Chaumet jewelry takes us on a journey with the Trésors d’Afrique collection

After the splendor and purity of the jewelry from the Promenades Impériales collection, dusted with Russian snow, and the lightness and grace of jewelry inspired by Japan from the Chant du Printemps collection, it is now the African continent's turn to be honored by Chaumet. The Trésors d’Afrique sub-collection is the last stop on the 3-step journey offered by the Les Mondes de Chaumet collection. This is further proof of the Parisian house's openness to other cultures, as well as its adventurous spirit.

Following the encounter with Kenyan artist Evans Mbugua, whose colorful, vibrant plexiglass paintings reflect the energy and vitality of contemporary African art, Chaumet delved into sub-Saharan Africa. The Parisian house had previously been inspired by Egypt and the Maghreb. It became passionate about a continent where the art of adornment has reached an incredible level of sophistication and creativity, where daring is encouraged. It's no wonder that Africa inspired artists such as Picasso, Braque, and Apollinaire, legends of various movements, from Cubism to Surrealism to Fauvism. It is therefore not surprising that Chaumet discovered many similarities between its jewelry and African adornments.

The place of jewelry in Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, jewelry fulfills many roles. It can be an object of superstition, belief, or an accessory that helps establish one's social status. "Accessory" is in fact an inappropriate word, as jewelry often plays a central role for the individual, especially during major occasions. It is a talisman, an emblem of seduction or power. Despite their sophistication, nothing is superfluous, as every detail of these colorful jewels has a particular meaning. For example, the beads worn by a groom at his wedding symbolize the number of cattle he owns.

Trésors d’Afrique: Evans Mbugua's contribution

Playing with light, transparency, and colors to communicate joy and fantasy, it is to Evans Mbugua that we owe the Chaumet brooches from the Espiègleries series. This is a collection of 6 luxury brooches featuring famous African creatures staged in improbable situations. Among these brooches, there is a lazy monkey crossing the savannah on the back of a zebra. This enamel brooch is covered with pink sapphires. This collection even includes a brooch that can be transformed into a pair of earrings: these are yellow gold ants carrying fruit balls made of lapis lazuli, sapphires, and red spinels.

The menagerie offered by the Espiègleries collection is completed with 4 Chaumet watches. These are 2 complication watches and 2 tourbillon watches that once again highlight the savannah and its inhabitants. They are made of white gold set with diamonds.

Chaumet "Terres d’Or" Necklaces

The Chaumet jewelry from the Terres d’Or collection is inspired by the desert and the ocher earth of the African continent. These necklaces offer a magnificent contrast between red and yellow, reminiscent of the patterns of Ghanaian Kente fabrics or Congolese Kasai silks.

Reinventing the art of adornment with Dinka pearls from Sudan, or Masai ornaments, the Ronde de Pierres bib necklace, in yellow gold, is a symphony of colors. It is accompanied by a whole array of matching jewelry, namely a bracelet, rings, and a pair of earrings.

With its precious and qualitative creations that offer us a real journey into the cultural diversity of Africa, the 2018 world tour of the Les Mondes de Chaumet exhibition comes to an end with Trésors d’Afrique. And as we can see once again, the Parisian house is more open to the world and attentive to trends than ever.

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