Jewel Purpose
Wallpaper|April 2023
Precious metals and stones are not just for the body. Here, we reveal the intricate links between the great jewellery houses and interior designers, in a story of parallel passions
Jewel Purpose

When Paris high jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels opened its first boutique in 1906, on Place Vendôme, one of its first orders was neither a pearl necklace nor a diamond ring. Rather, it was a jewel designed to adorn the home: a scale model of the New York socialite Eugene Higgins’ Varuna yacht, crafted in gold, silver, jasper, ebony and enamel. What made it particularly unique, however, was its modern functionality – it was fitted with an electric bell pusher to call the butler.

By the 1930s, Van Cleef & Arpels’ precious approach to technology elevated women’s wants with the marvellous minaudière, a rare 1935 version of which is photographed here. This tin box-inspired purse was engineered in gold, lacquer and gemstones to contain mirrors, face powders, a cigarette lighter, a lipstick holder, a tiny watch and, in this case, a pair of folding diamond-set spectacles.

Esta historia es de la edición April 2023 de Wallpaper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición April 2023 de Wallpaper.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE WALLPAPERVer todo
COOL RUNNINGS
Wallpaper

COOL RUNNINGS

Palace founder Lev Tanju is bringing his own unexpected brand of weirdness and love of eclectic mash-ups to Fila's new contemporary line

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 2025
LIVING COLOUR
Wallpaper

LIVING COLOUR

Mexico's San Miguel de Allende is home to a bold young crowd of talent that's thriving off the city's brightly-hued heritage

time-read
5 minutos  |
January 2025
STARS ASCENDING
Wallpaper

STARS ASCENDING

In a rapidly changing world, the route designers take to discover their calling is increasingly circuitous. We profile ten creatives forging their own paths to success

time-read
10+ minutos  |
January 2025
SUITE DREAMS
Wallpaper

SUITE DREAMS

Cathay Pacific’s new aircraft interiors turn the inflight experience into an art form, upgrading the business-class cabin for the next generation of flyers

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 2025
Brutal harmony
Wallpaper

Brutal harmony

The Escheresque Italian villa designed by Fausto Bontempi for sculptor Claudio Caffetto

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 2025
LOCAL HERO
Wallpaper

LOCAL HERO

London studio Holloway Li’s recent makeover of Polish hotel Puro Poznan is right up our street

time-read
2 minutos  |
January 2025
STAR TURNS
Wallpaper

STAR TURNS

An exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi unveils the stellar shortlist for this year's Richard Mille Art Prize

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 2025
SCREEN GEM
Wallpaper

SCREEN GEM

A multifaceted residence in Beverly Hills puts the beauty of potentiality in the frame

time-read
3 minutos  |
January 2025
SOFT SPOT
Wallpaper

SOFT SPOT

We've taken a shine to Bottega Veneta's collaboration with Flos on a special edition of a Gino Sarfatti lamp

time-read
1 min  |
January 2025
Between the lines
Wallpaper

Between the lines

Frequently drawing comparisons with Francis Bacon, painter George Rouy is gaining peer points for his use of classic techniques to distort the human form

time-read
4 minutos  |
January 2025