VAN CLEEF & ARPELS STYPTOR, DIAMOND AND GOLD MINAUDIERE

Of textured styptor with a diamond-set rose gold clasp, opening to reveal a mirrored compartment with compacts and lipsticks

METAL: Styptor and low karat rose gold
DIAMONDS: 54 single-cut diamonds with approximate total weight of 1.00 - 1.10 carat
SIGNATURE: VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
MARKS: LA MINAUDIERE, DEPOSE, STYPTOR
SIZE/DIMENSIONS: 16.7 x 12.5 x 2.1 cm
GROSS WEIGHT: 728.6 grams

Perhaps Van Cleef & Arpels' most famous accessory, 'La Minaudiere' has become an absolute icon of the French House. The first minaudiere was created in 1934 for Florence Gould after Charles Arpels visited the famous socialite at her home. Noticing that she kept all of her essentials for going out in a Lucky Strike cigarette tin, Louis Arpels committed to ensuring that she carry something more suitable for her glamorous lifestyle and thus, 'La Minaudiere' was born.

This particular example, which is made of styptor with a dash of gold and diamonds was likely made sometime during the Second World War when materials were far more scarce. Van Cleef used this ingenious styptor alloy, which was a combination of pewter and silver in these creations during this time and the present example is a wonderful vintage example of Van Cleef & Arpels creativity in both design and materials.

Please note this lot is the property of a private individual.