ARCHIVE
"An Eye for Beauty, the Illuminata Jewelry Collection", exhibition in Hong Kong
From 13 November 2023 to 31 March 2024
Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
L'ÉCOLE Asia Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts
Presented by L'ÉCOLE Asia Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts, "An Eye for Beauty, the Illuminata Jewelry Collection", offers a captivating journey into the world of collecting by an eminent collector from Hong Kong. The central theme revolves around the collector's journey, exploring the interconnected aspects of beauty, jewelry, and transformation.
The exhibition represents the fourth part in the “Through the Eyes of a Connoisseur” series, in line with the previous editions, including Inaugural 20th-century American Jewelry Collection in New York (2018), followed by treasures from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (L’ÉCOLE Middle East, Dubai, 2018), and the prestigious Art Nouveau pieces curated by Kazumi Arikawa (L’ÉCOLE Japan, Tokyo, 2019).
Featuring around 50 diverse creations, the exhibition represents a fusion of Western and Eastern aesthetics. It showcases European and Chinese masterpieces, reflecting the expertise of a private collector and connoisseur. Visitors discover the concept of beauty from different cultures over 300 years of art history.
The exhibition is divided into three chapters, each representing a unique facet of the collector’s passionate journey. All pieces come from the Illuminata Collection, except for the first section.
This one present examples of Ming-era furniture, celebrating the harmonious blend of craftsmanship and elegance.
The main section features approximately 40 pieces of Western jewelry from the 18th and 19th centuries, spanning styles from the Baroque, Victorian, Belle Époque, and Edwardian eras.
In addition, a selection of contemporary pieces by renowned designers such as JAR and Carnet is on display, highlighting the intimate connection between jewelry and the wearer’s body. To illustrate this personal dimension, three ladies' garments are paired with precious ornaments, revealing the freedom that collectors possess in expressing their personal style with jewelry.
The last section of “An Eye for Beauty, the Illuminata Jewelry Collection”, devoted to Qing court jewels, provides an overview of the heritage and its evolution across generations. Traditional Chinese pieces are displayed, for example a beautiful Amber chi-dragon pendant or a Jadeite pendant, combining tourmaline, jadeite, pearls and silk.
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The exhibition is led by Nicolas Luchsinger, President of Van Cleef & Arpels Asia Pacific, with valuable contributions from Mathilde Rondouin, Art Historian at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts.
L'ÉCOLE invites visitors to immerse themselves into the enchanting world of “An Eye for Beauty, the Illuminata Jewelry Collection”. They will discover the captivating stories behind these extraordinary pieces, which are being unveiled to the public for the very first time.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Unit 510A, 5F, K11 MUSEA Victoria Dockside,
18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
K11 MUSEA Victoria Dockside
Opening hours
Date : November 13th, 2023, to March 31st, 2024
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday
From 01:00 pm to 07:00 pm
(Except special closures)
Entrance fee
Free admission
Guided tour
Online registration details can be found on the L'ÉCOLE Asia Pacific website
Contributors
Exhibition Curator
Nicolas Luchsinger
President Asia Pacific, Director of the Heritage Collection of Van Cleef & Arpels
Scientific Consultant
Mathilde Rondouin
Art Historian at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts