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La Minaudière is an iconic, patented jewelry accessory created by Van Cleef & Arpels in 1933, designed as a luxurious and highly functional vanity case for women's evening essentials. The term is a trademark of Van Cleef & Arpels and not a generic name for a type of bag.
History and Design
Inspired by socialite Florence Jay Gould who stored her cosmetics in a tin cigarette box, Charles Arpels conceived an elegant solution for women's evening necessities. The resulting "Minaudière" was a rectangular, hard-shelled case designed to hold various items in specialized compartments.
Ingenious Compartments: The interior typically featured a mirror, a powder compact, a lipstick holder, a lighter, and a comb, with some even incorporating a miniature secret watch.
Exquisite Materials: Early models were crafted from materials like gold, silver, and "Stryptor" (an alloy), and adorned with precious stones, lacquer, or guilloché motifs.
Transformable Elements: In keeping with the Maison's tradition of transformable jewelry, some Minaudières had clasps that could be detached and worn as separate clips or brooches.
Van Cleef & Arpels does not currently feature "La Minaudière" as a standard production item in its main collections, but rather as a heritage piece. The pieces available are vintage and sold through auctions and high-end secondary markets.
