The Worlds of Chaumet The art of jewellery since 1780

Dubai, UAE, July 26, 2018:  Chaumet will present, at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum of Tokyo, The Worlds  of Chaumet exhibition; a new journey through its history, culture, savoir-faire and style.  The historical link that the Maison has built with the Arts is echoed by the vocation  of the most “European” of Japanese museums, dedicated to the fine and visual arts. 

Under the direction of Henri Loyrette, honorary president of the Musée du Louvre,  and Akiya Takahashi, director of the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum, the exhibition will unfold through a succession of different chapters, each with its own theme.  The whole of the exhibition is enriched by a constant dialogue between jewellery  and artistic movements, and between historic and contemporary pieces. The exhibition scenography designed by Bureau Betak will feature an innovative presentation  of jewels and include many surprises.

Some 300 jewellery creations from the 18th century to today, objets d’art, paintings  and drawings, and a number of previously unseen archives, will be on display to  the public. Fourty distinguished collections as well as fifteen prestigious museums and institutions have lent their support to this special event. The exhibition illustrates the way Chaumet opened its view on the rest of the world from the second half of the 19th century to receive diverse influences and, in return, radiated its own Parisian style to become  a major actor in the history to taste.  

Chaumet pays a particular tribute to Japan and its culture, with which it has established strong ties since the late 18th century. From the Ancien Régime to today, including  the Japonism movement of the Belle Epoque, the artistic encounter bears witness  to a mutual culture of excellence. The high point of this section is a High Jewellery set created especially for the exhibition; an ode to Nature’s delicacy, it is an evocation  of this source of inspiration shared by Japanese art and the designers of the Maison.  

The art of the tiara

Pinnacle of the jeweller’s art and symbol of the Maison, the tiara has reflected every influence and every style since 1780. Both an emblem of power and a fashion accessory,  it swings from classicism to extravagance, crowning the formal and social occasions  of every era. The twenty or so tiaras and three hundred nickel-silver models presented  in this section bear witness to the creativity and excellence of Chaumet.  

The sovereigns’ choice

Focusing on the titled figures of the Maison, the beginning of the exhibition illustrates  to what extent the history of Chaumet has accompanied the history of France.  Great imperial commissions during the Consulat and Empire periods exalt the symbols  of power and initiate the themes that have inspired the Maison’s style since. 

The jeweller of sentiment

Moments of happiness, public or intimate, immortalised by the trappings of ceremonial pomp or whispered with the delicate discretion of smaller celebration gifts… Chaumet expresses joy and love of life in its creation, paying homage to the magical occasions  of sentimentality through its history with dedicated creations. Jewels bearing messages and motifs symbolising attachment exalt a rich palette of emotions, from filial love to passion.

Natural histories 

In the style of a curiosity cabinet, this part of the exhibition presents a theme dear  to Chaumet from the beginning; naturalism. Fauna, flora and insects transformed  into jewels by the artisan’s hand illustrate the symbolic wealth of Chaumet’s repertoire, the essentials of its style combining strength and delicacy, composition and movement, accompanied by the jeweller’s bold creativity and ingenious techniques.

Chaumet and Japan

The Worlds of Chaumet ends with a grand finale as the Maison pays tribute  to the Land of the Rising Sun. From its origins - when Nitot appraised and marvelled  at Queen Marie-Antoinette’s collection of Japanese lacquer work during the Revolution -  to the contemporary creations, this section is dedicated to the shared cultural influences  of the two civilisations regarding their artistic production. Chaumet’s creations were inspired by Japonism in the mid-19th century, when the taste for Japanese artistry developed  in France, then during all of the 20th century up until today.