Art & Aspirations The Rand Lords of South Africa and Their Collections
Collector's Edition-this is a Special Edition limited to 100 Copies-This Volume is number 14 and Autographed by the author Michael Stevenson
Art & Aspirations The Rand Lords of South Africa and Their Collections
Written by Michael Stevenson, this is a study of the Randlords, their backgrounds and the accumulation of their fortunes on the diamond fields of Kimberley. The discovery of diamonds and gold in South Africa during the second half of the nineteenth century created unique opportunities for a handful of men to accumulate enormous wealth very rapidly. At the end of the century they were among the richest and most powerful individuals in the world. Most of them settled in Britain and adopted would-be aristocratic life-styles, soon becoming known as the 'South African millionaires' or 'Randlords'. Craving social acceptance and recognition, they constructed upper-class identities to transcend their modest, in some cases humble, backgrounds. They systematically acquired and displayed properties and possessions that symbolised wealth and power in Europe. Arguably, their most symbolic expenditure was on art, which they bought with the same zeal they had devoted to trading in gold and diamonds in South Africa.
ISBN 1874950644
Published by Michael Stevenson | 2002
Quarter leather in maroon on a grey cover with gilt design on face and lettering on spine. Corners of book in matching maroon leather. Slipcase in grey with leather inlay on lips of case. Original cover of the Standard edition on center of case.
Condition: Book and case-Fine
