French Circa 1950 Van Cleef & Arpels 18k Basketweave Pill Box

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French Circa 1950 Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Basketweave Box

A finely made mid-century French vanity or pill box by … Read more French Circa 1950 Van Cleef & Arpels 18K Basketweave Box

A finely made mid-century French vanity or pill box by Van Cleef & Arpels, executed in rich 18k yellow gold and worked throughout with an allover “vannerie” (basketweave) pattern that reads as both ornament and structure. The exterior is built up from tightly repeating, faceted lozenges that create a quilted, light-catching surface, while the sides continue the motif in a slightly deeper, relief-like grid that gives the small form an unexpectedly architectural presence. The lid and base are precisely matched at the rim, with a slim, integrated hinge and a push-button release that is deliberately concealed within the basketweave banding so the mechanism disappears into the pattern—an elegant piece of functional camouflage typical of high jewelry house construction.

Inside, the same basketweave language is carried onto the fitted gold interior, producing a unified, immersive texture rather than a plain lining; this continuity, along with the crisp edges and careful finishing at the corners, underscores the object’s luxury purpose as a discreet personal container. The markings include Van Cleef & Arpels signature and “750” for 18k gold, accompanied by French assay hallmarks consistent with French manufacture and control for 18k fineness. Comparable Van Cleef & Arpels basketweave (“vannerie”) gold pill boxes are documented in the mid-20th century, with examples described as circa 1950 in auction cataloguing.

Measurements: **0.5" h x 1.625" w x 1" d. Weight 21.8 grams. See less