Partnership with the Guimet Museum

L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts and National Museum of Asian Arts Guimet have developed a partnership around the new exhibition “Ming Gold, splendor and beauty of imperial China”. The School has designed a scientific content on goldworking and its techniques, presented through the exhibition's audiovisual supports. The School also created a unique online conversation on the art of feminine adornment in China, a testimony to the refinement and delicacy of Chinese goldsmithing.

This autumn, the Guimet museum transports visitors into the opulent world of the Ming imperial court and invites them to discover the refinement and protocols of the art of women’s jewellery. This exhibition offers a rare glimpse of the delicacy and splendour of some of China’s greatest gold masterpieces, unique and intricate objects which could be found both in the Forbidden City and the palaces of the wealthy elite.

Thanks to pieces on loan from the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts (Xi’an, China) and their exceptional collection of vases and ornaments, the Guimet museum is presenting an exhibition of gold objects and jewellery created during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). This stunning collection reflects the splendour and unparalleled refinement of gold craftsmanship and the art of jewellery during a golden era of Chinese civilisation.

The objects in this exhibition have been presented in a way that highlights the luxury and refinement of each piece, immersing visitors in the opulence of the Ming aristocracy. The exhibition not only invites people to contemplate the aesthetic quality of these objects but also offers educational and multimedia content explaining the role gold played in the Ming dynasty, and its importance to the attire of elite women at that time. Multimedia presentations for example, developed with the support of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in Paris, help visitors understand the techniques used in goldsmithing (melting, hammering, embossing, chasing, stamping, filigree and granulation). Meanwhile, reproductions of famous paintings show how the jewellery was worn, and content designed for younger visitors (8–12-year-olds), explains the significance of motifs, their official symbolism and popular beliefs. This additional content offers a deeper understanding and insight into the palace, gardens and private residences of Chinese aristocracy at a time of significant economic change and one that shaped modern China.

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