Pair of 18 Karat Gold 'Manchettes', Van Cleef & Arpels, Circa 1970

The rigid cuffs of hammered free-form design weighing approximately 101 dwts., internal circumference 6 inches, one signed VCA and numbered 2V702-50.

Jewelry from the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sotheby's New York, April 24, 1996, lot 451.

Another pair of similar cuffs, from the Estate of Lucia Moreira Salles, was sold by Sotheby's in New York, Magnificent Jewels, December 9, 2009, lot 254.

A pair of almost identical Etruscan-style cuffs appeared in the exhibition Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels, Smithsonian, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, New York, February 18 – July 4, 2011, no. 325. Another single cuff is illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, p. 265, fig. 38.

Both cuffs are in excellent condition. There is little or no tarnish or signs of wear. They are well made and wrap nicely around the wrist. They fit a small to medium wrist. One cuff is signed and numbered, the other is unsigned.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion. Illustrations in the catalogue may not be actual size. Prospective purchasers are reminded that, unless the catalogue description specifically states that a stone is natural, we have assumed that some form of treatment may have been used and that such treatment may not be permanent. Our presale estimates reflect this assumption.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

These bangles in the Etruscan style illustrate how successfully the designers of Van Cleef & Arpels were able to blend the old and new. Exotic themes were a constant source of inspiration for the Arpels family resulting from extensive foreign travel and the ever increasing number of international clients. They were not content to merely repeat the past. The bangles offered here, although inspired by the hammered gold work of an ancient culture, are thoroughly modern in design and typical of the bold sculptural jewels of the 1970s.