Van Cleef & Arpels’ flora- and fauna-inspired fine jewellery celebrates spring
New animal jewellery pieces in Van Cleef & Arpels’ ‘Lucky Animals’ and ‘Lucky Spring’ collections rethink familiar motifs
![Fox-shaped animal animal jewellery by Van Cleef & Arpels](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uWicNKyanvQ2TaUrthETFG-415-80.jpg)
Van Cleef & Arpels revisits playful design codes with new collections of fine jewellery, ‘Lucky Spring’ and ‘Lucky Animals’, putting both animals and cheerful spring motifs centre stage.
First released in 2017, the ‘Lucky Animals’ collection here rethinks the boldly drawn clips that characterised the original pieces. The teddy bear, fox, dachshund, bichon frisé and frog are sketched in yellow gold and filled in with onyx, malachite, grey mother-of-pearl and carnelian, cutting bold silhouettes.
Van Cleef & Arpels’ new animal jewellery designs
‘The “Lucky Animals” collection echoes the humorous wildlife creations of La Boutique,’ notes Van Cleef & Arpels. ‘Created in 1954, it was intended to enrich Van Cleef & Arpels’ range with more accessible, daywear jewellery: it notably included playful and light-hearted clips, known as ‘‘young jewels’’. Over the years, funny and touching animals, inspired by the first American cartoons, were created. The “Lucky Animals” collection follows this path by embodying the benevolent and generous nature that has always inspired Van Cleef & Arpels. The clips are astonishingly vivid: the animals seem to have been captured in their natural movements, their penetrating onyx gaze full of curiosity. Named Teddy Bear, Fox, Dachshund, Bichon Frisé, and Frog, they reveal delicate combinations of ornamental stones and mother-of-pearl, bordered by golden beads. With their lively expressions, they renew the Van Cleef & Arpels benevolent tradition.’
The animal jewellery joins floral pieces in new additions to the “Lucky Spring” collection, defined by warmer tones of rose gold, white mother-of-pearl, onyx, and carnelian, with the faithful rendering of the pieces requiring a sharply defined technical prowess.
‘The “Lucky Animals” collection features many combinations of materials and colours,’ the team add, ‘which therefore requires precision and intricacy throughout the creative process. Cutting the stones and mother-of-pearl and polishing the pieces are delicate operations, due to the small size of the components. The fine gold beads that outline the animals’ silhouettes are individually hand-polished, bringing out a precious touch of light. Highly polished gold is used on the legs, ears, and muzzles of the new pieces to bring the animals to life.’
£6,250, available from selfridges.com
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Hannah Silver is the Art, Culture, Watches & Jewellery Editor of Wallpaper*. Since joining in 2019, she has overseen offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, and written extensively across the worlds of culture and luxury. She enjoys meeting artists and designers, viewing exhibitions and conducting interviews on her frequent travels.
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
The Mercury Prize nominees for 2024 have been revealed
Charli XCX, The Last Dinner Party and Beth Gibbons are amongst this year's nominees
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels' immersive London exhibition takes visitors inside the watchmaking world
Van Cleef & Arpels’ exhibition, ‘Poetry of Time’, at South Kensington’s Cromwell Place gallery, traces the early days of the maison
By Hannah Silver Published
-
In Van Cleef & Arpels’ high jewellery, the archival meets the au courant
Van Cleef & Arpels pays tribute to its rich heritage with a captivating high jewellery collection
By Hannah Silver Published
-
L’École Van Cleef & Arpels is school of hard rocks
L’École Van Cleef & Arpels recently opened the doors to its new jewellery school, exhibition space and bookstore in Paris, winning a Wallpaper* Design Award 2024
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels brings the myths of the Black Forest to life in its high jewellery
The Grand Tour inspires the new Van Cleef & Arpels high jewellery collection
By Caragh McKay Published
-
Heritage meets modernity in Van Cleef & Arpels’ Seoul maison
Jouin Manku studio designs Van Cleef & Arpels’ Seoul project, running Korean and French design codes throughout
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels takes a Grand Tour of high jewellery
Van Cleef & Arpels presents a new high jewellery collection inspired by the traditional Grand Tour around Europe
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels’ high jewellery ballerinas are an ode to dance
High jewellery becomes fluid with Van Cleef & Arpels’ ballerina clips, which capture the movement of dance in gold and precious stones
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Van Cleef & Arpels explore the history of gems
Van Cleef & Arpels connect mineralogy, gemmology and jewellery in a Paris exhibition
By Caragh McKay Last updated