Pingouins clip in white gold, pink gold, diamonds, coral, and onyx. Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Zèbres clip in white gold, round, square, and triangle, white and yellow diamonds, onyx, and lapis lazuli. Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Perroquets clip in white gold, round and baguette-cut diamonds, emerald beads, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and onyx. Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Singes clips in white gold, round, baguette-cut, obus-cut and tapered-cut diamonds, round and oval colored sapphires, cabochon-cut sapphires, round and oval spessartite garnets, obus-cut, and tapered-cut black spinels. Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Éléphants clips in white gold, diamonds, buff-topped sapphires, lapis lazuli, and malachite. Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.
On Friday, just across from Van Cleef & Arpels’ boutique at 20, Place Vendôme, the high jewelry house unveiled a public exhibition at Hôtel d’Évreux. Titled L’Arche de Noé racontée par Van Cleef & Arpels, the whimsical collection pays homage to the animal kingdom aboard Noah’s Ark. Brought to life through a collection featuring animal couple brooches, the offering weaves together the Parisian house’s heritage relationship with nature, craftsmanship, and precious stones.
Van Cleef & Arpels tapped celebrated American set designer Robert Wilson to create a scenographic backdrop where visitors can explore the high jewelry amid a re-imagined vision of the vessel. Upon entering the venue, guests were plunged into a multi-sensory experience. Style.com/Arabia’s Managing Editor, Caterina Minthe, recounted, “Once inside an intimate square room, the sound of thunder exploded and lights flashed. Then, all was calm and the rhythmic strains of Spiegel im Spiegel (Arvo Pärt) unfolded. Guests were drawn towards black jewelry cases reminiscent of ship compartments featuring the intricate and colorful animal brooches. The effect of Wilson’s set first felt apocalyptic and then calming,” Minthe concluded.
Nestled inside the black display boxes are intertwining zebras with striped coats crafted from diamonds, lapis lazuli, and onyx; and twin diamond parrots in mid-flight designed with lapis lazuli or turquoise feathers; mischievous diamond monkeys are highlighted with blue, yellow, and violet sapphires; and cocooning penguins are designed with black onyx, diamonds, and cabochons.
Throughout the month, jewelry enthusiasts are invited to attend lectures and workshops presented by L’École Van Cleef & Arpels to further delve deeper into the world of fauna-themed jewelry craftsmanship. Meanwhile, over at the House’s Place Vendôme salon, an exhibit dedicated to its wildlife creations through the decades is on display with featured pieces that date back to the 1920s.
L’Arche de Noé racontée par Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition, until September 26th. Hotel d’Evreux, Paris.