The jewel in its sketches, the origins of jewelry creation.
Before taking shape in metal and stone, the jewel is born from a line. The exhibition Bead designs. The secrets of creation, The exhibition, presented at the Petit Palais, reveals the richness of its collection of jewelry designs, created since the 1990s and rarely shown to the public. Through a selection of more than 5,500 sheets, the museum reveals a century of ingenuity, from the 19th to the 20th century.
Graphite and gouache crayon on translucent paper, 16.7 × 12.6 cm.
Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris.
Donation by the Jacqueau family, 1998.
© Charles Jacqueau – Paris Musées / Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts
from the City of Paris.
The exhibition follows the creative process from the initial inspirations to the technical development. Nature, ornamental motifs and ancient repertories inform the designers’ research. Sketchbooks and detailed drawings provide a record of this quest for forms and balances.
The exhibition highlights the place of drawing in the creation of jewelry. From the quick sketch to the final model, enhanced with gouache, each sheet bears witness to a dialogue between technical rigor and artistic expression. A video produced in partnership with the Haute École de Joaillerie illustrates the role of the gouache artist, whose brush accurately translates the reflections and volumes.
A set of drawings is presented alongside finished jewelry, drawn from the collections of the Petit Palais and prestigious workshops such as Boucheron and Cartier. This juxtaposition highlights the essential role of drawing in the interpretation of jewelry, from the work of the engraver to that of the jeweler.
At the end, the exhibition questions the function of drawing beyond its preparatory dimension. Through its ability to traverse time, it becomes a memory and source of inspiration for future generations. A selection of rarely exhibited jewelry dialogues with period portraits, extending this reflection on the transmission of forms and know-how.
Beads Designs
From April 1 to July 20, 2025
Petit Palais Paris
