I was mighty miffed when I was told that I couldn’t photograph the dazzling gems in the Van Cleef and Arpels show, even when I made a request to the press office, who denied my request and said photos were strictly forbidden.
Do you think that stopped me? I went to the exhibit with armed with my I-Phone camera. It was difficult to shoot the photos in the main hall of the exhibit as the guards were hovering. But soon as I got in the side galleries, I started to click away. It was a bit difficult, as I had to constantly look over my shoulder and also focus on taking the shots. I was stopped twice by a guard with a strict warning, but apparently that didn’t stop me. I was clever enough to go through the whole exhibit first, so if I was thrown out, I would have at least seen it.
The exhibit is about the rich history of the esteemed jewelers who set up their original shop on the Place Vendome in the early 1900s. Over 400 pieces are on display from their archives and from private collections. Not only are the jewels and the detailing magnificent in their own right, but the display is equally stunning and dramatic. The exhibit is arranged chronologically by decade with Art Deco inspired vitrines with rounded edges. Each piece is artfully placed with a short description and the year it was produced, and some look like they are floating in air. It was fascinating to see the metamorphosis through each decade and how their style evolved with key pieces.
Some of the highlights include pieces made for Elizabeth Taylor, the diamond tiara designed for Princess Charlene for her marriage to Prince Albert of Monaco in 2011, and the zipper necklace that was inspired by an idea from the Duchess of Windsor.
Till February 10
Museé Les Arts Decoratifs
107 rue de Rivoli, 75001
Metro Palais Royal-Musée de Louvre
http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr
In addition to my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, we now offer Eye Prefer New York Tours, 3-hour walking tours of New York's best neighborhoods including Soho, Meatpacking/West Village & Tribeca. Tours cost $195 for up to 3 people and $65 for each additional person.Come take a bite of the Big Apple on an Eye Prefer New York Tour!
Come experience my blog ìliveî with my Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I lead. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris. www.eyepreferparistours.com
New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
THANK YOU Richard for breaking all the rules and bringing us these jewels! If you ever feel like staging a heist, I get dibs on the first one with the rubies - my birth stone!
Posted by: Mary Ann | November 07, 2012 at 04:57 PM