The Palace Museum in Beijing is set to exhibit over 300 French artifacts from April 11 to July 2.
The exhibition, themed Imperial Splendors: The Art of Jewelry since the 18th Century, will be held at the tower gallery of the Meridian Gate (Wu Men) in the museum, according to a statement posted on the museum’s official Weibo account.
A staff member shows one of the pieces to be displayed in the exhibition. /Palace Museum Photo
Over 300 examples of exquisite jewelry, paintings and other artworks from the late 18th century to the early 21st century will feature in the exhibition, including the sword used by French Emperor Napoleon when he ascended to the throne, and the diamond crown designed for Empress Marie-Louise, who was Napoleon's second wife.
A sword used by French Emperor Napoleon when he ascended to the throne on display during a media preview at the Palace Museum in Beijing, April 7, 2017. /Chinanews Photo
A sword used by French Emperor Napoleon when he ascended to the throne. /Palace Museum Photo
The exhibition is co-sponsored by Chaumet, a high-end jeweler based in Paris. France’s Louvre Museum, the Palace of Fontainebleau, and Britain’s Victoria and Albert Museum also contributed artworks to the exhibition. Some of them will be displayed outside France for the first time, and some will make their debut in Beijing.
Diamond crowns to be displayed at the exhibition. /Chinanews Photo
The Palace Museum selected 22 pieces out of 1.8 million artworks to exhibit alongside the French items.
“The pieces from our museum might not be the most dazzling ones, but the interesting part lies in the contrast of Chinese and western culture,” said Zhang Xin, an associate research fellow from the museum.
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