At Gallery 3 of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo Midtown, "Men's Rings: The Yves Gastou Collection" will be held from Friday, January 14 to Sunday, March 13, 2022, showcasing men's rings collected by Yves Gastou, a renowned pioneering antique dealer. Approximately 400 pieces will be on display, ranging from rings worn by the Doges of the Republic of Venice in the 17th century to American biker rings of the 1970s, ancient Egyptian rings to 19th-century "memento mori" skull rings, 18th-century enamel rings to contemporary artist-designed rings.

L'École, a school for jewelry and gem art, with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels, presents a breathtaking collection of men's rings amassed by Yves Gastou at Gallery 3 of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT.

Gastou, who established his reputation in the 1980s as a pioneering antique dealer by exhibiting artists like Sottsass and Shiro Kuramata early on at his Paris gallery, kept his extraordinary collection of men's rings a secret until it was exhibited at L'École in Paris in 2018. This exhibition aims to reveal his hitherto little-known facet as a collector, showcasing pieces amassed with passion over more than 30 years, not only through traditional channels for treasure hunters (flea markets, public auctions, jewelers' and artisans' stocks) but also through his travels.

The collection is organized into five thematic sections representing its diversity: "History," "Gothic," "Christian Mysticism," "Vanitas," and "Eclectic Collection." This condensed version of the book "Bagues d'homme" (Men's Rings) published by Albin Michel unfolds the collection like a novel.

Highlights include the "Ring of the Doge of Venice" with its astonishingly intricate details, worn by the head of state of the Republic of Venice in the 17th century; the "Coffin Ring that Sublimates Death," richly adorned with roses as if to draw viewers into the world of Gothic literature; the "Bishop's Ring" with its exquisite craftsmanship from the 1920s and 1930s; the "British Mourning Ring" worn in remembrance of the deceased in Britain from the late 18th to early 19th century; and the "Music Box Ring," which incorporates a music box and features two caryatids, male and female, on the shoulder.

Furthermore, approximately 400 pieces will be exhibited, ranging from American biker rings of the 1970s, ancient Egyptian rings to 19th-century "memento mori" skull rings, and 18th-century enamel rings to contemporary artist-designed rings.

These vast numbers of rings are Gastou's life's work and, simultaneously, his final testament, his ultimate creation, interrupted by his death in 2020. Each ring embodies anecdotes that reveal the background of Gastou as a collector, his previously secret endeavors, his life dedicated to art, and his profound love for objects.

Moreover, this collection is unprecedented in its focus on men's rings, challenging the contemporary trend that commonly associates jewelry with femininity, and will offer visitors a new perspective.