Tokyo, Japan — The elegance of Art Deco is making a dazzling return in Tokyo this fall as Van Cleef & Arpels unveils Timeless Art Deco with Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry at the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum. Opening on September 27, 2025, and running through January 18, 2026, the exhibition marks the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, the Paris event that gave Art Deco its name.
Timeless Art Deco with Van Cleef & Arpels: A Historic Celebration
Curated by Van Cleef & Arpels, the show highlights the Maison’s long-standing ties to the Art Deco movement, featuring more than 250 creations, including jewelry, watches, and precious objects, drawn from the house’s patrimonial collection and private lenders. Complementing these are 60 archival documents that trace the evolution of design and craftsmanship through the early 20th century.
Among the highlights is the Entwined Flowers, Red and White Roses bracelet (1924), a jewel that won Van Cleef & Arpels a Grand Prize at the landmark 1925 Paris exhibition. Its presence in Tokyo underscores the maison’s role not just as a participant, but as a defining voice in the birth of the Art Deco aesthetic.
An Exhibition in Dialogue with Its Setting
The choice of venue is deliberate: the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, originally the residence of Prince Asaka, is itself an Art Deco architectural masterpiece. Its interiors, designed by French artist Henri Rapin, offer a rare harmony between the building and the jewels now displayed within it.
This exhibition is a conversation between Van Cleef & Arpels’ creations and the architecture that surrounds them. Indeed, both are children of the same artistic moment—one etched in stone, the other in gold and gemstones. According to the exhibition’s curators, the show “explores the birth and evolution of Art Deco through Van Cleef & Arpels’ creations”—a theme that resonates particularly well in a space that is itself a living symbol of the era.
Themes and Innovations
The exhibition unfolds in three thematic chapters:
- The Emergence of an Art Deco Aesthetic — Tracing the break from Art Nouveau’s flowing curves to Art Deco’s geometric clarity.
- The Evolution Toward a Singular Style — Showcasing Van Cleef & Arpels’ innovations, from sculptural jewels to technical breakthroughs.
- Nature as Inspiration — Highlighting stylized flowers, animals, and natural motifs that remain signatures of the house.
Alongside the historical creations, visitors will encounter Van Cleef & Arpels’ technical marvels: the patented Mystery Set™, transformable jewels, gemstone sculpting, enameling, and goldsmithing of extraordinary finesse.
A Rare Opportunity
Many of the pieces on display date back to the 1920s and 1930s, an era when jewels were frequently reworked or dismantled for their stones. To see so many intact examples together is a rarity. For both jewelry connoisseurs and cultural historians, the show offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to witness the artistry of a bygone era.
Fashion and design critics note that the exhibition also serves as a reminder of Van Cleef & Arpels’ pioneering role in shaping 20th-century decorative arts. The maison’s early Art Deco creations sit at the crossroads of jewelry and architecture, symbolizing a moment when modernism found its most glamorous expressions.
Practical Details for the Timeless Art Deco with Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry Exhibition
- Dates: September 27, 2025 – January 18, 2026
- Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (Main Building & Annex)
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (extended to 8:00 PM on Nov. 21, 22, 28, 29; Dec. 5, 6)
- Closed: Mondays (except October 13th, November 3rd, November 24th, and January 12th), the New Year’s period (December 28th to January 4th), and October 14th, November 4th, November 25th, and January 13th.
- Tickets: Timed-entry; Adults ¥1,400, with discounts for students and seniors
Reservations are recommended due to expected high demand.
For more details, see the special exhibition website.
A Jewel of an Anniversary
By situating its masterpieces within the architectural gem of the Teien Art Museum, Van Cleef & Arpels has created more than an exhibition. It has staged a dialogue between two of the most elegant expressions of Art Deco artistry.
Timeless Art Deco with Van Cleef & Arpels High Jewelry is not merely a showcase of jewels but a celebration of the maison’s enduring place in cultural history. As the 1925 Paris exhibition gave Art Deco its name, so too does this Tokyo show remind us that some styles—and some maisons—are truly timeless.
Featured image: Van Cleef & Arpels
Sewelo is a world where jewelry, watches, and objects come alive in a shimmering dance of fantasy. Through a literary lens, we celebrate the beauty and elegance that make these treasures more than just possessions.
