appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Ambrose Li

Diamond-studded necklaces, golden pectorals and ceremonial small swords are among about 200 jewellery and decorative pieces, covering 4,000 years of history across five continents, to be showcased in Hong Kong from Wednesday.
Titled “Treasures of Global Jewellery from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Body Transformed”, the show at the Hong Kong Palace Museum marks the US institute’s first major travelling showcase of its jewellery collection.
About 200 exhibits have been selected from the Met’s collection of 8,000 jewellery pieces from 13 of 19 different curatorial areas. They are supplemented by works from the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s own collection.
Quincy Houghton, deputy director of the Met’s exhibition and international initiatives, said the show brought to Hong Kong was first staged in 2017 and 2018 in New York, and had been reworked for the tour.
“In the back of my mind, this would always be a fantastic exhibition to share internationally because it’s so global in nature,” Houghton told the South China Morning Post, adding that the tour would conclude in Shanghai.
“It’s an exhibition that celebrates global creativity, and we’re best presented in these great international centres,” she said, referring to New York and Hong Kong, and noting that it marked the Met’s debut in the city.
“We hope this exhibition will be the beginning of a lasting relationship between the Met and the Hong Kong Palace Museum.”
Dr Melanie Holcomb, the Met curator of the exhibition, emphasised the delicate and precious nature of the exhibits, saying that they “would not want” to be brought to more than two locations to protect them.

“If we care for them in the way that we should, we have to be very selective about where we’re going, and how many venues we are sending them to,” she said.
Dr Louis Ng Chi-wa, director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum, said he expected 200,000 people to attend the exhibition over six months and that the juxtaposition of the two museums’ collections allowed for “intriguing comparisons” across cultures.
“[The exhibition shows] Hong Kong Palace Museum’s efforts in strengthening [the city’s] distinct position as an East-West centre for international cultural exchange,” he said.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is a brooch made with diamonds and rubies, among other precious materials, in the shape of a rabbit waiter. It was created in the 1930s in the United States during the Prohibition era.
“At a time when alcohol was banned, the affluent continued to enjoy their beverages in private, with the brooch showing a waiter carrying an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne,” said Yau Sum-yin, associate curator of the museum.
She also pointed out a headdress ornament made entirely of gold from Colombia, dating back to the first to seventh centuries, which would have adorned a turban-like garment worn to give the wearer a commanding presence.
That civilisation believed gold symbolised the sun, and that wearing a piece of jewellery made from the precious metal would grant the wearer the star’s sacred power, Yau said. The piece was likely to have formed part of a full-body suit worn as regalia by high-status individuals.
The exhibition also features augmented-reality stops, with screens enabling visitors to virtually wear some of the jewellery pieces on display. The museum will also offer talks, workshops and guided tours.
The installation will run from Wednesday until October 19. Tickets are priced at HK$150 for the special exhibition and HK$75 for concessions.


Hong Kong teacher jailed for 3 years for molesting pupil during free tutoring

Hong Kong astronaut Lai Ka-ying sends Mid-Autumn Festival wishes to residents from space

Legislation among options to regulate minors’ social media use: justice minister

Hong Kong’s IOMed poised to play key role in resolving Greater Bay Area disputes

Hong Kong society

New York’s Met to debut glittering global jewellery exhibition in Hong Kong

Jewellery masterpieces from across civilisations meet in a cross-cultural showcase at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Photo: Karma Lo

The exhibition will showcase some 200 jewellery and decorative pieces, covering 4,000 years of history across five continents. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong developer banks on arts and finance synergy in West Kowloon cultural hub

Sun Hung Kai Properties’ new grade A towers in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon, part of its push to merge arts and finance. Photo: Jelly Tse

Lo King-wai, executive director of Sun Hung Kai Real Estate Agency. Photo: Sun Yeung

To realise Hong Kong’s cultural potential, a global vision is essential

Illustration: Craig Stephens

Visitors queue as the M+ Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District prepares to open its doors on March 9. To celebrate Art March Hong Kong, M+ is offering free admission to its general admission exhibitions. Photo: May Tse

“Picasso for Asia – A Conversation” at M+ is one of multiple exhibitions hosted by the West Kowloon Cultural District during Art March this year. Photo: Alexander Mak

A woman flies a kite with children at the West Kowloon Cultural District on March 8. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong arts hub strengthens global links with 12 new partnerships

The MOUs from the last summit brought masterpieces from institutions such as the Palace of Versailles in France to Hong Kong. Photo: Sam Tsang

The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority signed agreements with 12 international institutions.  Photo: WestK

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s Betty Fung Ching says 85 per cent of the agreements signed at the previous summit “have been realised one way or another”. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon arts hub tests new ferry service link from Central

The new WestK Ferry route takes about eight minutes to shuttle between the art hub’s newly built WestK Quay and Central Pier No 9. Photo: Sam Tsang

The ferry service can carry about 100 people. Photo: Sam Tsang

The WestK Ferry service runs every 30 minutes from 8am to 10pm on weekdays, with extended operating hours on weekends and holidays. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Society

From golden headdresses to diamond brooches, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase some 200 pieces spanning 4,000 years and five continents


From golden headdresses to diamond brooches, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase some 200 pieces spanning 4,000 years and five continents.


New York’s Met to debut glittering global jewellery exhibition in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From golden headdresses to diamond brooches, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase some 200 pieces spanning 4,000 years and five continents

From golden headdresses to diamond brooches, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase some 200 pieces spanning 4,000 years and five continents