I was in Paris earlier this month and could not resist a visit to the Musee des Arts Decoratifs for the Van Cleef & Arpels: L’art de la haute joaillerie exhibit. It is a bit cliché to submit to the fact that all girls love sparkly things (albeit true!), but the astounding craftsmanship that went into each and every single one of the pieces on show at the museum was just mind-numbing.
The history of Van Cleef & Arpels began in 1895 with a love story, when Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a precious stone merchant, married Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a lapidary and diamond broker.
In 1906, their passion for jewelry and spirit of enterprise inspired them to open a boutique at 22 place Vendôme in Paris.
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| Worn by Liz Taylor |
The Alhambra necklace is still as popular today (if not more so) as it was forty years ago:
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| My necklace! |
The way the show was curated was just phenomenal; the pieces were hung in such a way so that they appeared to be floating in mid air.
The show will continue until February 10, 2013, so if a trip to Paris is in your future, make sure to set a morning or afternoon aside for a visit.
Its just a quick walk around the corner from the Musee des Arts Decoratifs to the famous courtyard of the Louvre:
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