The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a major political power of the Han ethnic group and contemporary with the Italian Renaissance, embodies the height of Chinese imperial refinement. Famous for its emblematic monuments, such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, it also shines through the diversity and excellence of its artistic productions, of which finely decorated porcelain, precious wood furniture and ink paintings remain brilliant testimonies. The exhibition proposed today seeks to reveal a more intimate and little-known aspect of this splendor: the art of feminine adornment at the Ming imperial court, with a particular focus on goldsmith treasures.
Date: September 18, 2024 to January 13, 2025
Location: Guimet Museum
Envy: Asia, Ming Dynasty, Japan, finery, jewelry
The scenography, designed with particular attention to highlight the delicacy and richness of the pieces on display, offers visitors an immersion in the sumptuous world of the Ming court, where gold played a central role in the adornment of elite women. This precious metal, used in the making of jewelry, accessories, and ornaments, was not only an ostentatious sign of wealth, but also carried a deep symbolic meaning. Gold was a vector of prestige and good omen, and each ornamental motif, whether flowers, animals, or geometric shapes, had a specific symbolic meaning, often linked to longevity, prosperity, or harmony.
The exhibition unveils an exceptional selection of gold jewellery and objects, created using sophisticated artisanal techniques such as granulation, filigree and gemstone inlay. These fascinatingly complex processes demonstrate the unparalleled expertise of the artisans of the time and the technical ingenuity deployed in the creation of finery for noblewomen. Visitors are invited to discover not only these objects of rare elegance, but also the manufacturing process that makes them so unique, from the choice of materials to the meticulous assembly.
Beyond their aesthetic value, these finery reflect the social and cultural codes in force at the Ming court. Gold, a symbol of power and prestige, was reserved for a select elite, while the motifs engraved or sculpted on the jewellery told the story of the dynasty, its beliefs and its aspirations. Thus, each object presented in this exhibition is both a work of art and a historical document, revealing the links between art and power under the Ming.
The richness of the exhibition also lies in the way in which it places these objects in the broader context of imperial symbolism. Gold jewelry, beyond its aesthetic function, is integrated into a cosmology where the order of the world is reflected in the smallest details of daily life. Thus, the exhibition invites the visitor to rediscover not only the beauty of the objects, but also the spiritual and cultural depth of the creations of this period, making each jewel a bridge between the visible and invisible world, between the splendor of the court and celestial harmony.
Date: September 18, 2024 to January 13, 2025
Location: Guimet Museum
Envy: Asia, Ming Dynasty, Japan, finery, jewelry
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