VAN CLEEF & ARPELS 1960 PARIS ELLIPTICAL CREOLE TEXTURED EARRINGS IN 18 KT GOLD

EXCEDINGLY RARE EARRINGS DESIGNED BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS.

A LUNAR INSPIRED SCULPTURAL PAIR OF EARCLIPS CREATED IN PARIS FRANCE IN THE EARLY 1970'S. IT WAS HAND CRAFTED IN SOLID 18 KARATS OF TEXTURED YELLOW GOLD AND SUITED WITH OMEGA BACKS FOR FASTENING CLIPS.

THE DESIGN OF THESE SCULPTURE PIECES RECREATES THE LUNAR SURFACE WITH CRATERS AND TEXTURES. IN ADDITION, ITS ELIPTICAL SHAPE REMEMBERS US OF THE ORBITS OF THE APOLLO XI SPACE CAPSULE.

BETWEEN THE YEARS 1960 AND 1970, SEVERAL JEWELRY COMPANIES RECREATED IN THEIR PIECES THEMES ABOUT SIDERAL SPACE AND MORE IN PARTICULAR IN THE RACE TO LUNCH ON THE MOON. CARTIER WITH JEWELER ROGER LUCAS, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS WITH THESE EARRINGS AND THE FAMOUS CUFFS MANCHETES AND THE FAMOUS APOLLO XI EARRINGS COMMISSIONED BY ONASSIS TO LALAOUNIS WERE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR DESIGNS.

                                                     Jackie O. Kennedy

                            VCA Manchete                                        Lalaounis

THIS PAIR HAVE A COMBINED WEIGHT OF 52.95 Grams AND A MEASURES OF 70 mm (2.76 Inches) BY 42 mm (1.65 Inches).

THEY ARE BOTH STAMPED WITH FRENCH HALLMARKS; THE EAGLE'S HEAD FOR THE ASSAY AND GUARANTY OF THE 18 KT GOLD, THE MAKER'S MAITRE CARTOUCHE Ste. GP, THE UNIQUE SERIAL NUMBERS AND SIGNED IN FULL, "VAN CLEEF & ARPELS MADE IN FRANCE 18 Kts 3V 587-1 .750"

SALES REFERENCES: SOTHEBY'S, NYC, THE COLLECTION OF MICHELLE SMITH, 22 APRIL 2021, LOT-237

LITERATURE: AN IDENTICAL EXAMPLE CAN BE FOUND IN VAN CLEEF & ARPELS THE ART OF HIGH JEWELRY BY ÉVELYNE POSSÉMÉ, PAGE 205.

COLLECTIONS: Mrs. JACKIE O. KENEDDY, Mrs. MICHELLE SMITH.

PROVENANCE: A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN NYC, A PRIVATE COLLECTION IN GENEVA.

THEY ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND IN PERFECT CONDITION. WE BELIEVE NO MORE THAN 6 PAIRS WERE MANUFACTURED.

INVENTORY REF: E0000ICON/1.272