this year, the Spencers' painting will sell among 600 other lots in the sale according to a statement by Christie's.

Rubens' A Commander Being Armed for Battle, priced £8m-12m

The Spencer family's heirloom sale will also include more than a dozen 19th century carriages.

Since 1998, the family's Althorp Estate has hosted its Diana: A Celebration, an exhibition commemorating the Princess of Wales' life.

Proceeds from the sale will fund extensive restoration work to the Althorp Estate.

Naturally, any memorabilia associated with Princess Diana, is both valuable and sought-after.

Diana artefacts currently available on the market also include signed photos of Prince Charles with Diana; one with a baby Prince William; and one with both William and Harry.

At present, Diana autographs can command values anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 or more - with Royal autographs boasting a provenance far superior to other celebrity memorabilia."