The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels Sets Attendance Record

Installation View, Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels. Photo: Matt Flynn, © Smithsonian Institution.

NEW YORK-: The Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition attracted a record-breaking 172,000 visitors during its 20-week-run at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. On view from Feb. 18 through July 4, visitation to “Set in Style” exceeded the previous exhibition attendance record holder, Design Life Now: National Design-Triennial 2006. 

Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels examined the renowned jewelry firm’s significant historical contributions to jewelry design and design innovation, particularly--during the 20th century. Organized by Sarah Coffin, curator and head of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department, the exhibition featured more than 350 works, including jewels, timepieces, fashion accessories and objets d’art by Van Cleef & Arpels, many of which-were created exclusively for American clientele, along with design drawings, commission books, fabrication cards and imagery from the firm’s archives.

The ‘Set in Style’ exhibition shattered previous attendance records and brought-multiple new audiences to Cooper-Hewitt, said Associate Director Caroline Baumann. “We hope to continue this exciting momentum as we present exhibitions and programs off-site during the-renovation.”

The exhibition galleries at Cooper-Hewitt are now closed as it embarks on $64 million-capital project that includes enlarged and enhanced facilities for exhibitions, collections display, education programming and the National Design Library, and an increased endowment. When the museum reopens in 2013, gallery space will increase by 60 percent. During the renovation, Cooper-Hewitt’s usual schedule of exhibitions, education--programs and events will be staged at various off-site locations, including “Design with the Other 90%: Cities,” on view at the United Nations Oct. 15 through Jan. 9, 2012. Visitors can continue to enjoy the museum’s Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden and the Shop at Cooper-Hewitt, which will remain open this summer without an admission fee.