Joyaux dynastiques : pouvoir, prestige et passion, 1700-1950
Auteur(s) : Collectif
Exhibition at the Hôtel de la Marine, Paris, 10 December 2025 - 6 April 2026
A timeless expression of power and prestige, jewellery is also an intimate object, conveying feelings and conveying royal favours and passion. Stones, tiaras, brooches and necklaces compose a sumptuous language, that of royal courts, where each gem reveals the status, lineage and authority of its illustrious owner.
This exhibition catalogue showcases modern jewellery from the 17th century onwards, through treasures preserved in two prestigious collections: the Al Thani Collection and that of the Victoria and Albert Museum. It brings together jewels associated with the reigns of iconic figures in European history, such as Empresses Catherine II of Russia, Josephine, Marie Louise of Austria, and Queen Victoria.
The book focuses on the idea of power conveyed by jewels and adornments, as well as the multiple meanings associated with the giving and receiving of jewellery throughout the centuries. It examines the evolution of the relationship with ceremonial jewellery in the 20th century in the context of the historical upheavals that led to the dispersal of collections (Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary). It also analyses the influence of new patrons on the stylistic evolution of jewellery, particularly through the patronage of the maharajas and the rise of the Art Deco style.
