MASTERS VAN CLEEF & ARPELS INTERPRETED THE BIBLE NARRATION AND CREATED A NOAH ARK (L'ARCHE DE NOÉ) COLLECTION. MEETING TWO KEY FEATURES. FIRST - IT INCLUDES PAIRED PRECIOUS ANIMALS. SECOND - THEY ARE REALIZED ONLY AS A BROOCH. WHEREAS, THERE IS ONE ONE CHARACTERISTIC, WHICH IS PERMANENT IN ALL WORKS OF VAN CLEEF & ARPELS MANUFACTURE - THE ARTIFICIAL WORK OF JEWELERS AND THE BLINKING GLITTER OF SELECTIVE STONES.
VERTEX
When it comes to brooches in jewelry circles, Van Cleef & Arpels House comes to mind first. His precious dancers and fairies became the most famous and desired in this category among brand admirers and collectors. But the first brooches of the watch and watch giant were just animalistic. Starting in the 1910s, respectable clients fastened diamond bird feathers on their hats and dresses. The most famous menagerie from Van Cleef & Arpels to our time was the La Boutique collection, released in 1954. Yes, it is to her that broods have already become textbooks - a coral squirrel with a chic tail, a golden-maned lion cub and a crafty winking cat. Jewelers now and then turned to the theme of fauna, and the collection of high jewelry art L'Arche de Noé is its crown today.
Plots
Designers approached the selection of animals in different ways: precious specimens represent creatures living on the earth and soaring in the sky of all continents and latitudes. In total there are more than 60 pairs. Their execution varies: some in the form of solid brooches, in others each of the representatives can be worn separately. But why? After all, sometimes a real scene is played out between them. For example, a rabbit reveals secrets to his brother, an elephant commands something to her husband, monkeys share tropical fruits. There is no need to talk about the variety of stones - which ones are just not there! It’s just the right time to compile a gemological mini-guide.
MYTHIC TRIO
The original move in understanding Noah's Ark is the presence in the collection of mythical creatures without pairs: unicorn, Phoenix and Pegasus. Their positive symbolism has previously attracted the creative minds of the House - just remember the 2012 Phénix Mystérieux necklace. Therefore, jewelers departed from the biblical plot and diluted the animal composition with these fabulous creatures. Very impressive: the inlay of the trio used the Mystery Set method of fastening, patented by the House back in 1933, in which the stones are fixed with a continuous sheet, completely hiding the metal underneath. Amazing unicorn sapphires, ruby generosity and gold mother of pearl in the face of the Phoenix, two tones of coral on the wings of Pegasus - with the light hand of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelers, the legendary creatures came to life in the most beautiful incarnations.
Text: Marina Motornaya
