Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Behind the Art: Dede Wilsey talks French Jewelry

Mystery set flower brooch, Van Cleef & Arpels, 1978. 18K gold, platinum, rubies, sapphires, diamonds. Collection of Iris Cantor

We sat down and talked to Dede Wilsey, FAMSF Board President, about the magnificent pieces she has lent to the exhibition Masterpieces of French Jewelry, on view at the Legion of Honor through June 10.

Q: Martin Chapman, the curator of Masterpieces of French Jewelry, calls the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace you lent to the exhibition "everything a diamond necklace should be." How did it come into your possession?

A: It is a piece my father bought for my mother. We used to go to Monte Carlo in the 50s. Every Friday night there would be an unbelievable gala and the women would dress up in beautiful dresses and gorgeous jewelry. I was a little girl, and I used to watch them and dream of having jewelry and dresses of my own. It was really the heyday of fancy dress.

One Friday in Monte Carlo, my mother, Ruth, needed some jewelry to wear with a new gown. Our family went to Van Cleef & Arpels to borrow something. Claude Arpel was happy to lend her this necklace. He liked to lend jewelry over the weekend, because he said that on Monday it was rarely returned, it was usually purchased instead… and my father purchased the necklace for my mother.

I grew up and married, and occasionally I would borrow the necklace to wear to a party or event. One Christmas, my mother came to visit. When I opened one of her presents to me, it was the necklace along with a note. The note said: "Your father never liked to see beautiful things on old necks... [more]

Posted by: | April 11 at 4:37:20 PM
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