![]() ![]() Given its rarity and durability beyond human lifetimes, jewelry also enjoys an association with heritage and the celestial. According to the Met, the turn-of-the-century showgirls and later the ubiquitous flapper embraced the multiple meanings assigned to pearls, wearing them as a “symbol of a wholly modern liberated woman.” In the current era of female empowerment, is it any wonder that pearls are now enjoying a huge resurgence in fashion and popularity?ĭivine Pearls – The Resplendent Body “Jewelry operates as readily on a spiritual ![]() A particularly naughty surprise awaits nearby in the form of a discreet viewfinder looking through to reclining female nudes who wear only the pristine perfection of iridescent pearls. Photographs of Josephine Baker, Coco Chanel and Princess Yusupov of Russia, each draped in long layered strands, appear next to ladylike seed-pearl necklace and earrings, as well as an enamel and pearl encrusted hair comb. An entire section of The Alluring Body portion of the exhibit was devoted to “The Seductive Pearl.” A radiant five-strand necklace of all natural pearls from Cartier (1928) steals your breath near the exhibition opening, a tantalizing taste of what is to come. Their inherent femininity is both alluring and mysterious. Pearls naturally reflect the light, attracting the human eye and shimmering with luster. The Seductive Pearl – The Alluring Body “On a fundamental level, we wear jewelry to be seen,” ![]() Jewelry still equates to power in modern times, even on a personal level, as many of us gleefully relive our childhood princess fantasies whenever we don our favorite strand of pearls. And the Mughals of India procured international treasures like pearls, jade and gold for adorning everything from their robes to their turbans, cane handles and dagger hilts. The parure proved to be the perfect adornment for European Neoclassical gowns in the Napolean era. In the “Every Woman a Queen” section of the exhibit, regal collections of matching sets called parures feature gem and pearl-studded necklaces, brooches, earrings, bracelets and tiaras. The rarity of large pearls, coupled with their magnificent luster, brings a radiance of grandeur when worn in necklaces or tiaras or woven into cloaks and stoles. From Maharajahs and Queens to Emperors and modern day politicians, women and men of great status have always adorned themselves with power pearls. “It should never be hard to spot the king,” Throughout recorded history, it has signified royalty and aristocracy. Crafted from our most prized resources, jewelry is designed to endure. Jewelry is inherently valuable and creates the perception of enhanced value in its wearer. One of the many human transformations that jewelry enables lies in the realm of status, how other people perceive us. Luckily for the pearl obsessed, many of the standout pieces in this display were primarily made of pearls. ![]() From the trappings of royalty and prerogatives of privilege to the embodiment of the divine itself, jewelry has been used for centuries to communicate meaning in an unspoken universal language. These precious metals and gemstones attract the eye and imbue the wearer with a sense of status, beauty or even divinity. From head to toe, according to the Met curators, “jewelry activates the body it adorns.”Įxotic Egyptian gold sandals with toe sheaths greet the viewer on a journey traveling up the body to carved jade and bejeweled belts at the waist, pearl bracelets at the wrist, silver collars on the shoulder blades, dazzling earrings for lobes and even gold hair rings and emerald crowns. “Through history and across cultures, jewelry has served to extend and amplify the human body, accentuating, enhancing, distorting and transforming it,” the exhibition tells us. “Jewelry is the world’s oldest art form, predating cave paintings by tens of thousands of years…” So begins the journey through the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s latest exhibit Jewelry: The Body Transformed, a thoughtful exploration of the very nature of adornment and our human fascination with fine jewelry. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |