National Museum of Qatar showcases dazzling jewellery by iconic French designer

More than 125 dazzling pieces of jewellery and art objects crafted by iconic French jewellery designer Jean Schlumberger are on show at the “Magnificent Jewels of Jean Schlumberger: From the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Collection” exhibition which opened yesterday at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ).

H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health, Ahmad Al Namla, Acting CEO of Qatar Museums, and Ali Alfardan, Vice-Chairman of Alfardan Group and President of Alfardan Jewellery along with several VIP guests were present at the launch of the exhibition.

The exhibition is dedicated to the vibrant and sculptural work of Schlumberger (1907–1987) who transformed 20th century fashion with jewellery and accessories inspired by natural forms. 

On view at the NMoQ until January 15 next year, the exhibition includes pieces from the Rachel Lambert Mellon Collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), the largest and most comprehensive public collection of jewellery and art objects by Schlumberger. The exhibition features the designer’s imaginative, witty and awe-inspiring interpretations of animal and botanical subjects, particularly marine life and flowers, which combine precious metals and gemstones, as well as organic materials.

Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari (centre); Acting CEO of Qatar Museums, Ahmad Al Namla (fourth left); and Ali Alfardan (fourth right), Vice-Chairman of Alfardan Group and President of Alfardan Jewellery, along with guests at the launch of the “Magnificent Jewels of Jean Schlumberger: From the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Collection” exhibition yesterday at the National Museum of Qatar.

“We are proud to present Magnificent Jewels of Jean Schlumberger as one of the first temporary exhibitions at the recently opened NMoQ. Schlumberger’s dazzling jewellery and art objects, which were inspired by nature, will certainly captivate visitors, just as the museum has through its organic design, resembling a desert rose,” said Sheikha Reem Al Thani, Director of Exhibitions at Qatar Museums. 

The exhibition is organised by Dr. Michael R. Taylor, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Art and Education at VMFA, and Kristie Couser, Curatorial Assistant for Works on Paper, The Clark Art Institute. It debuted in 2017 at the VMFA and has traveled to The Museum of Fine Art in St. Petersburg, Florida and The National Museum of China in Beijing. 

“This unparalleled collection of Jean Schlumberger’s iconic jewellery, accessories, and other decorative objects was given to VMFA by Rachel Lambert Mellon, one of the most generous donors in our history. These extraordinary works — with their vibrant colors, exquisite craftsmanship, and natural inspirations – showcase Schlumberger’s dazzling imagination and clarity of vision,” said Taylor. 

Schlumberger began his career crafting costume jewellery for the French fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli in 1930s Paris, before heading his own private salon at New York’s Tiffany & Co. beginning in the 1950s. Schlumberger’s designs for objects ranging from cigarette cases and pill boxes to brooches and necklaces were popular with some of the most celebrated women of the period, among them Rachel “Bunny” Lambert Mellon(1910-2014), a noted American horticulturalist and philanthropist, whose collection is the focus of this exhibition. 

Schlumberger’s designs featuring precious stones would include diverse cuts, carat size, and colour –adding a multi-faceted dynamism to each piece. A natural lapidary (gem artisan), he shaped minerals and gems using the techniques of cabochon cutting to maximise a gem’s brilliance.

The exhibition is supported by Alfardan Group and Tiffany &Co.

Admission to the exhibition  is QR20 for adults; QR10 for students and free for children under 16, Culture Pass Plus and Culture Pass Family Members, and visitors with disabilities.