From 13 November 2023 to 31 March 2024, L'École, School of Jewelry Arts Hong Kong is hosting the exhibition "Aesthetic Eyes: A Thousand Lamps Room Jewels", featuring more than 50 pieces from private collectors in Hong Kong, covering Chinese Ming Dynasty furniture, Qing Dynasty court jewelry, and European jewelry from the Baroque, Victorian, Belle Époque and Edwardian eras, exploring the definition of beauty in different eras and cultures.
The exhibition is curated by Nicolas Luchsinger, President of Van Cleef & Arpels Asia Pacific, and serves as academic advisor to Mathilde Rondouin, art historian and lecturer at L'École, School of Jewelry Arts. Mathilde Rondouin interprets the term "Illuminata" as "the process of receiving aesthetic enlightenment, which means enlightenment." 」
The exhibition consists of three parts, most of which are on public display for the first time. The first part focuses on the craftsmanship and elegance of Chinese Ming Dynasty furniture design, and the three exhibits are all official hat chairs, flat-headed cases and suitcases made of Huang Huali. The second part presents around 40 pieces of Western jewellery, including antique jewellery from the Baroque, Victorian, Belle Époque and Edwardian eras, as well as works by contemporary designers such as JAR and Carnet.
The highlight of the second section is a 1900s platinum diamond brooch, which is typical of Edwardian jewelry, with a soft and sinuous cartouche and foliage totem in platinum, and the diamond pendant can be detached as a pendant to wear alone, another 1840s emerald diamond tiara is typical of the Victorian style, with a cleverly detachable structure that can be worn with three brooches, and the fan-shaped earrings by American modern designer JAR are made of orange galvanized aluminum, which is very visually appealing.
The third part focuses on the court jewellery of the Qing Dynasty in China, showing the heritage and evolution of Chinese jewellery. Highlights include a Qing Dynasty emerald beeswax pendant delicately carved with a coiled dragon on a single piece of amber, and another Qing Dynasty jade pendant carved with a traditional pattern of blessings and birds, topped with a pink tourmaline bead for subtle color gradation and auspiciousness.
Exhibition time: November 13, 2023 - March 31, 2024
Venue: L'ÉCOLE School of Jewelry Arts (Hong Kong)
香港尖沙咀梳士巴利道18号K11 MUSEA, 5/F, 510A
Silver brooch, 18th century
Set with diamonds.
Platinum brooch, circa 1900
Set with diamonds. Detachable design.
Gold headdress, circa 1840-1850
Made in yellow gold and silver, set with diamonds and emeralds. Disassembled into 3 brooches to wear.
Gold headdress bracelet, circa 1840
Crafted in yellow gold and silver, set with diamonds and cabochon-cut garnets.
Silver necklace, 18th century
Set with diamonds and rubies, the pendant is detachable.
Tiara in platinum, circa 1910
Set with diamonds. Can be worn as a necklace.
Gold necklace, circa 1820
Set with amethyst, aquamarine, citrine, garnet, peridot, smoky quartz and topaz.
Sévigné 金质胸针,19世纪
Crafted in yellow gold and silver, set with cabochon-cut garnets and diamonds.
金质耳夹，by JAR，21世纪
Made of aluminium and yellow gold, set with diamonds.
Gold ring, by JAR, 21st century
Crafted in yellow gold and platinum, the center stone is a cabochon-cut ruby set with black spinel and diamonds.
Gold ring, by JAR, 21st century
Crafted in yellow gold and platinum, the center stone is a cushion-cut yellow diamond set with emeralds and diamonds.
White gold necklace, by Carnet, 21st century
Set with pearls and diamonds.
Gold ring, by Carnet, 21st century
Crafted in platinum and titanium, set with pink tourmalines and coloured sapphires.
White gold earrings, by Carnet, 21st century
Set with emeralds and diamonds.
With emerald beeswax Zichen Pei, Qing Dynasty
Decorated with carved amber and embellished with jade, pearls and silk.
Jade Wanfu flower and bird pattern Pei, Qing Dynasty
Decorated with carved amber, embellished with emerald, pearls and silk.