Jewels of the Imagination Coming to the Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete

JEWELS OF THE IMAGINATION THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, On View December 15, 2018 to March 15, 2019

One of the world’s most beautiful and extensive collections of jewelry is making its way to the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, for only  its second showing ever. More than 135 pieces of jewelry and objects from Bunny Mellon’s incredible collection of designs by the famous jeweler and artist Jean Schlumberger. After premiering at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts last year, Jewels of the Imagination is heading south for the winter.

Opening December 15th, the incredible exhibition will be displayed in conjunction with an exclusive exhibit at the St. Petersburg MFA, Drawn to Beauty, which features original drawings and photographs highlighting the artist and his work. Mrs. Mellon’s jewelry and jeweled objects comprise the largest and most extensive public collection of work by the artist.

NEVER BEFORE SEEN

Acting as a complementary exhibition to Jewels of the Imagination, Drawn to Beauty will offer visitors the chance to delve further into the process of the great designer Jean Schlumberger. Featuring jewels, sketches, photographs, objets d’art and  personal items belonging to the artist, the exhibition will be on display for the first time ever. Many of the items on view, borrowed from the Tiffany & Co. Archives and private collections, have never been on display for the public.

THE ARTIST AND HIS MUSE BUNNY MELLON AND JEAN SCHLUMBERGER

Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon was a noted horticulturist, art collector and philanthropist. Her collection of Schlumberger’s work ranges from necklaces and bracelets to cigarette cases and salt cellars.  Her love of gardening inspired many of the artist’s botanical pieces, and the two were frequent  collaborators.

Jean Schlumberger started his career designing for the famed fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli, before heading his own salon at Tiffany & Co. His work was avant-garde and surrealist, and appealed  to the most independent and stylish women of the time including the likes of Gloria Vanderbilt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Diana Vreeland, and of course, Bunny Mellon.

EXHIBITION DESIGN BY RUSH JENKINS

Rush Jenkins of WRJ Interior Design, known for his remarkable exhibitions of legendary personal collections, has designed more than 40 exhibitions for Sotheby’s New York. “I am thrilled to be doing another Bunny Mellon exhibit,“ Jenkins says, “every exhibition I do unfolds like a novel, revealing unexpected delights around every corner.”

To find out more about the exhibition, please contact Kyle Parks, 727.895.5030,  kyle@b2communications.com.

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