News Until the end of November, the Palace Museum in Beijing is presenting an exceptional retrospective of masterpieces of the Cartier Collection.
In the very heart of the Forbidden City, Beijing’s Palace Museum will be presenting until 22 November an exhibition entitled "Cartier Treasures: King of Jewellers, Jewellers to Kings". Never before have so many creations from the Cartier Collection been assembled and exhibited together. Inaugurated by China’s deputy Cultural Minister Zhao Shao Hua and the CEO of Cartier Bernard Fornas, this event underlines the importance of the Palace Museum for art and design the world over.
This exceptional display takes place in the Exhibition Hall of the Meridian Gate. Its recent renovation won the Inaugural Heritage Award Jury Commendation for Innovation by UNESCO for the quality of the resources and techniques implemented, all of which were in harmony with the building’s original character.
More than 350 items, including archives dating from the founding of Cartier to its creations from the 1970s, are unveiled. Partly dedicated to royal jewels, the exhibition is housed in China’s former Imperial Palace and is illustrated by historical documents relating to European royal courts, which earned Cartier thanks to King Edward VII of England, its reputation as the "Jeweller of Kings and King of Jewellers".
Moreover, part of the items selected highlight the Chinese influence on Cartier creations: lacquer ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl, ancient carved and engraved pieces of jade, and divinities and fantastic animals created by the jeweller’s hand. Such creations bear witness to the bonds that have united Cartier with the Far East since the beginning of the 20th century. The distinctive creativity, style and expertise of the jeweller are illustrated by a selection of drawings and archive documents, together with a set of rarely displayed plaster casts from the Cartier archives.
Inaugurated a quarter of a century ago, the Cartier Collection today comprises more than 1,360 historic pieces that mirror the social evolution and which have been repurchased over the years by Cartier from private owners or at public auctions. Inventoried using original archive documents, the items in the Cartier Collection include sumptuous jewellery, precious watches and exceptional timepieces, such as the Maison’s famous mystery clocks. Exquisite articles and more specific accessories complete this cultural legacy: ladies’ vanity cases, decorated boxes, cigarette cases and writing instruments.
Exhibiting articles from the Cartier Collection at the Palace Museum in China is part of an ongoing cultural exchange between the Parisian jeweller, based in the Rue de la Paix, and the Palace Museum.
October 13, 2009
