Description
A GOLD AND IVORY 'ALHAMBRA' NECKLACE, BY VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, CIRCA 1970
Composed of twenty quatrefoil-shaped ivory links, within beaded gold frames, connected by a hammered trace-link chain, mounted in 18K gold, signed VCA, numbered B4050 V141, French assay marks, length 80.5cm
** Please note that this lot contains ivory and is subject to CITES regulations when exporting outside of the EU. The United States Government has banned the import of ivory into the USA.
In this the 50th anniversary year of the creation of Van Cleef & Arpels iconic four-leaf clover sautoir known as Alhambra, Adams are delighted to present two pieces from the original collection produced in 1968.
The symbol of luck, it has become an immediately recognisable signature of the House of Van Cleef & Arpels and is probably the most easily wearable piece of high jewellery in existence. Although the use of flowers and clovers occurred often prior to the creation of the Alhambra, the simple line of the sautoir signalled a defining moment in style history both for Van Cleef & Arpels and for high jewellery in general.
Delicate, sophisticated and effortlessly stylish, the subtle yellow gold chain plays host to a series of yellow gold beaded silhouettes, each gently framing a selection of natures finest and most precious materials from white and grey mother-of-pearl, to malachite, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and of course ivory and coral, as exemplified here. It is an embodiment of the skilled lapidaries, jewellers, stone-setters and polishers whose craft makes the Alhambra so effortless and fluid.
While the Alhambra has had many patrons, none has been more illustrious than the beautiful Princess Grace, or Grace Kelly as she was previously known. Although as a favoured muse of the house, she owned a virtual treasure trove of gems by Van Cleef & Arpels, her everyday jewellery box contained three Alhambra sautoirs. One in malachite, one in tortoiseshell and one in coral, just like the one included in this sale. Interestingly, the malachite edition was limited to only 100 pieces due to the rarity of the material. Each of these is numbered and can still be identified today.
Van Cleef & Arpels continue to create and renew the Alhambra as time goes on and in this the collections 50th year, a limited edition commemorative collection has been quickly snapped up by devoted followers. However, none are more coveted than the original first collection from 1968.
