The year 2017 marks an important date for the Van Cleef & Arpels School of Jewellery Artsas it celebrates its fifth anniversary. Established since 2012 just a stone’s throw from Place Vendôme and supported by the high jewellery house of the same name, the school offers courses, workshops and evening conferences for young and old alike to discover and learn about the crafts and history of jewellery. 16,000 people, in Paris but also abroad with the Nomadic School (Tokyo, Hong Kong or New York) have already benefited from the courses. This year marks the addition of new courses to the catalogue of training courses, with courses to learn about gouache in jewellery, to discover enamelling with grand feu applied to jewellery or to discover the history of the engagement ring.
For this new school year, the school is inaugurating a space entitled “L’École Présente” which will regularly offer exhibitions open to the general public. And for this grand premiere, it is the remarkable work of the artist Harumi Klossowska from Rola that will be in the spotlight between 23 January and 1 February. The daughter of painters Balthazar “Balthus” and Setsuko Klossowska de Rola has been a well-known artist for many years. She has her own jewellery line and has designed unique pieces of high jewellery for the houses of Chopard and Boucheron during noteworthy collaborations.
Migisi” necklace, buffalo horn, turquoise, coral, gold. Photo: Harumi Klossowska de Rola
In addition to the courses, there are also collaborations with museums on cultural mediation projects. A few months ago, I told you about the book“Flore” published by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. This book will be completed by two additional volumes during 2017: “Fauna” and “Human Figure” that I will present to you on the site as soon as they are published.
Pendant “Haliaeetus leucocephalus”, fossilised wood, gold, diamonds and aventurine. Photo: Harumi Klossowska de Rola
Another important event will be the presentation of a museum sponsorship project with the Museum of Natural History in Paris. In March 2017, replicas of the 20 most beautiful historical diamonds sold by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier to King Louis XIV will be unveiled, as described in the remarkable book he published in 1676. This work was republished in 1713, many years after the author’s death. The result will undoubtedly be fascinating to discover and we will talk about it again soon.
The exhibition of Harumi Klossowska de Rola’s creations will be held from 23 January to 1 February 2017 at the Van Cleef & Arpels School, 31 rue Danielle Casanova in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Entrance is free and it is open from 2 to 7 pm during the whole event. An event not to be missed!
See you soon!
