Do you know the Van Cleef & Arpels Heritage Gallery? If not, you should go and discover this beautiful and somewhat secret place, which is nestled in the eponymous boutique at 20 Place Vendôme. For several seasons now, at the rate of two exhibitions a year, the house has been unveiling themed events drawing on its own collection to present to the general public pieces that have marked the brand’s style.
Three-leaf clip, 1955, platinum, yellow gold, Mysterious ruby and diamond setting. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Photo: Patrick Gries © Van Cleef & Arpels SA
Until September 22, 2018, you can discover this floral universe widely developed by the house since its creation. The exhibition will allow you to discover almost 40 pieces created between the 1930s and 1960s, but also the rules of elegance of these often imposing jewels that were worn both during the day and in the evening. Yellow gold for the day, platinum for the night. Coloured stones for the afternoon such as aquamarines, sapphires, topazes… but diamonds and rubies for the night…
Bouquet clip, 1938. Yellow gold, topaz, aquamarines, sapphires, rubies. Former collection of Anna Gould, Duchess of Talleyrand-Périgord and Princess of Sagan. Photo: © Van Cleef & Arpels.
Pansies, daisies, clovers, wheat ears, bunches of grapes, plane tree leaves, thistles, anemones, forget-me-nots, but also ravishing lovebirds entwined and perched on a branch are worn as much by day as by night. And above all the opportunity to discover a clip bouquet from 1938 which was the property of Mrs Anna Gould – Duchess of Talleyrand-Périgord and Princess of Sagan – but also the wife Boni de Castellane from 1895 to 1906.
Bouquet de trèfles clip, 1950. Platinum, diamonds. Van Cleef & Arpels Collection. Photo: Patrick Gries © Van Cleef & Arpels SA.
The boutique will remain open throughout August, a great visit to plan if you are staying or passing through the capital in the coming weeks. Entrance is free from Monday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm. Not to be missed!
See you soon!
