This weekend in Kyoto: Van Cleef & Arpels presents ‘Mastery of an Art’

Every year, Van Cleef & Arpels holds an exhibition for its heritage collection at various museums around the world. Last year, ‘The Art and Science of Gems’ was showcased at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore. This time around, the world-renowned high jewellery Maison brings its exquisite archive of creations to a different destination – the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Japan.

 

Titled ‘Mastery of an Art: Van Cleef & Arpels – High Jewelry and Japanese Crafts’, the exhibition will feature the high jewellery of Van Cleef & Arpels and the traditional crafts of Japan, comparing the two within the context of skilled Japanese and French workmanship.

 

The quaint, historical and cultural city of Kyoto paints the perfect backdrop to display the rich heritage of Van Cleef & Arpels. Both are renowned for being home to highly skilled artisans whom have transmitted the mysteries of their art to successive generations. In this enlightening exhibition, the focus is placed on the ‘mastery of an art’, where a unique bond between high jewellery and the 1,200-year old traditional crafts of Japan is forged.

 

At the exhibition, one will be able to admire high jewellery that were produced in the Maison’s studio between the 1920s and the 1980s, traditional as well as contemporary Japanese crafts, and collaborative works that integrate elements of both high jewellery and Japanese craft. In one section, some 100 works of high jewellery that exhibits transcendental workmanship are on display, alongside about 50 equally sublime examples of Japanese crafts, including cloisonné enamel, ceramics, lacquer ware and metalwork.

 

Take a look at some of the exquisite works you’ll be able to find at the exhibition here: 

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The ‘Mastery of an Art: Van Cleef & Arpels – High Jewelry and Japanese Crafts’ exhibition will run from 29 April to 6 August 2017 at the the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Japan.

 

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