Palace Museum to exhibit French jewellery

A staff member shows one of the jewellery pieces to be displayed at the exhibition, titled Imperial Splendors: The Art of Jewellery since the 18th Century. [Photo/Official Weibo account of the Palace Museum]

The Palace Museum in Beijing is set to showcase a range of French jewellery at an exhibition, titled Imperial Splendors: The Art of Jewellery since the 18th Century, which will start on April 10. The display will be held at the tower gallery of the Meridian Gate (Wu Men) in the museum and will be open to the public until July 2, 2017.

More than 300 pieces of jewellery, paintings and various French artworks, from the late 18th century to the early 21st century, will be featured at the exhibition.

Palace Museum curator Shan Jixiang said the exhibition will be special as the artistry on show has been passed down from generation to generation, moving through social changes and fashion evolvement, and viewers will be touched by the "craftsman's spirit" in each piece.

Major exhibits will include the sword used by the Emperor of France, Napoleon, when he ascended the throne, and the diamond crown designed for Empress Marie-Louise, who was Napoleon's second wife and Empress of the French for four years from 1810.