The World of Van Cleef & Arpels, Guided by its Iconic Fairy

A playful fairy clip, joyfully brandishing a wand of diamonds and rubies. This clip, brimming with a smile-inducing sense of whimsy and exuding all the beauty of a woman, is a precious archive piece from Van Cleef & Arpels, created in 1944. It also serves as the symbolic jewelry guiding visitors through "The Spirit of Beauty," the exhibition celebrating the Maison's 100-year history.




An Exhibition Like a "Magical Moment," to Feel and Enjoy Up Close

The exhibition features nearly 300 archival pieces. Of these, about 100 are portraits, and Bos spent nearly three years visiting their owners to gain their consent for loaning them. The collected archives are organized around four themes that form the foundation of the Maison's creative style: "The Spirit of Nature," "The Spirit of Elegance," "The Spirit of Adventure," and "Incarnations."

When conceptualizing the exhibition with Patrick Jouin, who designed the space, we focused on allowing visitors to truly 'experience' and 'engage' with the world of jewelry. For example, you can walk around a large birdcage to see the back of the stones, or enjoy the space with transparent glass mimicking water droplets, allowing you to feel closer to the gems... We tried to ensure there was never a barrier between the visitor and the jewelry, as can sometimes happen with traditional displays."

Among the displays is a section using holograms, making it feel as though you can directly touch the clips and rings. The intriguing sensation of almost being able to touch something, yet not quite, is a playful trick that adds to the enjoyment. Bos actively incorporated this sense of 'fun' into the exhibition.

"We didn't just want to gather archives and say, 'This is historically significant.' We wanted to convey the 'joy' and 'emotion' of actually experiencing the jewelry. To have visitors leave with a happy feeling... That is the most important thing. We wanted to create an exhibition where visitors could feel that 'magical moment' that is uniquely Van Cleef & Arpels."


The Joy of "Rediscovering" Past Inspirations

Currently on display at The Mori Arts Center Gallery in Roppongi, Tokyo, is the Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition, "The Spirit of Beauty." We spoke with Nicolas Bos, the company's Vice President, about the allure of this exhibition that recounts the Maison's history.
The current Tokyo exhibition marks the beginning of its global tour. Bos hopes visitors will pay special attention to the archival pieces that highlight the strong connection between Japan and Van Cleef & Arpels.

"Japanese culture had a significant influence on Europe during the Maison's early days. Peonies, butterflies, lotus flowers... Many of our iconic archival pieces are inspired by Japanese aesthetics, traditions, and artworks. They remain important motifs that form the very foundation of our creations. We don't simply chase after the new; we create new works by honoring the inspirations we've cultivated. Even pieces created 50 years ago hold relevance today. I hope this exhibition truly conveys the charm and value of jewelry itself to everyone. By admiring the beautiful gems and sharing this world together—jewelry is something that should constantly be 'rediscovered' by many people."

Van Cleef & Arpels
"The Spirit of Beauty" Exhibition

Dates: Until Sunday, January 17, 2010. Open daily throughout the exhibition period.
Venue: The Mori Arts Center Gallery
Address: 52F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial)
http://www.thespiritofbeauty-vancleef-arpels.com/