Gold and Treasures from Ancient China (In-Person Conversation)

From April 26th, 2024, to August 10th, 2024, L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts Dubai presents an exhibition showcasing over three thousand years of goldsmithing work in China, through a selection of masterpieces from the Mengdiexuan Collection.

A Taoist text from the Han dynasty (206 BCE.–220 CE) reveals the importance of gold during that era: “Gold is the most valuable thing in all the world because it is immortal and never gets rotten. Alchemists eat it, and they enjoy longevity.” (Wei Boyang, alchemist). Since the 5th millennium BCE, gold has held a power of fascination and has been used by talented craftsmen to create jewelry and ornaments with a strong symbolic value.

The two exhibition curators, Valentina Bruccoleri, PhD in Chinese Art History, and Olivier Segura, Gemologist and Managing Director of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts Dubai, will embark us on a journey to the Chinese Empire through Central Asia, the Eurasian Steppes, Mongolia and the Himalayas, to discover ancestral skills that still fascinate us today.

In-Person Conversation:

April 27th, 2024
5pm - 5:30pm: Cocktail
5.30pm - 6.30pm: Conversation in English
@Dubai Design District, Building 10, Ground Floor, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Speakers:

With Olivier Segura, Managing Director of L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts Dubai & Gemologist
& Valentina Bruccoleri, PhD in Chinese Art History

Photo: Hairpin with phoenix, Gold, Song dynasty, 960–1279, Mengdiexuan Collection, Photo PicsparkCo

Brought together by their curiosity and love of jewelry culture, speakers and listeners are invited to meet at a cocktail reception preceding the talk. Often initiated during this convivial moment, exchanges prove to be as spontaneous as they are instructive. They continue to grow throughout the talk, which is organized around L'ÉCOLE's three main pillars: the History of Jewelry, the World of Gemstones and the Savoir-Faire.

Participating in these conversations hosted by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts allows you to join a community of curious enthusiasts eager to discover and learn.