Van Cleef & Arpels’ Ode to the 100th Anniversary of the 1925 Art Deco Exposition
Although Van Cleef & Arpels is most often recognized today for their coveted four-leaf motif “Alhambra” jewelry line, the maison has a much richer, longer history than you might realize. The brand started with a wedding between Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels; both founders came from families of jewelry merchants, and opened their first boutique in Paris in 1906.
“Eternal Moments” is a stunning ode to the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Art Deco Exposition eponymous to the hugely influential aesthetic movement. Van Cleef & Arpels won Grand Prix awards with pieces like Intertwined Flowers, Red and White Rose Bracelet (1924), which is featured at the exhibition. The show is fittingly hosted at the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, an Art Deco architectural masterpiece worth admiring on its own. It’s a rare chance to admire 250 pieces of jewelry and watches from Van Cleef & Arpels’ Patrimony and private collections, many of which are historical treasures.
