Voice of Jewels

Cleopatra’s glory is immortal. Since Antiquity, the Egyptian queen has inspired painters, sculptors, directors and jewelers. While her features remain unknown to us, one thing is certain: she was a woman of jewels! Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.This episode is loosely based on historical events. With the participation of Emmanuelle Amiot, PhD in Art History, and Senior Research project manager at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.

In the early 1920s, the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb resulted in a spectacular phenomenon, like few archeological digs had before. This Egyptian fever is summed up in one word: “Tutmania”. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels. With the participation of Valentin Boyer, PhD student in Egyptology at the Sorbonne University and teacher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.

Drawn from the depths of time in the Egyptian desert, the scarab – a symbol of eternity and reincarnation – is an enduring talisman. It made a remarkable comeback in Rome in the mid-19th century, when a certain Baroness crossed the threshold of the Castellani brothers’ workshop. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels. With the participation of Emmanuelle Amiot, PhD in Art History, and Senior Research project manager at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.This episode is loosely based on historical events. Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.

In 1923, a French archeologist made a remarkable discovery on the coast of Lebanon: a gold pectoral representing a falcon with outstretched wings. This jewel tells how the land of the Pharaohs inspired and stimulated the creativity of the goldsmiths of Byblos… Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels. With the participation of Céline Gaslain-Leduc, PhD in Archeology & Art History and researcher à L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.

Ancient Egypt is one of humanity’s oldest civilizations. Its pyramids, sarcophagi, hieroglyphs, and mysterious gods have shaped the imagination of artists, creators, and notably jewelers. The jewels inspired by the Egypt of the Pharaohs are at the heart of this new season. Visit a goldsmith’s workshop in Byblos and the boutique of a famous Italian antique dealer, enter Tutankhamun’s tomb, and delve behind the scenes of the 1961 movie Cleopatra. Necklaces, brooches, bracelets, jewelry sets… These pieces, crafted from gold and adorned with colored stones, not only reflect the mysteries of ancient Egypt but its enduring legacy. Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels. With the participation of Emmanuelle Amiot, PhD in Art History, and Senior Research project manager at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts; Céline Gaslain-Leduc, PhD in Archeology & Art History and Researcher à L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts; and Valentin Boyer, PhD student in Egyptology at the Sorbonne University and teacher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.

Have you ever heard of abraxas? These are talismans in the shape of oblong shields, covered with motifs inspired by Egyptian, Greek, and Roman mythology, and engraved with Kabbalistic prayers, Hebrew words, and magical symbols. One could easily believe that these strange jewelry pieces belong to the wizards of tales and legends…And yet, they were made by a human hand! No surprise then that the Queen of France, the feared Catherine de’ Medici, had her very own talisman, one that would fuse jewelry art … and alchemy!Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.With Inezita Gay-Eckel, Jewelry Historian and Lecturer at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini and produced by Bababam.

“It was in Megara, a suburb of Carthage, in the gardens of Hamilcar…”This is the opening sentence of Salammbô, Flaubert’s great historical novel, which has become a cult classic. Just like its heroine … the Carthaginian princess with dazzling finery and a tragic destiny.Salammbô was a profound source of inspiration to the artists of the Belle Époque and particularly, one of its avant-garde jewelers: the audacious René Lalique.But how did a jeweler dare to give substance to such a sensual, extravagant masterpiece?Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.With the participation of Charline Coupeau, doctor in art history, jewelry specialist, gemologist and researcher at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Jean Ann Douglass and produced by Bababam.

In Spanish, the word “lechuga” means lettuce. But it is also the nickname for a sacred object, a monstrance adorned with so many emeralds that it takes on the color of lettuce. These precious stones come from the famous mines of Colombia, known for centuries by the native populations. Even today, these mines are the source of some of the world’s most beautiful emeralds.  The monstrance, a masterpiece of goldsmithing and a symbol of the encounter between indigenous and European cultures, has survived time and history. Now a national treasure, it once almost disappeared forever. Without a doubt, it is truly miraculous that this remarkable object can thankfully be still admired today.  Voice of Jewels, a podcast from L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts supported by Van Cleef & Arpels. Unveiling the stories and secrets behind History’s most fascinating jewels.With the participation of Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, gemologist and art historian at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Written by Martin Quenehen and Aram Kebabdjian, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, and produced by Bababam.