From folklore to mythology, the bee has many symbolisms, such as focus, cooperation and hard work. For the House of Chaumet, the bee is a symbol of vitality. Its representation comes in the form of its signature honeycomb and bee designs, both of which have dictated the Chaumet's Bee My Love collections. However, the maison's use of the winged insect is anything but figurative. "Bee My Love may be an abstraction of the motif of the beehive and the bee, but it is nonetheless narrative and very symbolic, as we like to do at Chaumet," explained CEO Jean-Marc Mansvelt. "Wearing a Chaumet creation has meaning; it's not just a beautiful, well-made object that's comfortable to wear, it's also a meaningful object."
At a grand age of over 240 years, Chaumet has had a storied history. In 1804, Chaumet became the official jeweller for the notable Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife, the Empress Joséphine. Among the crown jewels, which included Napoléon's Coronation Sword set with a 140.5-carat diamond, the bee was chosen as the imperial emblem for the new French royal family. While Napoléon's taste for jewellery was predominantly political, with goals of making France the centre for luxury and fashion design, his wife sought them as trinkets for expression. Up until the mid-1800s, the Romanticism movement was at the forefront, and Chaumet's designs were heavily inspired by nature, a muse that the Empress Joséphine was fond of.
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 de Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2023 de Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Great Unknown
It's a fresh chapter for Thai actress Nuttanicha "Nychaa" Dungwattanawanich as she strikes out on her own.
FINDING XANADU
Adventure, magic and freedom await in the land of the blue sky, Mongolia.
TALKING POINTS
From the worlds of Art, Culture, Travel and Design.
TIMELESS LUXURY
In Hosanna Swee and Tom Chng's stunning apartment, an eye for detail and love for horological collectibles reveals an elegant and minimalist escape.
PRIM FOR PRIMETIME
Chanikarn \"Prim\" Tangkabodee reminisces on her journey from a child actor to a superstar in-the-making.
INSPIRATION
The suave music artiste is no stranger to the world of fashion. In fact, he describes fashion as the forefront of his and his family's personal expression, as well as a form of manners.
WELL, SUITED?
As attitudes towards dress codes shift, is the suit about to exit our closets?
DARK HORSE
In his next role and what is easily his most challenging character to date―actor Brian Ng wants one thing from you: your hatred.
THE POWER OF PERETTI
In a hidden village of Sant Marti Vell in Spain, where Elsa Peretti lived, loved and created enduring symbols of design and beauty for Tiffany & Co., Kenneth Goh traces and marvels at her 50 years of legacy.
REDEFINING ROYALTY
Chaumet's Charles Leung talks to BAZAAR about the beauty and the resilience of the 244-year-old French jewellery brand in a new era.