Cover The Influential Women: Glamorous Legends section of the exhibition showcases magnificent pieces from the personal collections of legendary ladies through the decades (Photo: courtesy of Cartier)
The Influential Women: Glamorous Legends section of the exhibition showcases magnificent pieces from the personal collections of legendary ladies through the decades (Photo: courtesy of Cartier)
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Influential women and glamorous legends are the focus of the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s ‘Cartier and Women’ exhibition
Since April, the city’s cultural aficionados have been flocking to the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District to experience the ground-breaking exhibition Cartier and Women. Only on display until August 14, the exhibition features some 300 artefacts charting the Parisian maison’s illustrious history, with special attention given to Cartier’s iconic creations during the Art Deco era and aesthetic inspirations from Asia.
Showcasing a collection that includes jewellery, watches, precious objects, accessories and records from Cartier’s extensive archives, the exhibition celebrates the pivotal role women have played in the story of Cartier—as creatives, patrons and muses. As well as acknowledging the undeniable influence of women on Cartier’s identity and artistic achievements, Cartier and Women also highlights the profound impact of Chinese culture on the worldwide development of luxury, fashion and design over the past century.
A pioneering endeavour on a global scale, the exhibition is divided into four distinct sections. The first commemorates the influential role played by royal and elite women during the early stages of Cartier’s history. In the next, the focus shifts to exploring the evolution of jewellery design as a reflection of women’s increasing liberation and the fight for gender equality. The third section delves into the influence of art and design from China, Egypt and other eastern regions, which brought a fresh sensibility to Cartier’s creations, particularly during the Jazz Age a century ago.
Hong Kong Palace Museum Special Exhibition Gallery (Photo: courtesy of Cartier)
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The fourth and final section covers the period from the 1930s to the present day, delving into the intimate connection between Cartier jewellery and female icons past and present. Highlights of this section, Influential Women: Glamorous Legends, include magnificent pieces from the personal collections of celebrated figures such as Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, whose sublime 1956 engagement ring takes pride of place; renowned actress and passionate jewellery collector Elizabeth Taylor; fellow gem-loving thespians Brigitte Lin and Carina Lau; and business titan Pansy Ho.
“Women are part of Cartier’s essence. This does not mean that Cartier only creates for women. It does not mean that Cartier has a conventional view of women or men, either,” explains Cyrille Vigneron, Cartier’s president and CEO. “Cartier recognises character and personality in both women and men: bold, strong and daring, as well as soft and sensitive. Exploring the relationship between Cartier and women is a journey inside the human psyche. It explores femininity in its entirety, from the fertile earth to the muse of our souls.”
