The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is proud to present an exceptional new exhibition, “Cartier and Women”, from 14 April to 14 August 2023. Organised and curated by the HKPM with the support of Cartier, this is the first major exhibition on the unique role and influence of women in Cartier’s history. Featuring approximately 300 stunning treasures created by Cartier, the exhibition showcases precious jewellery, timepieces, objects, accessories and archival records from the 19th century to the present day.
“Cartier and Women” unveils fascinating stories of the close relationship between women and jewellery. It also highlights how Chinese art, along with art from other parts of the world, has inspired the jeweller in terms of style and decorative motifs, as well as techniques and materials, and how Chinese aesthetics have influenced women's lifestyles and global fashion. The exhibition demonstrates the HKPM’s innovative curatorial approach and testifies to its mission to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and encourage dialogue between China and the rest of the world in arts and culture.
Celebrating the role and influence of women throughout Cartier’s history
The exhibition explores the bond between women and jewellery through a series of captivating narratives that reflect Cartier’s deep connections with many influential women throughout history and in the present day. The story of Jeanne Toussaint (1887-1976) is one of the highlights. Both a trailblazer in the male-dominated society of the early 20th century and a revolutionary figure in modern jewellery, Toussaint was appointed by Louis Cartier (1875-1942, the third-generation head of Cartier) in 1933 as Cartier’s first female Creative Director. The Panthère brooch designed by her in 1949 and acquired by the Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986) has redefined the meaning of jewellery to women, which is just one example of her legacy. A symbol of boldness, independence and power, the panther has since become a signature Cartier motif. Toussaint not only supported female empowerment through her jewellery design, but also embodied and encouraged a new freedom of attitude marked by femininity, free-spiritedness and independence. Her work paved the way for other women to take jewellery beyond the enhancement of external beauty to an intimate revelation of personality and spirit.
The exhibition comprises four thematic sections. The first section, “Royal and Aristocratic Women: Elegance and Prestige”, celebrates the significant role the royal and elite women played in the early history of Cartier in the 19th century. The second section, “New Women: Breaking with Tradition”, examines advances in jewellery design that reflected women’s emancipation. The influence of art from China and other parts of the world that enlivened Cartier creations for women and fulfilled a universal thirst for novelties are explored in the third section, “Inquisitive Women: Cross-cultural Inspirations”. The fourth and final section, “Influential Women: Glamorous Legends”, explores the close relationship between Cartier jewellery and modern and contemporary female icons. Highlights include pieces from the collections of important and well-known women, including the Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly (1929-1982); renowned actresses Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011), Brigitte Lin and Carina Lau; and businesswoman Pansy Ho.
More Details: https://www.hkpm.org.hk/tc/home