From 26 July to 7 September at 165 Boulevard Saint-Germain
After having explored its links with literary figures, Chaumet continues to share its affinity with the arts with the public, through the second edition of the exhibition Dess(e)in de nature. It forms a promenade never experienced before among the fauna and flora that have been major sources of inspiration for the Maison since it was established.
From detailed studies evoking botanical plates made by the Maison’s jewellers to the final piece, Chaumet reveals to the public, step by step, the secrets of its jewelled garden, where the most beautiful precious stones flourish.
The visit lasts 45 minutes with reservation required to visit. Reserve using the module below.
Self-guided visit. Art appreciation representatives will be present for consultation.
A wander through Chaumet’s nature
Whether wild or tamed by man, the Maison’s jewellers have constantly celebrated the wonder of nature through the ages in their drawings and designs.
European oak
Oak leaves tiara, circa 1890 – 1900.
Study of an oak branch for a brooch, circa 1850.
From Saint Louis who administered justice at its foot, to the druids who collected mistletoe growing on it, via Zeus, king of the gods of Mount Olympus, of which it is the emblem, there are few trees that have been associated with western cultural history as much as the oak. A symbol of majesty, this motif is particularly appreciated in tiara design, following the example of the oak leaf tiara made by the Maison at the end of the 19th century.
Wheat
Design for a wheat brooch, circa 1890.
L’épi de Blé de Chaumet brooch set with diamonds, 2015.
Ears of wheat tiara, circa 1810.
In mythology, the gift of growing wheat was offered to men by the goddess Demeter, who watched over plant growth as well as fertility of the earth. Wheat is a theme that can be seen in Chaumet’s earliest designs and that has been featured regularly since then. It is also the favourite motif of the Empress Joséphine, muse of the Maison, who wore a tiara designed around it. Chaumet has continually reinvented this motif, symbol of fertility and abundance, through the eras, like this gold and diamond brooch created by the Maison in 2015.
French gardens
Vertiges tiara set with diamonds, tourmaline and garnets. Scott Armstrong for Chaumet, 2017.
A high point of the exhibition, the Vertiges tiara is a representation of nature as architecture. Totally contemporary, it is the result of a competition held by Chaumet among the students of the prestigious Central Saint Martins school in London to design a tiara suitable for the 21st century. The winner, Scott Armstrong, then 21 years old, was inspired by Chaumet’s tradition of naturalism and the geometry of French gardens. His tiara, with its deconstructed composition of curves and straight lines, was realised in the Maison’s High Jewellery atelier.
A note from the curator
“For the first time, on the occasion of the exhibition Dess(e)in de Nature, Maison Chaumet unveils a selection of its vast collection of drawings and various jewellery and luxury metalwork creations. This dialogue between the pieces illustrates the fluidity between the accuracy of the naturalistic observation and the sophistication of these objets d’art as sources of emotion. The visitor is therefore invited to discover fauna and flora in all its diversity, in its most intimate interactions. The human, by integrating with nature and its design, incarnates the quintessence of the lifestyle of an era. These are fundamental elements that define Chaumet’s savoir-faire in the realm of taste, through its evolution in society as a whole, and among its clientele in particular. By showing the continuity between its creations and the immense diversity of the living world, with Dess(e)in de Nature Chaumet elevates the latter to the highest level, the very definition of the sublime.”
– Marc Jeanson, Exhibition Curator –
Design for a bay leaf and butterfly stomacher, circa 1890.
