Connoisseur Gallery

<p> </p> When an RMB1,500 cigar served from a RMB198,000 crocodile-skin humidor isn’t enough to impress, what is a Chinese millionaire to do? Stick a polar bear in the corner, that’s what. And now one of these (stuffed) carnivores can be found for sale in the city at the newly opened Connoisseur Gallery, a Tim Burton-meets<em>-Scarface</em> studio where the rich come for retail, super-exclusive style. Behind huge, steely remote-controlled doors awaits a mad menagerie of original one-offs to be acquired for ultimate one-upping. Handmade by artisans in Thailand with materials from around the world, each piece in this glam-goth gallery is truly one-of-a-kind, very expensive and unabashedly bling. <p></p> Not just anyone can waltz into the gallery for some ogling – it’s strictly by invitation only. No, not “by appointment.” Invited. The chairs (RMB580,000 each) and table (RMB980,000) are made of old wood, gold-leafed and accented with solid silver animal heads and feet. <p></p> At the top of the mezzanine you’re greeted with a seance-meets-sacrifice scene centered upon a Chinese red lacquered pig, which took an artisan two years to complete. Once a lighting roadie, Marketing Director Steve Hinchliffe says the gallery’s professional studio lights create a “theater chic” effect. Originally an empty old factory, the space was designed by Lip Chiong from the Shanghai-based firm, Studio Twist. <p></p> This boar is made of silver, driftwood and an intricately carved boar’s skull. Faced with a missing tooth, the artisan decided to give the beast a silver filling. <p></p> “We didn’t even ask where this polar bear came from,” Hinchliffe jokes. The Gallery is selling the bear for RMB3,200,000 on behalf of a government official, who received it as a gift. <p></p> Nearly 2.5 m tall, these so-called “testicular tubes” are made from polished bamboo trunks with silver accents (RMB265,000). <p></p> The 35 kg solid silver crab is attached to a huge piece of driftwood. Discovered on a beach in Indonesia, the wood naturally resembles a large shell. Photos by Nicky Almasy. http://connoisseurgroup.com/ <p> </p>