Van Cleef & Arpels celebrates its 115th anniversary with a 300-piece jewelry showcase.
In 1896, Alfred Van Cleef, son of a stonecutter, and Estelle Arpels, daughter of a precious-stones dealer, merged their family businesses, creating a French jewelry house that continues to endure. Now, New York City’s Cooper-Hewitt Museum is celebrating the couple’s 115th anniversary with “Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels” (cooperhewitt.org; through June 5), showcasing more than 300 pieces from the archives. One highlight: a circa-1970 ivory pendant with turquoise and gold hieroglyphic details inspired by the excavation of King Tut’s tomb.
