Tag Archives: treasure

Florida Pirate Island Hideaway Now For Sale

This feature via our friends at toptenrealestatedeals.com

Black Sam Bellamy was one of the most notorious and wealthiest pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy in the early nineteenth century. In his short pirate career, he captured fifty-three ships, including the English slave ship Whydah Gally, which he used as his flagship.

The famous pirate’s island hideaway, now a stunning resort property, has been listed for sale at $50 million usd. Black’s Island is a seven-acre gem off the coast of the Florida Panhandle, sporting a four-star resort with twenty-six waterfront bungalows. Accessible only by boat, seaplane or helicopter, the white-sand island is about ten minutes from the mainland, offering a spectacular Caribbean adventure without leaving the United States.

The property can be operated commercially or retained as a family compound.

Born in Devon, England, he sailed with the Royal Navy before joining a crew of treasure hunters who turned to piracy when their mission to find a Spanish shipwreck failed. Bellamy served initially under Captain Benjamin Hornigold and his first mate, Edward Teach, later known as Blackbeard. When the crew became frustrated with Hornigold’s refusal to attack English ships, they mutinied and elected Bellamy as their captain instead.  He was generous with those he raided and loved by his crew, who called themselves “Robin Hood’s Men.” This “Robin Hood of the Sea” or “Prince of Pirates” developed a distinctive style, favoring long black coats and forgoing the then-fashionable powdered wig for a dark ponytail tied with a black satin bow.

His favorite weapons were four dueling pistols carried in his sash.

The pirate prince’s reign ended when a nor’easter storm capsized his ships, drowning the captain and most of his crew. The wreckage of the Whydah Gally was discovered in 1982, yielding over 200,000 artifacts, including a cannon loaded with gold and precious stones. 

1982 discovery of Black Sam’s booty made headlines worldwide. image: Irish Sun

The fully furnished bungalows come in one- and two-story models, 1,225 and 1,425 square feet respectively. Each unit includes two bedrooms, a loft bedroom area, two full bathrooms, a spacious kitchen with an island and top-notch appliances, a living room, a dining area, a laundry room and a balcony, while the two-story bungalows have an additional half bathroom. Boasting a classic look with blonde wood walls and grey stone floors, the bungalows were recently remodeled. A round floorplan offers 360-degree views of the gorgeous island from sunrise to sunset. 

In addition to the bungalows, the resort includes a four-story luxury clubhouse, a cabana with bar, beach volleyball courts, and a forty-by-sixteen-foot swimming pool. The island is in the middle of a marine estuary, offering sparkling clear water and numerous opportunities for bird-watching and duck hunting, plus kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing and relaxing on the beach. 

Private islands are all the rage among celebrities and the world’s elite. Beyonce and Jay Z are said to own two private islands in Florida, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Eddie Murphy, David Copperfield, and Mel Gibson just a few of the A-listers with private islands outside the USA. 

The listing is held by Jon Kohler of Jon Kohler & Associates. Photo credit: Jon Kohler & Associates.

Rare India Desert Treasures Exhibition At ROM 2019

TORONTO — In March 2019, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) brings visitors an exhibition of rarely-seen royal treasures from Marwar-Jodhpur, one of the largest former princely states in India. The ROM will be the final North American destination and the exclusive Canadian venue for Treasures of a Desert Kingdom: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India. This exhibition, organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, with the collaboration of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust, India, will be on display from March 9 to September 2, 2019.

“As a leading centre for scholarship and expertise in South Asian art and culture, we are delighted to give visitors the unprecedented opportunity to explore a part of India’s rich cultural history that has rarely been seen,” says Josh Basseches, ROM Director & CEO. “This landmark exhibition will not only captivate audiences, it will also offer a deeper understanding of India’s artistic heritage and its continuing influence today.”

“Peacock in the Desert” | Turbans from Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Vimeo.

Treasures of a Desert Kingdom features nearly 250 artworks and objects from the kingdom of Marwar-Jodhpur, located in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The exhibition traces the kingdom’s cultural history as it was continually reshaped by cross-cultural encounters. Lavishly-made ceremonial objects, opulent jewellery, textiles and tapestries, palace furnishings, architectural treasures, and a monumental 17th-century court tent showcase the history of Marwar-Jodhpur and the Rathore dynasty that ruled the region for more than 700 years.

MFAH choker necklace al-Sabah Collection photo: Houston Press

Drawn primarily from the collections of the Mehrangarh Museum Trust and the private collections of the royal family of Jodhpur, the exhibition marks the first time that most of these treasures have been seen beyond the palace walls.

Dr. Deepali Dewan, the exhibition’s coordinating curator and ROM’s Dan Mishra Curator of South Asian Art & Culture says: “This exhibition will be a special experience because most of the treasures are coming from Jodhpur itself. Treasures of a Desert Kingdom tells the story of an incredibly dynamic, cosmopolitan, and influential kingdom that saw art and culture as a critical aspect of rule. Jodhpur flourished, despite the odds of being in the middle of a desert, because they made strategic alliances, opened their borders, and allowed for a diverse culture. These are lessons still relevant today. This enthralling presentation demystifies our notions of life at the royal court, while highlighting India’s multifaceted past and its contemporary cultural landscape. There will be something familiar and something surprising for everyone.”

On view in Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall, Treasures of a Desert Kingdom: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India explores numerous thought-provoking themes, including the cross-pollination of new ideas through art and culture; the strong influence of women in the royal court; the importance of royal patronage; and the powerful role of art as tools of diplomacy.

Royal Ontario Museum ROM logoThe ROM engagement follows the exhibition’s run at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Seattle Arts Museum.

Treasures of a Desert Kingdom: The Royal Arts of Jodhpur, India is a separately ticketed exhibition. ROM Members enjoy free admission and exclusive opportunities to experience ROM exhibitions and programs.  For the Silo, Anne Vranic. 

Featured image- MFAH Exhibit Peacock in the Desert photo: Houstonia