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A groundbreaking new exhibition unveiling the intimate stories that illustrate the close relationship between women and jewellery
Exclusively curated by the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM)—Hong Kong’s newest cultural landmark—this world premier exhibition of Cartier and Women celebrates the significant role women have played in Cartier’s remarkable history, with a particular focus on the influence that Chinese aesthetics have had on women’s lifestyles, global fashion and design.
The exhibition, which has been arranged with the support of Cartier, comprises about 300 pieces of Cartier jewellery, timepieces, precious objects and archival records from the 19th century to the present day.
Standouts include a 1907 pearl and diamond tiara crafted for Princess Marie Bonaparte, a great-grandniece of Emperor Napoleon I of France; a gorgeous Chinese-influenced 1934 jadeite necklace originally belonging to American heiress Barbara Hutton; a brooch featuring two dragons chasing a pearl, acquired in 1920 by Jeanne Paquin, France’s first major female couturier; a gold, platinum, diamond, amethyst and turquoise bib necklace created for Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor; and an ornate 1928 Chinese vanity case.
As you progress through the exhibition, you’ll discover four thematic sections. The first of these is Royal and Aristocratic Women: Elegance and Prestige, celebrating elite and royal women, and the role they played in Cartier’s early 19th century history.
The second section, New Women: Breaking with Tradition, is a fascinating assemblage of priceless pieces that serve as testament to the great leaps in jewellery design and advances in creativity that took place in parallel to women’s liberation andthe movement toward gender equality. Cartier’s first female creative director, Jeanne Toussaint, was a trendsetter who exerted a profound influence on 20th-century jewellery and creatively turned the panther into an emblem of women’s strength and rising status. An iconic piece, the Panthère clip brooch on view was the second three-dimensional panther piece Cartier designed for the Duchess of Windsor.
The influence of art from China and other parts of the world that enlivened the maison’s creations is demonstrated in the third section, Women: Cross-cultural Inspirations. Items such as a yin-yang symbol pendant dating back to 1919 underscore the impact of Chinese culture on Cartier during the art deco era.
