Chaumet's High Jewelry, Honoring 240 Years of Heritage, and the Artistry of Japanese Masters: A Special Public Exhibition

CHAUMET

A Dialogue Between Chaumet and Japanese Masters: A Fusion of Beauty and Culture

From November 23 (Tue, holiday) to 28 (Sun), 2021, Chaumet will host an event titled "Conversation Between French and Japanese Culture – The Savoir-Faire of Chaumet and Dialogue with Three Japanese Masters" at Sankei-en Garden in Yokohama. This will be a special public exhibition, featuring over 60 of Chaumet's exceptional high jewelry pieces, passed down through 240 years of heritage, in dialogue with world-renowned Japanese masters.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

Decoding a Shared Language of Craftsmanship, Honoring Heritage and Elevating It to Art

"Conversation Between French and Japanese Culture – The Savoir-Faire of Chaumet and Dialogue with Three Japanese Masters," an exhibition that marks Chaumet's first-ever presentation in Japan, brings together Chaumet's high jewelry and works by artisans of traditional Japanese arts.

In dialogue with Chaumet's high jewelry are three leading Japanese masters: bamboo artist Chikukosai IV Tanabe, bonsai artist Masahiko Kimura, and swordsmiths Sadatoshi Gassan and Sadatoshi Gassan. The exhibition was conceived from the shared aesthetic principles between Chaumet's French artistry and the "human touch," "dedication to materials," "superior skills," and "profound spirit" embodied by these masters who have achieved the pinnacle of their crafts.

Special Public Exhibition of Chaumet's High Jewelry, Honoring 240 Years of Heritage, and the Artistry of Japanese Masters | CHAUMET

The venue will showcase a collection of works by these masters alongside Chaumet's high jewelry, which can be described as works of art.

Within the exhibition space, titled "The Beauty of Emptiness VIDES ET PLEINS," visitors will encounter Chaumet's high jewelry, including pieces from the "Perspective de Chaumet" collection where gemstones appear to float weightlessly, utilizing the "weaving" and "assembling" techniques that are the source of Chaumet's signature elegance. These are presented alongside the works of Chikukosai IV Tanabe, who harnesses the flexibility of bamboo and evolves ancient weaving techniques to create unprecedented forms in space.

Furthermore, "Sculpting Nature SCULPTER LANATURE" facilitates a dialogue between the gemstones essential to Chaumet's enduringly brilliant high jewelry and the bonsai creations of Masahiko Kimura.

While gemstones are meticulously selected from deep within the earth, having rested for billions of years, and their dazzling brilliance is brought forth through the lapidary art of human hands, bonsai trees, some with centuries or even millennia of history, are nurtured over long periods to sustain their vitality. In a world of constant change, this dialogue offers a profound reflection on the meaning of "eternity" and the nature of unwavering existence.

The section "The Art of Metal L'ART DU METAL" was conceived in homage to Marie-Étienne Nitot, the founder of Chaumet, a master goldsmith in the 18th century. It features a dialogue with Sadatoshi Gassan and Sadatoshi Gassan, who uphold the tradition of swordsmithing passed down for approximately 800 years. Both Chaumet, with its goldsmithing techniques that continue to shape bold forms from incredibly thin gold, and the Gassan school, with its centuries-old sword-making heritage, offer a testament to art born from the inheritance of tradition and skill.

This exhibition celebrates the dialogue between Chaumet's pursuit of beauty through human craftsmanship and the artistry of Japan's masters. We invite you to experience this exquisite fusion of French savoir-faire and Japanese artisanal excellence.