Fantasia/2000 one-of-a-kinds go on display in NYC - LaughingPlace.com: Disney World, Disneyland and More

Fantasia/2000 one-of-a-kinds go on display in NYC

New York to Get First Look At ``Fantasia/2000 Masterworks'' From Dec. 7 - 14

Exhibits Spotlight Seven One-of-a-Kind Creations Themed to Film

Holiday shoppers in Manhattan will get their first peek at the "Fantasia/2000 Masterworks" - a collection of seven spectacular one-of-a-kind items inspired by Disney's upcoming animated feature Fantasia/2000, it was announced by Roy Edward Disney, vice chairman of The Walt Disney Company and executive producer of Fantasia/2000.

The items in the collection, which will be on display from Dec. 7-14, were created by a prestigious group of top designers that includes Steuben, Mikimoto, Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Steiff, and Dolce & Gabbana. Following its stint in New York, the "Masterworks" collection will travel to London, Paris, Tokyo and Pasadena, Calif., as part of the five-city "Fantasia/2000 World Premiere Tour."

The individual items from the "Fantasia/2000 Masterworks" collection will be on display at retail shops in close proximity along Fifth Avenue as well as at Dolce & Gabbana, just a short distance away on Madison Avenue. All seven items in the collection will be offered for auction at Sotheby's in June 2000.

Click here for pictures and more information on the Masterworks Collection.

  1. Steuben (717 Fifth Avenue) will showcase a 7-1/2 foot crystal sculpture themed to Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. Designed by Steuben Creative Director Peter Aldridge, this extraordinary sculpture is the largest and most complex work of art Steuben has ever created. Composed of 84 separate pieces of hand cut and finished crystal, the design encompasses the use of form, structure and "pyrotechnic" prismatic effects to capture the film's tale of good vs. evil.
  2. Mikimoto (730 Fifth Avenue) will display a magnificent necklace and matching earrings that were inspired by the whale characters of the Pines of Rome segment from Fantasia/2000. Created of more than 77 carats of diamonds with Akoya pearls and a 15.9mm white South Sea pearl, this necklace captures the grace and beauty of a pod of whales approaching a supernova and was designed by Mikimoto's master designer Lili Chu. The complementing earrings are 8.96 carats of diamonds, also with white South Sea pearls.
  3. Harry Winston (718 Fifth Avenue) offers an unprecedented gem stone and diamond bangle bracelet themed to George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Capturing the feel of the New York skyline and a pivotal moment in Fantasia/2000 involving a little girl's bright red ball, designers Ambaji Shinde and Erin Jensen utilized brilliant-cut diamonds (2.58 carats), 48 emerald-cut diamonds (3.5 carats), 46 baguette diamonds (3.75 carats), 13 trillion diamonds (2.39 carats), and one perfectly symmetrical cabochon ruby (4.23 carats). The result, a modern objet d'art fit for this millennium and beyond.
  4. Tiffany & Co. (727 Fifth Avenue) has created a sterling silver and enamel sculpture with 18-karat gold accents and cabochon amethysts inspired by the film's interpretation of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2. Disney's story team paired the music with Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale of The Steadfast Tin Soldier for the film. For their "Masterworks" creation, Tiffany & Co. designed a sterling silver sculpture depicting the jealous Jack-in-the-box character springing from his hideaway to behold a stalwart tin soldier falling for his beloved Ballerina. The sterling box tells the story of the soldier's struggle through hand-chased panels on each exposed surface. The sculpture stands two feet tall and sits on a hardwood base with a drawer that stores five additional sterling silver tin soldiers.
  5. Cartier (653 Fifth Avenue) captures the spirit and fun of Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animal segment in the design of its pink and white diamond brooch with onyx and mother of pearl. The prestigious House of Cartier, known for their whimsical animal-themed jewelry, used the film's pink flamingo characters as an inspiration for this colorful piece that includes 289 pink diamonds (7.01 carats), 135 white diamonds (1.90 carats), white and yellow gold, black onyx and mother of pearl. The design features the free-spirited flamingo in an elegant diamond brooch set in platinum with a moveable platinum ``string'' and pink diamond yo-yo.
  6. The Steiff creation (which will be on display at The Disney Store at 711 Fifth Avenue) is a mohair plush sculpture themed to Sir Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance. In Fantasia/2000, this segment is a showcase for Donald Duck, who stars as Noah's hapless assistant charged with rounding up an uncooperative menagerie of animals. Designers of the Margarete Steiff company hand-crafted these plush sculptures (of Donald, Daisy and assorted passengers from the ark) out of mohair, velvet and other luxury fabrics and embellished them with intricate hand-sewn details and the trademark Steiff "Button in Ear." The complete set of sculptures measures 15'L x 15'W x 10'H.
  7. Inspired by the film's powerful finale, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, Dolce & Gabbana (825 Madison Avenue) have designed a couture gown that expresses the beauty and grace of the Sprite character. Crafted from layers of hand-dyed chiffon and embellished with hand-painted silk appliques of flowers, leaves and butterflies, this beautiful creation is accompanied by one-of-a-kind shoes and a bolero-style wrap to complete the ensemble.

Commenting on the announcement, Roy Disney said: "We're thrilled to have such a talented group of designers joining us in celebrating the arrival of Fantasia/2000. Their wonderful one-of-a-kind creations capture the fun and spirit of the seven new animated segments featured in the film, and brilliantly match the artistry and creativity of our animation team.''

Richard Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, added, ``We're pleased that so many people will have an opportunity to see the 'Fantasia/2000 Masterworks' collection during its five-city tour. The various pieces add a whole new dimension to the visual excitement that has long been associated with the name Fantasia."'

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-- Posted December 9, 1999