VAN CLEEF & ARPELS AND THE JAPON

Van Cleef & Arpels, Japanese Splendour at the Galerie du Patrimoine

In the sumptuous setting of Place Vendôme, an exhibition unfolds, weaving an enchanting narrative around the Japanese influences that shaped the elegance of the city. Van Cleef & Arpels.

Until June 15, 2024, the Gallery of Heritage of Van Cleef & Arpels, Located at 20, Place Vendôme, it hosts the exhibition Van Cleef & Arpels and Japan: an artistic encounter. This artistic escapade celebrates the lasting impact of Japanese art on the House’s haute joaillerie, from its beginnings in the 1920s to the present day.
The exhibition presents a meticulous selection of thirty pieces from the patrimonial collection, covering the period from 1923 to 2012. These pieces, accompanied by valuable archival documents, reveal the Maison’s continued influence and fascination with Japanese culture.

From its opening in Paris in 1906, the Maison incorporated Japonisme as an essential element of its artistic expression. That is why the exhibition explores this relationship, demonstrating how the Empire of the Rising Sun inspires creations over the decades.
The Inrô, Traditional small boxes, traditionally worn by Japanese men around the waist since the 16th century, were reinterpreted by the House in the 1920s. These elegant beauty essentials captured the elegance of the time. Astutely blending Japanese aesthetics with Western jewelry, the Japanese iconography is also found in subtle creations. Such as a 1957 table clock where women in kimono sculptured wear the dial of a watch, or a 1971 Morita clip inspired by the small Japanese statues «dogu». The rich symbolism of Japanese gardens also inspired emblematic pieces of the House, such as the Omikuji necklace from the «Gardens» collection of 2006.

Wood, a fundamental material in Japanese culture, also finds its place in the creations of Van Cleef & Arpels. From wooden furniture dating back to the 1910s to contemporary creations such as the Touch Wood collection, the Maison integrates this noble material in order to create bridges between the Japanese and Western cultures. Finally, the exhibition concludes with a contemporary collaboration with renowned Japanese artists. The precious boxes Kōhaku and Gen, crafted in marquetry of precious stones and wood by master lacquering artist Kunihiko Moriguchi, symbolize the successful fusion of tradition and modernity.

Van Cleef & Arpels and Japan: an artistic encounter offers a stylish immersion into the Maison’s history. Revealing how Japanese art leaves an indelible mark on its creations. This exhibition celebrates this harmonious encounter captured through precious pieces. Let yourself be carried away on this artistic escapade in the heart of Place Vendôme.