Assouline Gold The Impossible Collection

Collectors item released by Assouline. Gold - pure, indestructible, dazzling: since the dawn of time, this precious metal has spawned countless fantasies and beliefs. Whether it guides mighty rulers to the afterlife, casts a delicate glow on the Buddhist pagodas of Southeast Asia, illuminates the halos of saints, adds sparkle to the crowns of kings and popes, glistens on haute couture catwalks or glistens 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 infinite metamorphoses.
What explains such an enduring and universal fascination? Thanks to its irresistible brightness and remarkable resilience, gold is the ideal medium to symbolise both visible and invisible forces. Artists from Gustav Klimt to Andy Warhol to Yves Klein have glorified its metaphysical and fantastic nature. Ancient Egyptians regarded gold as "the flesh of the gods", and Louis XIV, the Sun King, who adopted Apollo as his symbol, transformed Versailles into a palace bathed in gold and light, setting a standard for all other royal courts of ancient Europe . As a symbol of victory, it gives a glowing aura to the new gods of prize venues and sports stadiums.
Gold has always added a divine spark to every human endeavour. The dazzling effect of the hypnotic metal is universal and it remains the ultimate representation of luxury. With insightful texts by art historian Bérénice Geoffroy-Schneiter, this hand-crafted Ultimate Collection volume showcases 100 of the rarest and most precious treasures combining natural splendour and human craftsmanship, from astonishingly detailed artefacts from ancient global civilisations to surprising modern creations by artists Man Ray, Hu Qin and Chris Burden.

The dimensions are W 39 x L 47 x D 7.7 cm.