Spotlight on a special box set collection
Gered Mankowitz has selected eight of his most important photographs from his 1960s archives to produce as platinum prints and present in this very special box set collection. This beautiful portfolio of eight 15 x 19 inch platinum prints is offered to collectors in an edition of 35 box sets. The photographs have been produced by Paul & Max Caffell at 31 Studio in Gloucestershire. The portfolio box and mounts have been made by Rob Hadrill at Book Works in London.
The subjects featured are Jimi Hendrix Smoking, Masons Yard Studio, London (1967), Jimi Hendrix: Classic, Masons Yard Studio, London (1967), The Rolling Stones, Caged, London (1965), Mick Jagger, RCA studios, Hollywood (1965), The Rolling Stones, Primrose Hill, London (1966), Marianne Faithfull, The Salisbury Pub, St Martins Lane, London (1964), The Yardbirds, Ormond Yard, London (1966), Eric Clapton, Twickenham film Studios (1969)
About platinum prints
Platinum prints are among the most beautiful and permanent forms of photographic reproduction, revealing textures, depth and tones that are unmatched by other processes. When you look closely at the Rolling Stones Caged, you can see how the platinum process heightens the effect of the wire – it almost becomes a 3D image. This is a complex handmade darkroom based process, with a dwindling number of specialist printers able to make platinum prints. Paul and Max Caffell, who make these beautiful photographs for Gered, have an international reputation as masters of the technique. This is the first time that Gered has offered platinum prints to collectors.
“Platinum prints are seductive. The kinship between platinum prints and rock music is sensuality. With platinums, you feel the picture, you just dont look at it. You get into it, journey through the delicate shades of grey go from pale perfection to beauteous blacks and lose yourself in the pleasure of the print. Platinum prints are permanent, youth is not. The music never dies, but living legends do. Great portraiture is communion between photographer and subject. It can also achieve a monumentality that helps us both understand and hold onto our heroes. Rock stars dont lend themselves to being chiseled in stone and placed on pedestals in the center of towns. They do, however, as Gered Mankowitz shows, do well being preserved, like their best recordings, in platinum.” From the forward to the box set by Gail Buckland, The Olympus Visiting Professor of the History of Photography at The Cooper Union New York
Each platinum photograph is made by hand on Arches Aquarelle Watercolour paper, measuring 15 inches by 19 inches, and each one is signed and numbered in pencil by Gered Mankowitz on the front of the paper just below the image area. Each photograph is then archivally window mounted to display the image area, with the signature and number not visible. The title, subject, location and date are embossed onto the mount. Although image sizes vary (square images are 11 x 11 inches, rectangular images a slightly different size) , the mounts are cut to a consistent size (16 x 20 inches) which ensures that when framed, the photographs all have the same external dimensions so that when framed, they can hang together in perfect symmetry. They are supplied mounted, but unframed, and housed in a beautiful 17 x 21 inch acid free purple portfolio box with Gered Mankowitzs signature on the front.
They can be purchased individually or as a set. Purchasers of the complete set receive a discount compared to the sum of individual prices. If desired we can arrange for some or all of the collection to be framed.
You can see the full range, with prices, here
