(Left) A Malachite, Gold and Diamond Brooch Gifted to Princess Ceeta Al-Dammer, Wife of the Late King Khalid. (Right) A Diamond Ring Belonging to One of King Abdul Aziz’s Daughters. Supplied.
For the very first time, 300 pieces of priceless jewelry from Saudi Arabia went on display in Dubai this weekend. Organized by French jewelry design school L’Ecole Van Cleef & Arpels the exhibit “Hidden Treasures: Jewelry from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” represents the Arabian Peninsula’s position as a crossroads of civilizations and influences.
“You’ll get to see just how diverse and varied Arab culture and identity is, and how each piece is an exchange and an interpretation of places, ideas, and customs,” Pramod Kumar KG, the curator of the exhibit, said at the opening in the Dubai Design District on Thursday, March 28.
For over 30 years, the Art of Heritage group in Riyadh has been assembling and preserving artwork and crafts reflective of the life led by Saudi tribes and regions since the 19th century. The jewelry at this exhibit makes up for only a fifth of the collection.
Every piece of jewelry tells a story and reveals to us more about the history of the Kingdom. The early modern influence of Europe on Saudi Arabia can be seen in a 1940 ring of gold, silver, and diamonds that once belonged to the daughter of King Abdul Aziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia. Also on display is a 1970 Bedouin brooch exclusively designed and gifted to the wife of late King Khalid, Princess Ceeta Al-Dammer. The brooch is adorned with the country’s emblem of crossed swords under a date palm in gold and diamonds, over green malachite.
The exhibit is on display at Hai D3 in Dubai Design District until April 13.
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