One of the perks of working where I do is that I was able to bring beloved son for a day trip to Singapore on Sunday on the pretext to stock up on Bengawan Solo and he can get 'Raya shoes'. When I told him that we were going, Zimmie was ecstatic, presumably at the thought of having approximately 7 hours to zip around shopping complexes that are full of people (its Sunday, the entire Flipina community out on their well-deserved break) you have to plough through in order to buy those Pumas. He had a long ambitious shopping list so I jokingly suggested that he bring along a trolley-dolly bag like girlies should do when they are speed-shopping because it is not easy to carry 11 carrier bags in 2 hands while trying to find a size 10 on the racks, and upon finding such size, stand in the queue at the dressing room. Not to mention releasing from your gnarled, aching fingers the aforementioned 11 big plastic/paper bags around your legs at the Cashier in order to get your wallet out. I think speed-shopping should be considered an Extreme Sport. Ask your wife/girlfriend/sister/mom.
I was told by beloved son not to dilly-dally (apparently as I am proned to) when we arrive in Singapore. We should be first out of the gate and speed walk to the immigration counters. But sometimes life is cruel, so when there are very very important people onboard, like there was yesterday morning, the aircraft would head towards the furthest Bay to the Private Gates, where Jinn buang anak (where the Jinn throws away naughty children) as my grandmother would say, because it is a hell of a trek. Normally the aircraft will park at Gate 32, and thus a further gate means a longer trek to the Immigration counters at Arrivals, that was my point in case you missed it. But Zimmie took it in his stride and we walked extremely briskly to immigration.
Beloved Son: Errr...Ma? Where are we going?
Me: To the Musuem my son! To visit the CARTIER exhibition!
Beloved Son: Cartier?? Isn't that like, OLD?
Me: Yes.
Me: Ahhh, the Museum.
Beloved Son: Do you realise that we are like, rushing and we don't have like, TIME?
Me: Oh for heaven's sake, it's only for a few hours and you know that all the girls in school would be most impressed that you visited a bling exhibition *wink.
Beloved Son: Will you push around my trolley-dolly bag?
Me: Yes.
Beloved Son: Ma, take a picture of me in front of these cool fonts since we can't take any pictures inside.
Me: Look out for the security guards.
Beloved Son: Ma. DON'T. We don't have time to spend in jail.
Me: *click
The picture taken on the sly above is part of Cartier's early years. Clockwise from the top: Scarab Brooch (1925), Vanity Case (1925) and Vanity Case shaped like a sarcophagus (1927). These gorgeous pieces are made from gold, platinum, round old and single cut diamonds, rubies, emeralds, citrine, onyx cabochons (shaped and polished as opposed to facetted) and blue antique Egyptian faience (finely glazed ceramic beads). Because of the eagle-eyed security guard hovering around, I was only able to take one picture out of the many pieces that were displayed at the Art de Cartier exhibition, and fortunately, it was my favourite.
Jean Louis Cartier started his jewelry business way back in 1847 and over the years the company has become one of the world's greatest designer and manufacturer of jewely and objets d'art (which are then supplied to royalty, nobility and billioniares). The exhibition at the Singapore National Museum was fortunate to have 150 of pieces which are displayed to illustrate the historical development of technique and design styles of Cartier.
It was fairly crowded inside the hall, especially in a smaller room within the hall. This room contained the exhibition's star pieces. One of them was the Patiala Necklace. The other was a sword. Who knew Cartier did swords? But apparently they do. French poet and designer, Jean Cocteau, designed (and Cartier made) the sword in 1955 to showcase the emerald that Coco Chanel had given to him as a present. The sword is breathtaking up close and is beloved son's favourite piece. It was begging for a picture but the security guards hovered everywhere in this room, so I decided not to push our luck, especially since I almost tripped the alarm sensors breathing too close on the display glass. Revolution-Press.Com thus provides for this picture (and facts) of the Academician Sword, for which I am grateful.
The Patiala Necklace is without doubt the flashiest piece in the room. It contains 5 rows of substantial diamonds and the biggest and yellowest of them all in the center. The De Beers Yellow Diamond, at 234.65 carats, is the 7th largest diamond in the world. The Maharaja of Patiala bought the yellow diamond and in 1928 commissioned Cartier to design a ceremonial necklace using the diamond as a centerpiece. The necklace was lost after the Raj, but pieces of it were found (with the main diamonds missing) in London in 1998. Cartier bought and restored the necklace as best they could. Currently, the main diamonds, including the De Beers in the necklace on display are cubic zirconias. So we stood there and gawked for a few minutes at the Palatia Necklace when suddenly beloved son goes, "Now. THAT'S bling." And I gave myself a pat on the back.
After bonding over the blings at the Cartier Exhibition (we both didn't like the art-deco animal jewelry like the diamond encrusted snake choker, or crocodiles), we headed over to Orchard Road to imbibe another kind of culture, that of shopping.
Despite the odd look, the trolley-dolly was truly a blessing.
Hi there ladies:
W - Anya Hindmarch exhibition?!? I would LOVE to go to that one! And next time will remember skates for Taks and the long trek to the gate :) Hugabugs xx
Nings - It is because of your wisdom that the trolley-dolly bag saved my hands,,,all hail the trolley bag!! xx
Maurina - You would LOVE the blings at the exhibition girlie-girl :) xx
Posted by: EmmaGoodEgg | Wednesday, 11 October 2006 at 08:01 PM
WAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *drool over diamonds*
Posted by: Maurina H | Tuesday, 10 October 2006 at 10:17 PM
I am a big advocate of dragging a trolley bag around the streets of Singapore when you go on a day trip! Forget the snickering looks..hey..you have approximately 7 hours to shop and who wants aching fingers. Yup..speed out of immigration and customs, jump into a taxi and head out for orchard road..my secret..plan your shopping route..get the taxi driver to drop you at the furthest shopping centre and you start walking back towards Orchard Road..and you will praise your ingenuity for bringing the trolley bag when you dont have to lug around those heavy books that you bought at Borders....and bring a luggage padlock so that you can check it in at the airport and be hands free for some more last minute duty free shopping..Oh..you know those light weight bags that you can fold into the tiniest pouch..those are also handy..All hail the trolley bag!!
Posted by: Nings | Tuesday, 10 October 2006 at 10:41 AM
looks fantastic!!
took K to the Natural History museum the other day as he had never been to it (how many kinds of wrong is that?!!) and stumbled upon... a private anya hindmarch
exhibition!! sadly being 5'2'', brown and bubbly instead of 6'4'', pale and size zero I was restrained at the doors :( Still, managed to gawk at the collection of pretty sparkly things on the natural rocks side of the museum... certainly no match for the bling bling of the cartier exhibition no doubt!
Oh, and might I suggest a pair of roller skates for the next shopping marathon? those polished marble floors in Taka aren't there for nothing! also makes for speedy getaway from gate bloody miles away. :D loves xxw
Posted by: Widarchitect | Monday, 09 October 2006 at 11:40 PM