NEWSROOM

"Recreating Gesture, the Replica of the Celtic Torque of Montans", an exhibition of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

Exhibition - July 3, 2025

Poster of the exhibition, Artwork by Elisa Seitzinger.

In accordance with its mission to share the knowledge and culture of jewelry, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts is publicly presenting this radically new research project at the crossroads of archaeology and the history of techniques, from July 3rd to September 21st, 2025 at the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau in Paris. Among the research projects carried out by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, the recreation of the Montans torque is utterly unique. The aim of this collaborative adventure in experimental archaeology was to achieve an understanding of the skills and techniques of a given period by reproducing the object studied—in this case a Celtic torque, a kind of rigid neck collar, made of gold, discovered in 1843 at Montans in the Tarn region, in the south of France, and dating from the Second Iron Age (450–25 BC).

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly.

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

© L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts. Photo: Benjamin Chelly

For this project, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts is partnering with the Centre Archéologique de Montans, the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale at Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Barbara Armbruster at the CNRS (The National Centre for Scientific Research, the largest French public research organization). These experts seize the opportunity to delve into a material, gold, and, beyond that, to understand a Celtic neck ring of singular complexity dating back over 2,500 years. Goldsmith Antoine Legouy, a master chaser and Meilleur Ouvrier de France (a title awarded exclusively in France, certifying the acquisition of a high level of qualification in the practice of an activity), helped recreate and understand these very delicate forms, in collaboration with archaeologists and Gregory Weinstock, Van Cleef & Arpels’ Director of High Jewelry Métiers.

 

Considering form through manual techniques was at the heart of their shared concerns. Referring to the Celts, Antoine Legouy indicates he considered the challenge from their point of view, aiming “to follow in their footsteps” and rediscover forgotten techniques.

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

Photo: Guillaume Levelu/ Guil Photographie

The exhibition is accompanied by a cultural program including panel discussions. It will then travel to Lyon from November 24th to 30th, 2025 as part of “de Mains en mains”, an event organized by the Maison Van Cleef & Arpels dedicated to the transmission of jewelry savoir-faire.

  • "Recreating Gesture, the Replica of the Celtic Torque of Montans", an exhibition of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

     

    Dates: from July 3rd until September 21st, 2025

    Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 1:30pm to 7:00pm

    Location: L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau, 

    16 bis, boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris

     

    Introduction to the exhibition with a guide every 30 minutes (in French).

    Guided family tours with an explanation adapted for children on Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (in French).

     

    Exhibition visits also include access to a presentation of the architecture and history of the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau.

     

    Free admission under reservation here.

     

    Exhibition Curator: Emmanuelle Amiot, PhD in Art History and Head of Research at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

    Scientific Advisor: Céline Gaslain, Archaeologist, PhD in Art History and Researcher at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts

     

    Poster of the exhibition: Artwork by Elisa Seitzinge