The Art of Peace
£19.80£23.80 (-17%)
In 1967, Sir David Khalili finished his military service in Iran and travelled to study in the United States with $750 – his remaining royalties from a book he wrote when he was just 14. Over the course of the next five decades he single-handedly, piece by piece, assembled eight of the finest art collections in their field, ultimately becoming one of the world’s greatest collectors, about whom Queen Elizabeth II once said: ‘It is scary how much this gentleman knows about art.’
For the first time, Sir David shares his extraordinary journey: one that has taken him through the souks of North Africa, the auction houses of Europe and the United States, the bazaars of South Asia, and far beyond. Through a riveting collection of real-life adventures, he reveals his collecting strategy, business ethics and what motivates him to continuously collect, conserve, research, publish and exhibit the treasures in his collections.
Through his story, Sir David questions how the undeniable power of art can be harnessed to foster greater peace and unity worldwide. No one is better placed to enlighten us.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Ebury Press (2 Nov. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 288 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1529918189 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1529918182 |
| Dimensions | 16.2 x 3 x 24 cm |
by MM
The book opens with a young boy accompanying his father (an art dealer) on a visit to a client in Tehran who was interested in selling a number of rare lacquer pen boxes. As the adults conversed, the boy becomes captivated by the intricacy of one of the pen boxes, marvelling at the detail and the story it told. This sense of wonderment that draws you in right from the start, continues throughout the book as you follow the author around the world as he seeks out rare and beautiful treasures. His enthusiasm is infectious. I followed his journey to the end of the book and really enjoyed it – I’m far from the art expert he is, but I feel at least better informed having read it!
by ems
The Art of Peace is the remarkable memoir of David Khalili, an Iranian born Jew, who became one of the greatest art collectors in the world. It reveals how his love of culture stems from his childhood growing up in Tehran, prior to the Islamic revolution; how as a young man in New York he displayed a knack for spotting valuable items, keeping what he loved the most, and selling on the rest; and how, based out of London which has been his home since the 1970s, he assembled eight art collections consisting of 35,000 items.
At the heart of the book is the power of art to tell our different stories, to show our common humanity, and to preserve our shared cultural heritage. David Khalili treasures trust as a priceless commodity; is passionate about building bridges not walls; and values art not only for its intrinsic beauty but also as a vehicle for peace.