AS DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT

A metaphor for strength and fragility, nature has been a cherished muse of Van Cleef & Arpels for over a century. One constant inspiration from the incredible universe is the butterfly, which captivates beholders with its grace and ephemeral beauty. In a quest to capture the winged creature’s natural allure, the house has created a collection of Lacquered Butterfly clips in collaboration with Japanese lacquer artisan, Junichi Hakose. The renowned master of lacquer handcrafts each elegant work of art in his workshop in Wajima, Japan, by employing a traditional 18th-century method, urushi. Inspired by historical motifs, the embellished arthropod’s wings and body flaunt a myriad precious materials including white gold, blue and yellow sapphires, spessartite garnets, black spinel, onyx and diamonds – as featured here on the Papillon de Nuit butterfly clip. This creative crosscultural partnership is interpreted by Korean artist-photographer Suh Young-hee. Echoing the works of a famed Korean painter from the ancient Joseon dynasty, Suh breathes new life into each clip by reimagining them on poetic compositions of painterly blooms rendered in handcrafted hanji paper.