Scène Jewelry, From the Comédie-Française, a dive into the history of theater.
The School of Jewelry Arts On October 6, it inaugurates its new address with a temporary exhibition of the most captivating nature Jewels from the Scène of the Comédie Française. This first exhibition offers a fascinating overview of the jewelry that adorned the actors and actresses on the stages of this famous theater. Gathering one hundred and twenty accessories, works of art, and documents, mostly from the collections of the Comédie-Française, this exhibition will present a completely unprecedented subject that will attract attention and delight visitors.
Gold-plated sheet metal, shell motifs set in silver bars, pearls from Méru, cream velvet and black silk ribbon
© Coll. Comédie-Française
Photo: The School of Jewelry Arts – Benjamin Chelly
From the moment they enter, visitors will be greeted by an excerpt from a play by Georges Feydeau, A thread with a hook. In this extract, a ring becomes the object of a misunderstanding. It illustrates how a simple piece of jewelry can sometimes play a crucial role in the plot twist. Thus, through this short film, the tone is set, and the visitors approach the subject with a complicit smile.
Then, darkness envelops the visitors, plunging them into the backstage. Paintings, prints, manuscripts and objects tell the stories of the jewels’ first appearances. Agathe Sanjuan, curator, explains that these jewelry pieces reflected the personal success of the actors. Before historical authenticity gained importance in the 18th century.
A curtain rises, transporting the actors’ silhouettes into a scenic light. The actors dance on luminous walls, playing with shadows and lights. A romantic period, embodied by Rachel, who, emerging from a modest family, shines with jewels in her eyes. Phèdre or Bajazet, Drawing inspiration from the Orientalism of the time, Rachel’s jewelry, with its sparkling dagger, combines opulence and delicacy. Thus, high-end jewelry techniques are incorporated, along with «trembling» diadems and transformable jewelry.
Structure in gold-plated silver, stars in silver-plated copper alloy, tremblants in copper alloy, imitation stones in lead glass
© Coll. Comédie-Française
Photo: The School of Jewelry Arts – Benjamin Chelly
The centerpiece emerges with costumes loaned by the National Centre of Costume and Stage, an embroidered gown worn by Julia Bartet in Pepá, or a tunic adorned with cabochons in Athalie, demonstrating the prestige of the actors. Finally, the final act honors the Belle Époque and its icons. As in the case of Mme Bartet, Édouard de Max and Sarah Bernhardt, through monumental portraits.
The exhibition Jewels from the Scène of the Comédie Française à The School of Jewelry Arts offers a journey through theatrical history. It highlights the essential role of jewelry in staging and presenting the era. An experience that reveals the unknown brilliance of the Comédie-Française’s stage jewelry, thus illuminating the history of theater.
Exhibition from June 13, 2024 to September 1, 2024
