MB News | Beyond Boundaries: Cartier and the Palace Museum Craftsmanship and Restoration Exhibition
From June 1 to July 31, 2019, the Palace Museum in Beijing is hosting the exhibition Cartier and The Palace Museum Craftsmanship and Restoration Exhibition, an unprecedented collaboration between the French Maison and China’s most important cultural institution, with more than 850 pieces on view. MB Projects was honored to support Cartier in the realization of this groundbreaking exhibition.
In 2017, during an intense 4 months at the Cartier Manufacture in la Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, experts from the Palace Museum and Cartier restored six 19th century English timepiece movements belonging to the collection of the Palace Museum. The return of the movements to China in perfect functioning condition was the culmination of an unprecedented three years long collaboration, and the origin of the idea behind Beyond Boundaries, now spread over the 2,700 square meters of the newly renovated three halls of the Meridian Gate of the Palace.
Chinese Inspirations, Symbols of Power and Time Memories are the three themes around which the exhibition unfolds. Throughout, exceptional Cartier pieces enter in dialogue with treasures from the Palace Museum collection, often referencing common materials, motifs, or a shared history. Immortality and good wishes are expressed through the phoenix, a celestial creature, in the Cartier 84 carats Bird of Paradise diamond brooch (1948) and the Qianlong era Empress auspicious robe with flower and phoenix motifs. Madame Wellington Koo’s (1899-1992) cheongsam dress (1932), on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is presented alongside the legendary Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite necklace, made of 27 emerald green, pure and flawless jadeite beads. This one of a kind piece was first offered to Barbara Hutton (1912-1979) as a wedding gift in 1933, and repurchased by Cartier in 2014 at a world record price for any jadeite jewelry.
Many other exceptional jewels such as a diamond, turquoise and amethyst bib necklace that belonged to Wallis Warfield (1896-1986), Duchess of Windsor; a sumptuous diamond necklace made in 1928 as a special order for Sir Bhupindra Singh, Maharaja of Patiala; a 478 carat sapphire that belonged to Queen Maria of Romania; a tiara that once belonged to Elizabeth, Queen of the Belgians (1876-1965); or the world-famous Modèle A mystery clocks, fruit of Cartier’s collaboration with Maurice Coüet (1885-1963) from as early as 1912, are among the marvels that illustrate the influence of China on the Maison’s creations throughout its 170 years history, while making imaginations dream of an exotic and distant past that yet, thanks to the masterly setting by world renowned scenographer Nathalie Crinière, feels so close.
MB Projects is very happy to have supported Cartier in the realization and opening of this unforgettable exhibition. In particular, MB Projects helped on the content creation and proofreading for communication tools, catalogue, mini-program and audio guides, mediators’ training, etc.
