Exhibition: Chaumet , Paris

Le Musée Éphémère – Boutique Chaumet
A bridge across past, present, future in Place Vendôme

The temporary exhibition ‘Musée Éphémère’ traces the history of Chaumet, the world famous Haute Joaillerie maison that has nothing of the ephemeral. Actually, it has a very solid tradition started in 1780 by the founder Marie-Etienne Nitot, Napoleon’s official jeweller and supplier to many European aristocrats. A history that in the course of centuries created a collection of extraordinary pieces, 55,000 archive drawings, 500,000 photographs from the end of the 1800 to now, 500 prototypes of tiaras. Aiming to tell a little known story, a series of exhibitions link past and present. Until the end of January 2016 therefore, the masterpieces of the new ‘Promenade Bucolique’ collection are displayed alongside historic pieces in the prestigious Place Vendôme boutique in Paris in a setting inspired by the dialogue about naturalism between contemporary and vintage jewels. Among the 15 historic pieces on display, the famous tiara created for the Empress Marie Louise of Austria, Napoleon’s young bride. With a neoclassical design, the tiara consists of 150 elements shaped as wheat stalks mounted on an arc-shaped silver frame with 60 carats of diamonds. The lightness of wheat inspired the ‘Jardins’ collection including the ‘Épi de Blè’ ring designed specifically for the exhibition that highlights the contrast between rhodium plated brown gold and brushed gold. The picture is completed by precious bees, symbols of Napoleon’s empire and protagonists of 13 new jewels. ‘Musée Éphémère’ offers the opportunity to discover jewels from the Romantic period up to the 1980s. A visual and sensory immersion and a documentary tracing the style evolution through the centuries.

Open to the public until January, 30th 2016.

www.chaumet.com

CollezioniDonna n.169 spring/summer 2016, Ottobre 2015