Luxury: February

In a world that feels increasingly fractured, Saudi Arabia’s Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Al Faisal has some sage advice. “You can’t fear someone that you know and understand,” she tells us in an exclusive interview.

At a time when we are divided over politics and vaccines and the “right” way to deal with a pandemic, as anti-lockdown riots break out in Europe and we are still haunted by the spectre of an angry mob storming the US Capitol, an “us and them” mentality seems to be taking root all over the world.

But Princess Nourah is a firm believer in the ability of art, design and even fashion to serve as powerful cultural catalysts. “If I am holding an object, sitting on a chair, looking at a piece of art or wearing an outfit from a particular culture, then already I am connecting with that culture in some way,” she says. “In my humble opinion, the best kind of diplomacy is having this cultural dialogue.”

And as Saudi continues to open up to the outside world, its design community has an important role to play in challenging long-held preconceptions about the kingdom. First among these is the idea that the country cannot be synonymous with modernity.

This is something that Princess Nourah has experienced first-hand through her jewellery brand Nuun. She is used to people commenting that her designs “don’t look Saudi”.

But her streamlined, geometric creations are informed by the architecture of her home city of Riyadh, and her minimalist approach can be traced back to her forefathers. “Minimalism, I think, is extremely Saudi,” she says, countering, in one fell swoop, the idea that Middle Eastern design is, by its very nature, ornate, overly embellished and, oftentimes, verging on gaudy.

“If you go back in history, I can’t think of anyone who was more minimalist than a Bedouin. Everything had to be simple and efficient, and there could be no embellishment. And I kind of take that ethos with me. If I’m doing something, I will always take a step back and look at it and ask, what’s unnecessary?”

In a similar vein, she is inviting people to strip back what they think they know about Saudi Arabia. Having lived abroad for many years, and having established her business in Paris, she is used to having “to explain Saudi”. But times are changing. With a slight note of defiance, she says: “People have their views and people have their opinions, but I really am filled with optimism in terms of how that is being addressed through things like art and design. Because it is not a matter of trying to explain any more. What we are saying is: this is who we are; this is what we do; and we’d love to have you come and see.”

We could all do with having more of an open mind, whether about a specific culture, or any of the other issues plaguing us in these unsettling times.

Selina Denman, editor

Fundamental to the history of the region, the Arabian horse is still revered in local culture. Selina Denman looks at what makes this breed so special – and one horse that is even more remarkable than most

Unlike his Argentinian namesake, Messi the horse has had to wait until a little later in life to achieve sporting success. It is only in the past year that the eight-year-old purebred Arabian has started to attain acclaim on the international horse racing circuit – and his success can be largely attributed to the pandemic.

Messi’s Belgian owner, part-time horse trainer Timo Keersmaekers, also runs his own tableware business. Until Covid-19 restrictions grounded him, he would spend up to 80 days a year travelling for work, which left him with little time to invest in training his spirited Arabian stallion.

“Because of the coronavirus, travel was limited, so I decided to focus more on training Messi. Instead of spending my evenings in a hotel room, I would spend that time with him. What we have achieved today is a result of that,” he explains. And while Keersmaekers admits to not having the facilities or know-how to rival the world’s top horse trainers, Messi’s raw talent has turned him into a serious contender on the pure-bred Arabian racing scene, culminating in a victory in the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown race in Abu Dhabi on December 4. The win garnered the duo $1.3 million in prize money.

Next, they are headed for the $2m Obaiya Arabian Classic at The Saudi Cup. “If you go back to this time last year, you would say: ‘Okay, he’s a decent horse to race in Belgium,’” Keersmaekers says. “But we started to race in Belgium in July, and he did a wonderful job. Then we went to Germany where he finished second in a photo-finish. Next was Paris, where he placed second as well. And then there was the Jewel Crown race. I felt that he was a good horse in the past, but I never realised he was that good.”

A win in Saudi Arabia would not only offer significant financial gains, it would also provide much-deserved recognition for a horse that, in many ways, is an underdog. “For me it’s really important,” Keersmaekers explains. “Yes, the money is important, but on the other side, for me it’s more emotional because I think Messi deserves to be recognised. In terms of the way we trained him and the limited knowledge we have, compared to other professional trainers, I almost feel pity for him that we didn’t send him to be trained at the best facilities in the past.

“I would rather not have the money, but have him win the race in Saudi just because it’s him, and because he’s showed over the past year that he really deserves to be a Grade 1 horse.”

This story – of an unrecognised champion who might never have fulfilled his potential if not for an unprecedented global pandemic – is made all the more bittersweet by the fact that because of Messi’s age, Keersmaekers plans to retire him next year. Which leaves a limited window for Messi to show the world the true extent of his abilities.

While Keersmaekers does feel regret that the horse’s talent was not recognised earlier, he is mainly grateful to have discovered it at all. “If he can win a few more races, it will be a pity that it didn’t happen earlier, but on the other side, maybe it is also because of his age and the fact that he is fully grown that he is so strong at the moment.”

While the Obaiya Classic will be a landmark race for Messi, it is also a reflection of how pure-bred Arabian horse racing has grown in stature in recent years. With the breed more often associated with endurance or show events that focus on its stamina or beauty, it is only in recent years that Arabian horses have become a regular fixture on the race track, and had the opportunity to also showcase their speed. Which is fitting given that the Arabian is at the root of all horse racing – in the late 1700s, British breeders used the Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian and Byerley Turk as the foundation sires to create a whole new breed of horse, the thoroughbred. Today 93 per cent of all modern thoroughbreds can be traced to those three sires, according to the Arabian Horse Association.

Arabian racing is now the fastest-growing segment in the industry, and has almost quadrupled in size in the United States over the past decade. It’s an evolution that Keersmaekers has witnessed first-hand over the course of his career. “In the beginning, the rotations weren’t the same as those for thoroughbreds. It was very amateur. It really developed with the support of Middle Eastern countries. You can see that they really want to promote this type of racing and the level has increased as a result.”

Characterised by its finely chiselled head, long arching neck, large nostrils, high tail carriage and “floating” trot, the Arabian horse has been intertwined with regional history since at least 2,500 BC, and continues to be revered to this day. Prophet Mohammed instructed his followers to treat Arabian horses with kindness, and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs paid testament to their immense value. The Bedouin developed a close affinity with their trusty steeds, using them as war mounts and to execute short, unexpected raids on enemy camps.

“There is a lot of evidence that these horses originated in the Arabian Peninsula, about 4,500 years ago. So there is a lot of history here,” says Salem Binmahfooz, director of racing at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia.

“These horses came from here and built a relationship with the Bedouin. They were used for transportation and did very well because of their endurance capabilities.

“In Saudi Arabia, they were crucial to the country’s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud. These horses were heavily used and depended upon when this country was being established. The same applied during the 16th and 17th centuries, when a lot of leaders around the world heard about these horses and started importing them from the Arabian Peninsula,” Binmahfooz explains.

Indeed, historical figures such as Genghis Khan, Alexander The Great and George Washington all rode Arabians, notes the Arabian Horse Association. And they have proven to be loyal, steadfast and committed companions.

“Throughout their history and heritage, Arabian horses have been known to be loyal to their owners. If you ask them to do something, they will do whatever they can for their owners and trainers,” Binmahfooz says.

This is a trait that Keersmaekers recognises in Messi. Although, as is typical of his breed, the stallion can also be headstrong. “The huge difference between Arabian horses and other horses is when they have something in mind, it’s really difficult to get that out of their mind. For example, Messi doesn’t like the horse walker, so he will do whatever he can to not get in, and if he is in, he will do whatever he can to get out. Thoroughbreds are much easier to ‘manipulate’ and guide. Arabian horses all have their own vision of what they want. And if they want to go for it, they will.

"If Messi wants to run, he will give it his best effort. He had a tendon injury four years ago – and even though he was in the middle of a race when he was injured, he still carried on and finished in fourth place. He’s such a special horse – because of his attitude.”

$2.2 million…

... was the price paid at auction for this Batman comic. Here’s what makes it so special

Dating back to 1940, this is the finest known copy of Batman No 1, and the only copy to receive a 9.4 grade from the Certified Guaranty Company. It was sold by Heritage Auctions on January 14, fetching the highest price ever realised for a comic book starring Bruce Wayne and his caped alter ego.

“We knew when the book came in that it was beyond special, that it was a once-in-a-lifetime offering – from appearance, its blindingly bright cover to its white pages, to provenance,” says Heritage Auctions senior vice president Ed Jaster. “This is just a breathtaking book in so many ways. So we are not at all surprised that this has become a record-setting issue. But we are extraordinarily proud and honoured to have brought it to market.”

There are many reasons why ‘Batman’ No 1 is cherished by collectors and fans alike. There is the instantly recognisable, oft-imitated cover image, showing a smiling Batman and Robin swinging across the Gotham City skyline, against a bright yellow backdrop. Then there’s the back-page pin-up, “autographed” by Batman and his fledgling sidekick, who promise “bigger and better thrills”.

The pages themselves contain The Legend of Batman, an origins story that has been retold endlessly in several movies and television shows since. Also featuring in this edition is the debut of the antagonist, Joker, now the star of his own blockbuster franchise, who is described as “a man with a changeless mask-like face but for the eyes – burning, hate-filled eyes”.

Batman goes on to square off against the monsters of Hugo Strange, before another favourite makes her debut – a burglar and “beautiful young woman” called simply The Cat.

This copy of ‘Batman’ No 1 has its own intriguing origins story. It was bought by previous owner Billy Giles, who moved to Houston, Texas, in 1979 and promptly fell in love with the city’s comics shops and dealers. He helped his son accumulate a complete The Amazing Spider-Man collection, before he himself decided to start collecting Batman comics.

He acquired a copy of ‘Batman’ No 1 from Willie Patterson, famed owner of the Camelot Bookstore. Giles paid $3,000 in cash, with neighbours and friends teasing him for spending such an exorbitant amount on an item that might one day prove worthless.

Giles eventually started his own comic-book business, and when he died in 2019, his son William inherited the collection. A year later, he decided it was someone else’s turn to own the finest known copy of Batman No 1.

“It was time for somebody else to have it,” William says. “Dad would have been glad his story is being told – ecstatic, really. What he did to get that book and how he took care of it. He always knew it was the finest and would have been so happy it has been recognised as the very best. So I am thrilled that I can use it to honour my father. Sure, I am a little sad seeing the book go. But I wish the new owner the best and hope her or she enjoys it as much as I have.”