Rêveries de Pierres: when poetry meets minerals at L’École, School of Jewelry Arts.

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October 5, 2026

On June 21, 2026

Where art and gemstones become one

Since 6 November 2025, L’École, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, has invited the public into a world where science and poetry intertwine. The exhibition ‘Rêveries de Pierres: Poetry and Minerals of Roger Caillois’ celebrates the remarkable collection of writer, academician and mineralogist Roger Caillois, with nearly 200 specimens shown for the first time. This new dialogue between rough stones and the written word reveals Caillois’s fascination with minerals and poetry, a passion that notably inspired his literary work L’Écriture des pierres (1970).

The exhibition, conceived in partnership with the Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, offers an immersive journey in which every display case seems to tell a story. Visitors discover stones of surprising shapes and colours, presented in an uncluttered setting that highlights their intrinsic beauty. The exhibition goes beyond a simple mineralogical display: it also explores the connection between these natural treasures and their transformation into works of art, highlighting jewellers’ craftsmanship. Lectures and discussions, such as the event scheduled for 1 December 2025 on ‘Deserts in Prose’, explore further the place of minerals in the imagination (MHN).

The legacy of Roger Caillois

Roger Caillois, a major figure of the 20th century, devoted part of his life to seeking and collecting stones that he regarded as works of art in their own right. His approach, at the crossroads of science and poetry, left its mark on the history of gemmology. Thanks to the patronage of Van Cleef & Arpels, his collection is now held at the Muséum, offering a unique opportunity to rediscover his legacy. The exhibition reflects the mission of L’École, School of Jewelry Arts: to share jewellery culture and introduce the public to the richness of minerals, from their geological formation to their transformation into jewellery.

One of the strengths of ‘Rêveries de Pierres’ is its interpretation. Every stage of the exhibition is designed to make the complexity of minerals accessible, from rough crystals to sliced and polished stones, alongside poetry and tales of adventure.

Contemporary artists such as Juliette Agnelalso contribute to the space, offering an artistic view of stones — here through photography — and strengthening the connection between nature, artistic creation and poetry.

An academician and his sword

The swords of members of the Académie française mark their membership of the Institut de France. They are conceived as works of art rather than weapons, often decorated with symbols reflecting an academician’s personality, career or values. Presented by a ‘sword committee’ of friends or admirers, each is given at a private ceremony before the official reception beneath the Coupole. The sword thus embodies the legacy of the Enlightenment, the institution’s prestige and each member’s commitment to defending the French language and culture.

Sword of Roger Caillois by Jean Vendome. Symbolism: the Southern Cross, an octopus, Brazil and Czechoslovakia . Tourmaline blue-green and red, garnet, diamond, moldavite, quartz with a dendritic inclusion, peridot, aquamarine, amethyst and obsidian. Yellow and white gold.

Sketch of the sword by Jean Vandome, p414, ‘Au fil des épées, La vie des immortels’ Marie-Christine Lafon-de Monaghan.

An unmissable exhibition

– A first: many pieces from the Caillois collection are being exhibited for the first time.

– A unique dialogue: the exhibition brings science, poetry and craftsmanship into conversation, offering an experience that is both educational and contemplative.

– A tribute to nature: it reminds us of the importance of preserving the beauty and diversity of minerals, inexhaustible sources of inspiration for artists and jewellers.

‘Rêveries de Pierres’ is much more than an exhibition: it is an invitation to see the mineral world with fresh eyes, where every stone becomes a source of dreams and creativity. An experience not to be missed by lovers of gemmology, art and poetry.