‘Paris, City of Pearls’

Organized by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, the exhibition ‘Paris, City of Pearls’, from November 21st, 2024 until March 23rd, 2025 showcases the history, the trade and the symbolism of pearl in Paris.

The exhibition “Paris, City of Pearls” presents a hundred pieces from about twenty of the most prestigious lenders, such as Paris Museum of Decorative Arts (Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris), the Petit Palais – Fine Arts Museum of Paris, heritage collections of the Maisons Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Fred, or the exceptional Albion Art private collection.

After a gemological introduction on the origins of pearls, the exhibition traces the history of jewelers’ passion for pearls from the late nineteenth century to the present day through 6 parts: I.The pearl and its secrets, II. Pearls and the East, III. Around 1900, conquering the market, IV. The pearl as a symbol of modernity: the 1910s, V. 1925: Pearl mania in Paris and VI. The pearl trade from then to now.

The exhibition “Paris, City of Pearls” is curated by Olivier Segura (Gemologist and Director of L’ÉCOLE Asia-Pacific, School of Jewelry Arts) and Léonard Pouy (Doctor in Art History and Content and Transmission Manager at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts).

At the L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts in the Hôtel de Mercy-Argenteau, Paris, courses and talks, podcasts episodes (Voice of Jewels) will accompany the exhibition and free guided tours regularly offered to visitors.

(On the featured top picture: Henri Vever (1854 – 1942), corsage ornament, 1900, Mississippi pearls, diamonds, enamel, gold, silver. Collection Faerber © Faerber)