An exhibition titled “Hidden Treasures: Jewelry from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” will be presented to the public for the first time from March 28 to April 13 at In5 in Hai d3, Dubai Design District.
The event is being organized by Paris-based jewelry design school L’Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels in coordination with Art of Heritage (AOH), a cultural trust that aims to foster the revival of Saudi art, craft and culture among newer generations.
Various jeweled objects from the Kingdom will be on display at the event, which is in its second Middle East edition.
The collection has been collected over a period of 33 years by members of the AOH board of trustees: Princess Sara Al-Faisal, Princess Moudi bint Khalid, Princess Haifa Al-Faisal and Princess Basma bint Majid.
Featuring over 323 heritage jewelry pieces that were personal possessions and accoutrements of Bedouin women, the exhibition will pay homage to the rich heritage of the Kingdom while shedding light on heritage jewelry-making techniques, design and history in this part of the world.
During the two-week event, art and jewelry enthusiasts in the region will get a chance to closely examine and enjoy the beauty of some of the exhibited key pieces, ranging from headpieces, earrings, nose rings, waist belts, finger rings and anklets, in addition to a selection of face veils and bejeweled textiles that were worn as accessories.
One of the popular pieces on display is the Green Malachite Brooch, an item from the 20th century. This rare creation was specifically commissioned by an elite patron and features the Kingdom’s logo, giving it an assertion of the country’s identity.
Another dazzling creation that will be on display is a finger ring from the 1940s that used to belong to a daughter of Saudi Arabia’s late founder King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. The ring is innovative in its design, using multiple gem setting styles with silver, gold and diamonds. An attempt at pave setting is also seen within the central cluster with the use of metal pins, although all the individual stones are anchored in the bezel setting.
