PARIS.- In line with its annual tradition, Artcurial will be based in Monaco the second half of July for a week of prestigious auctions concentrating on jewellery, watches and Hermès vintage. The sales will be held at the Hôtel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo from July 16th to 21st July 2016.

For the first time, Artcurial has invited a leading figure from the fashion world to cast his eye and comment on the selection gathered by the auction house and thus enabling a creative dialogue around these precious artistic creations. The Parisian fashion and jewellery designer and artistic Director at Lanvin jewellery, Elie Top has accepted this inaugural invitation.

Elie Top will reveal his selection during a Parisian exhibition held at Artcurial from 24th to 27th June 2016. It will be an occasion to see a poetic panorama of three centuries of jewellery and watch creations and also enter into the luxury world of Hermès.

One will be able to trace the designer’s selection in the auction catalogue in the form of ink and pastel illustrations with models wearing some of the most beautiful pieces. This poetic mis en scène somewhere between surrealism and futurism offers a fresh vision mixing styles and genres.

Elie Top’s Preface
“I am thrilled to accept Artcurial’s invitation as I am personally an avid reader of auction catalogues. I often collect catalogues and use them as references as jewellery publications are quite rare and don’t offer the same exciting scope.

With catalogues, one always discovers delights and it is a good way of forming one’s taste. I have fun testing myself and guessing the jewellery designers behind the creations.

On a similar note, diving into the world of Hermès leather allowed me to learn more this art. I was surprised to see how much I loved certain famous models but in a smaller format or some rare bags with fine detailed finishings.

The world of watches is one that I have never explored as a designer and it was a real pleasure to be guided and to discover so much creativity with such precisions and fine mechanisms which remind me of my first jewellery line “Mécanique celeste” which was heavily influenced by armillary spheres.

To explain the reason behind my favourite pieces, I wanted to imagine two types of collectors:

• An adventurous soul, with varied taste, a glamorous seductive lady who is passionate about modern and bold jewellery which she integrates into her look in a daringly harmonious way.

• A wealthy yet more classical lady who is both sensitive and cultivated and who adds daring touches of jewellery to her naturally elegant and aristocratic look.”

After studying at the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris, Elie Top began his career as one of Monsieur’s last assistants at Yves Saint- Laurent. When Alber Elbaz became Artistic Director of the Rive Gauche line, Elie Top began designing his first accessories, jewellery and handbags. The collaboration continues today for the Lanvin collections. He has also worked regularly with other fashion houses such as Roger Vivier with Bruno Frisoni, Loulou de la Falaise, and also with Daniel Swarovski.

His style tends towards a very elaborate sketch characterised by its strength and pure lines, attention to detail and assembly: Couture know-how that skilfully slides into a contemporary spirit.

In May 2015, he created his own jewellery brand and presented his debut collected called, « Mécaniques Célestes », which was closely followed by « Etoiles mystérieuses » . His creative universe which is greatly inspired by the first half of the 20th century (from Viennese style from t he 1910s to the end of the French art Deco period in the 1940s) mixes gold, silver, stone and diamonds.