Cover News Reporter Zeng Jie Intern He Yuting Photo according to Jinsha
On November 25, the cover news reporter learned from the Jinsha Site Museum that the exhibits of the blockbuster New Year's Eve exhibition "Treasures - Gilbert Boutique Exhibition of the Collection of the British V&A Museum" all arrived. At the same time, the new exhibition hall is waiting to welcome the collection of the British V&A Museum, represented by the royal treasures of Napoleon, Queen Victoria and Frederick the Great.
"Treasures and Collections - Gilbert Boutique Exhibition of the Collection of the British V&A Museum" exhibition scene
In the coming days, Sands staff will complete the unpacking, hand-off, set-up, lighting and multimedia commissioning to present the most brilliant and exquisite side of the exhibits to the audience on the opening day of the exhibition on December 1.
It is reported that the Gilberts are famous for their collection of exquisite works of art such as gold and silverware, snuff boxes and miniature mosaics. Their collection is one of the most comprehensive private collections in the decorative arts sector in Europe in the 20th century, and was acquired by the V&A Museum in the UK in 2008. This exhibition of the Gilberts' collection in China is the first time that the collection has been publicly unveiled in an international touring exhibition.
Queen Victoria snuff box
According to Tan Ping, the supporter of this exhibition and director of the China Cultural Heritage Exchange Center, the exquisite exhibits, rich variety and wide span of this exhibition have set a record for the British V&A Museum to visit China.
Sands staff introduced several heavy exhibits to reporters, which are worth looking forward to. The Lafayette bottle was specially customized by the French government to commemorate the Marquis de Lafayette. Marquis Lafayette fought in the American Revolutionary War and befriended U.S. President George Washington, a prominent figure across both sides of the Atlantic. The bottle features classic Greek elements of valor, decorated with a bust representing honor, a coat of arms symbolizing art and industry, four military scenes reflecting the bravery of the marquis's army, and four statues.
Lafayette bottle
The Sheremetev gold cup, made of gold with a coat of arms in the middle, was the favorite style of the Russian royal family at the time, presumably custom-made to commemorate Count Sheremetev's appointment as Russia's highest-ranking army adjutant, and was given by the Russian Empress herself.
In the 16th century, gold and jewelry were often decorated with exotic treasures, including crystals, nautilus shells and ostrich eggs, which not only reflected the maker's yearning for nature and exquisite craftsmanship, but also showed the cultural exchange that spanned the world at that time. The conch cup on display comes from waters off Australia and the East Indies, and its shell is polished and coated with gold and silver, making it a rare item in treasure houses across Europe.
Conch cup
A multi-layered silver plate interweaves oriental architectural forms with Rococo decorative styles. The overall artifacts are in the style of Chinese pagodas, which are commonly found in English gardens. The top of the utensil is decorated with pineapple. Pineapples were very rare in Europe at the time, so they were a symbol of wealth. Since the end of the seventeenth century, pineapple shapes have been popular in buildings and decorative art.
From the second half of the 17th century to the 18th century, accessories for everyday life, such as snuff boxes, enamel pocket portraits, cufflink cases and sewing accessories, became indispensable luxury items for European high society. A snuff case with letters engraved on a diamond was one of the earliest gifts from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom when she succeeded to the throne. The inscription states that it was presented to Colonel Harcourt in recognition of his contribution to the Queen.
King Frederick II of Prussia (reigned 1740-1786) was famous for his love of snuff boxes, and it is rumored that he collected more than 300 snuff boxes. Wherever he went, he carried these snuff boxes with him. During a campaign in 1759, the snuff box even protected him from bullets. This diamond-encrusted snuff box made of chrysoprase was made directly by Frederick the Great and may have been involved in the design. Chrysoprase was popular in Silesia, the first territory conquered in 1740 at the beginning of the reign of Frederick the Great.
Among the many exhibits is a glass miniature mosaic called the beautiful Italian sky, a bronze gilded table, which won the highest honor of the 1851 Universal Exposition. In the 19th century, the colonial empire expanded, the style of travel prevailed, and colorful miniature mosaics became the most precious tourist souvenirs. This table offers eight views of the Italian city: Piazza del Dumo in Milan, Piazza San Marco in Venice, Piazza della Signoria in Florence, St. Peter's Square in Rome (present-day Vatican), the Colosseum, the Neapolitan Riviera, the Cathedral of Palermo and the port of Genoa.
Beautiful Italian sky
"Treasures – Gilbert Collection of the British V&A Museum" will be held at Sands on December 1, and 90 art treasures will present the exquisite life, high level of craftsmanship and global multicultural landscape of European society from the 16th to the 19th century.
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