Van Cleef & Arpels Launches Volume One of Extensive 'Van Cleef & Arpels Collection'
The first part of the book series details the history of the Maison and landmark pieces of jewelry from 1906 to 1953.
Celebrating the famed jewelry house's long history, Van Cleef & Arpels has released their first-ever exploratory book. The first volume, which was released on June 24, 2024, details the beginnings of the luxury label and the pieces that led to its enduring legacy as a Maison responsible for some of the most exquisite jewelry pieces to come out of the last century.
Covering each and every piece crafted by the house from 1906 to 1953, the volume details nearly 700 precious objects, jewels, and watches with an in-depth look at the artistic process and the cultural landscape in which they were created. Not only does the book archive all of these historically significant pieces, but it also offers scientific and artistic analysis of the patrimonial collection.
Speaking about the importance of jewelry within the context of fashion and art, Van Cleef & Arpels President and CEO, Nicolas Bos, said "We hope to show that jewelry is not an isolated art. It is in constant interaction with other disciplines, which inspire it and which it influences in return. As such, it forms part of the great history of the arts."
Aside from intricate detailing on the many transformative pieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels archives, the volume also includes preliminary sketches on countless precious objects, which offers viewers a never-before-seen glimpse at the intensive design process for archival pieces.
Beyond the dazzling pieces themselves, the volume also explores the journey of Van Cleef & Arpels as a luxury Maison, with a detailed arc of the boom in popularity the brand experienced in both Paris and New York in the early years.
“The patrimonial Collection is a unique ensemble. Representative of the jewelry arts and major artistic movements of the 20th century, it testifies to the creative coherence demonstrated by the Maison since its foundation. As a result of a scientific approach initiated by the Patrimony department, this book highlights this Collection in an unprecedented way,” said Alexandrine Maviel Sonet, Van Cleef & Arpels' Patrimony and Exhibitions Director.
For longtime collectors and appreciators of the label, the first volume is a must-have, especially given the rare glimpse at the Maison's history that it offers.
