RIYADH: French luxury jewelry brand Van Cleef & Arpels is holding an exhibition in Riyadh featuring creations owned by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly and Queen Nazli and Princess Fazia of Egypt.
The “Van Cleef & Arpels: Time, Nature, Love” exhibition, held at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, opened its doors to the public on January 19 and will run for three months.
The immersive exhibition invites attendees to explore the Van Cleef & Arpels universe, showcasing the bespoke craftsmanship, premier design and artistry that characterize the high jewelry maison’s history.
The exhibition, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, features some 280 pieces of jewelry, watches and precious objects created since the maison’s founding in 1906. President of the Milan Polytechnic University and the Milano Fashion Institute. The collection is themed around three sections dedicated to the notions of time, nature and love.
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• The ‘Van Cleef & Arpels: Time, Nature, Love’ exhibition displays around 280 pieces of jewelry and precious objects created since the maison’s founding in 1906. The collection has been carefully curated by Alba Cappallieri, President of the Milano Fashion Institute.
• As part of the exhibition’s programme, L’Ecole School of Jewelery Arts, and international experts and speakers will offer workshops and talks on a variety of topics including ‘The Secret Language of Flowers’ and ‘Saudi Arabia’s Impact on the Local Industry’.
Nicolas Boas, President and CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, told Arab News: “I really hope and wish to work together with the museum team to cater to a much wider audience. So not just jewelery experts or connoisseurs but in fact anyone who has a curiosity for jewelry and decorative arts.
(AN photo by Abdulrahman Shalhoub)
Bose said that the message that Van Cleef & Arpels wants to convey through this collaboration is that jewelry is a magical and exciting art form.
“Regardless of the value, the value and the rarity, you see the craftsmanship, the beauty of the stones, the great inspiration, the dialogue with other forms of art and culture that are sometimes unexpected,” Bose said.
More than 90 archival documents, sketches and gouache designs are on display, along with high jewelry.
(AN photo by Abdulrahman Shalhoub)
Laila Al-Faddagh, director general of the National Museum of Saudi Arabia, told Arab News that the collaboration between the museum and the jewelry house stems from a shared vision and interest.
We are doing events throughout the year… We want to welcome everyone.
Laila AlfadaghDirector General, National Museum of Saudi Arabia
“Van Cleef & Arpels is amazing at preserving their archival pieces, and they’re amazing at promoting them. And that’s something that museums do, and it was this similarity that encouraged this partnership,” Al-Faddagh said. Told.
In addition to a wide range of timeless pieces, the exhibition reaffirms some of Van Cleef & Arpels’ fundamental values, particularly creation, broadcasting and education, through a comprehensive program featuring talks with regional and international speakers, both adults and children. Includes workshops for As well as other interactive educational activities.
(AN photo by Abdulrahman Shalhoub)
Al-Faddagh told Arab News: “The events are not going to end with this exhibition. We’re doing year-round events, and I want everyone to feel comfortable and excited to visit us because we want to welcome everyone.
FastFact
Among the prized pieces, some were previously owned by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, Queen Nazli of Egypt and Princess Fazia of Egypt.
L’ECOLE, School of Jewelery Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, will offer courses, workshops and talks delivered by its professors on the following topics: “Nature: Inspiration for Architecture,” “The Secret Language of Flowers,” and “The Philosophy Behind Love.” Several renowned international speakers have also been asked to give talks on: “Saudi Arabia’s Influence in the Local Industry” and “The Secret of Sentimental Gems.”
(AN photo by Abdulrahman Shalhoub)
Founded in 1906 at 22 Place Vendome in Paris, Van Cleef & Arpels came into being after diamond-cutter Alfred Van Cleef married Estelle Arpels in 1895. Van Cleef & Arpels maintains a distinctive style that has made many a signature. Prominent among these are the mystery set technique, minaudier, transformable zip necklace and the Alhambra motif.