Marquetry is among the most advanced forms of carpentry art out there and this piece is an absolute masterpiece in burl.  Thought to be made by Gerrit Jensen, famed craftsmen to the British crown in the late 18th century, the decadence of this piece is just astounding.  It really is a shock and awe kind of piece for antique-hounds.  The inlay is so delicate and the details are so fine; this chest simply vibrates with the man hours spent creating it.  And may I say bravo to the gallery and former owners for keeping this treasure in such immaculate condition.

Available through the incomparable Kentshire Galleries in New York

Chopin’s nocturnes have such a weightless, ethereal character about them. Soothing enough to listen to all day, it’s the sort of piece you just melt into. I prefer Arthur Rubenstein’s recordings of Chopin – it seems only fitting for a Polish virtuoso to play the soulful works of Poland’s greatest composer. I don’t feel these are particularly challenging works, even though they are widely considered among the most important ever written for the piano. And to me, that means they are far more emotionally challenging and lend themselves to interpretation and artistic style. Rubenstein was in his in his late 70s when this was recorded and you feel the weight of his incredible life in the music. It’s a masterwork. Beautiful.

Jean Sibelius is clearly one of the great composers in history, but somehow seems to lack name recognition among music lovers. A giant in his homeland of Finland, he rose to national prominence there and is still a household name there. He was a rather modern figure too, and lived until 1957, when he died at the ripe old age of 92.

He has a number of masterful works, but I find myself coming back to Finlandia frequently.

A very interesting amalgamation of a Russian orchestral style and Eastern influences.  Rimsky-Korsakov’s  Scheherazade Suite has a colorful quality to it and a grand and epic tone.  A fitting theme for the cunning narrator of the deeply tragic Book of One Thousand and One Nights.  Technically, the piccolo and violin parts are exceedingly difficult

I submit the first movement for your listening pleasure – The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship.

Here are the following movements / clips, which I know you won’t be able to resist:
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Part V
Part VI

Available as Lot 210 Important French Furniture, Sculptures, and Works of Art Auction until April 14th Sotheby’s Paris.