poster of the exhibition of The Spirit of Beauty

Legends

2010: more than a century of jewelry creation on display at “The Spirit of Beauty” exhibition in Tokyo

From October 31, 2009 to January 17, 2010, Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum hosted “The Spirit of Beauty,” an exhibition spanning more than 100 years of creation at Van Cleef & Arpels. In all, more than 290 pieces were on display, including jewelry, watches, precious accessories and objets d’art from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection, as well as private collections in France and abroad.

Patrick Jouin’s original décor transformed the Mori Arts Center’s 1,000 m² (10,750 sq. ft.) into a contemplative, dreamlike journey. Under the benevolent gaze of fairies, the Maison's cherished mascots, visitors explored four central themes: Spirit of Nature, Spirit of Elegance, Spirit of Adventure and Incarnations. This immersion into the heart of Van Cleef & Arpels’ heritage also offered an opportunity to discover the Maison’s savoir-faire, the magic of exceptional stones and the prowess of several generations of jewelers.

Hawaï Passe-Partout necklace, 1939, yellow gold, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels collection

Small winged fairy clip, 1941, platinum, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, Van Cleef & Arpels collection

Panka set, turquoise, diamonds, yellow gold, 1973-1974, Van Cleef & Arpels Collection

From one room to the next, the exhibition brought together pieces that forged the Van Cleef & Arpels style, shedding light on the stories and inspirations behind more than a century of creation: a Passe-Partout jewel from 1939, the 1941 Fairy clip that once belonged to American socialite Barbara Hutton, known as the “Million Dollar Baby,” as well as the turquoise and diamond Panka necklace from 1974.