parisforart had the privilege to participate to the course Enter in the universe of Van Cleef & Arpels proposed by the jewellery house school.
Half a day to discover creations of this famous jeweller established Place Vendôme since 1906. At the origines, a great love story between Mister Van Cleef and Miss Arpels. For more than 100 years, this great house creates exceptional jewels inspired by nature (animals, flowers), fairy tales, cosmos, foreign countries, danse and love. VC&A also invented 2 innovative concepts : la minaudière and the Mystery Setting. La minaudière is a small box within which elegant women could put their personal effects. Mystery setting allows to assemble precious stones in a totally invisible manner. VC&A also elaborates 5 extraordinary creations, as for example a zip collar, that could be transformed into bracelet.
We had the opportunity to wear this amazing piece valued one million euros ! Unforgettable experience !
If you want to discover the secret of Mystery setting and manipulate exceptional pieces of jewellery, come to Van Cleef & Arpels School. You will also have the opportunity to visit the boutique and museum Place Vendôme.

We also propose these lifestyle experiences with perfume workshop and macarons testing in our Paris Lifesyle Ladies Program.
Contact us for more information . 

In the 1920s, the hotel was soon contributing to the Rive Gauche’s intellectual effervescence as the area, at that time, attracted many writers and publishing houses (including the famous NRF, Nouvelle Revue Française). Since then, it has continued to encourage and support artistic creation.

It was, in fact, continuing a tradition started by Juliette Récamier in the 1830s at Abbaye-aux-Bois, a convent where she lived due to a change in her fortunes (this location today is Rue Récamier, located between 12 and 14 Rue de Sèvres, directly opposite the Lutetia). There, she held her famous and legendary salon which attracted in particular her ardent admirer, Chateaubriand. Of particular note were readings performed there from Mémoires d’Outre-Tombe, a text written just a few steps away at 120 Rue du Bac.

Numerous writers have stayed at the Lutetia, among the most notable being André Gide, Albert Cohen, James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. A few artists such as Arman, César, Hikily, Takis and Bisch created artworks which still adorn its rooms and hallways. In particular, a 2m high Eiffel by César welcomes clients in the reception hall. Several suites were decorated by these artists and hung with their works. Recently, it was the turn of the Campana brothers to add their creative touch. The hotel also organises literary and musical evenings, and transforms its gallery (linking the reception hall to the restaurants) into a veritable art gallery welcoming temporary exhibitions of contemporary artworks.

If you find yourself in the area, a visit to this hotel is a must. Discover (or rediscover) a place bursting with history and charming with its slightly outdated décor. This is one of the stops along the “Art walk with a difference: Montparnasse to Rue du Bac”.

Copyright Fabrice Rambert

View of the lithography by Alechinsky – Crédit Photo Sebastien Straessle

“Art is part of my life” says Guy Savoy (3 Michelin stars), so much so he decided to take advantage of his collection of works of art on a daily basis by displaying them in his restaurant on rue Troyon, 75017 Paris, designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. His collection has expanded over the course of his travels and according to his tastes since he was first initiated by one of Alechinsky’s lithographies at the age of 27. African sculptures stand alongside collages by Georges Autard (who designs a collectors’ greetings card every year), oil paintings by Fabrice Hyber and steel creations by Jean-Pierre Rives.
For Guy Savoy, art helps us to keep an open, inquiring mind, to recharge our batteries, to develop our sensitivity and our sense of aesthetics.
Art can also be found on each table, as the Goutte d’eau uses tableware (salt and pepper pots, butter dishes) designed by Laurent Beyne in colourful cut glass and one-off presentation plates designed by Virginia Mo.
In January 2013 the restaurant will be moving to the Monnaie de Paris (11 quai Conti, 75006 Paris) which will be refurbished as part of the Metalmorphose project (www.monnaiedeparis.fr).  We will be able to discover a new design, still by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, with new displays and in particular a monumental piece by Fabienne Verdier and other surprises on loan by François Pinault. To be continued…
Restaurant Guy Savoy, 18 rue Troyon, 75017 Paris www.guysavoy.com

Completely refurbished in 2010 and decorated by Philippe Starck, the Royal Monceau-Raffles has become the quintessential arty hotel, where art and design take pride of place.
Unique in Paris : this hotel  has its own gallery, “Art District”, where international contemporary photographs are exhibited.  At the moment, and until 2nd September, Jean-François Rauzier is taking pride of place with his Hyperphotos, in which the real and the virtual are subtly blended. www.artforbreakfast.com. An art concierge is on hand to present the exhibition and also to make suggestions for cultural and artistic activities in Paris or to organise a private visit to a museum. Not far away, the Librairie des Arts, the only modern art bookshop set in a Parisian palace, offers a selection of multiple works (by Anish Kapoor last year) or single editions.
Art permeates the whole place:  in the bedrooms where photographs from the hotel’s private collection are hung; on the landings of each floor where contemporary exhibits take pride of place (La grande horde by Nicolas Polissky for example); in the restaurant (La Cuisine) where made-to-order, one-off plates by artists and designers are displayed and the ceiling is decorated with a fresco by Stephane Calais; in the hotel entrance where even the carpet displays the Philippe Starck trademark. Arty throughout! www.leroyalmonceau.com, 37 avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris

Parisforart special offer: visit the whole of this palace and its gallery as part of our Monceau-Ternes Artistic Itinerary