Art in Gold: Hellenistic Jewelry comes to China

The impressive Greek archeological exhibition, “Art in Gold: Jewelry in Hellenistic Times”, was inaugurated, at the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi’an recently. Ambassador of Greece to China, Dr. Evgenios Kalpyris, attended the opening ceremony along with high-ranking Chinese officials and other distinguished guests.

Featuring 250 remarkable artifacts, the majority of which are gold jewelry, the exhibition showcases the artistic excellence, craftsmanship, and refined aesthetic that characterized jewelry production during the Hellenistic period. Visitors are offered a unique insight into the cultural achievements and enduring legacy of the Hellenistic world through 180 objects from 24 public archaeological museums across Greece and 70 objects from the collections of the Benaki Museum of Athens.

In his opening address, the Ambassador of Greece to China, Dr. Evgenios Kalpyris, underscored “the important insight the exhibition offers into the political, religious, and cultural developments of the Hellenistic world” and added: ‘’During the Hellenistic period, Greek culture spread across a vast territory extending from Greece and Egypt to Central Asia. This expansion encouraged the exchange of artistic ideas and led to major developments in jewelry design and craftsmanship. Hellenistic jewelry influenced artistic traditions across Asia. Greek civilization through Greek – Bactrian and Greek – Indian Kingdoms, which were established by the successors of Alexander the Great, has influenced Asian cultures and art up to our days.

Hellenistic jewelry is often considered one of the finest achievements of ancient decorative art, with an influence that extended beyond antiquity and can be observed in later European artistic traditions and modern jewelry design. Contemporary designers frequently draw inspiration from ancient Greek forms and motifs. Greek jewelry proudly continues a tradition of thousands of years and remains a source of inspiration for the global industry’’.

In his welcome speech, Mr. Jia Qiang, Director of Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, stressed: “The exhibition will enable visitors to experience more profoundly the unique charm of ancient Greek civilization and further strengthen the foundations of China–Greece friendship. These treasures stand as compelling evidence of the millennia-long exchanges and mutual learning between the Chinese and the Greek civilisations”.

Among many guests, the opening ceremony was also attended by the professors and students of the Department of Greek Language of the Xi'an International Studies University and media representatives.

The exhibition was organized by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Benaki Museum and the Shaanxi History Museum. It will remain there until 29 November 2026, offering the public a unique opportunity to discover the art of Hellenistic goldsmithing and the richness of Greece’s ancient cultural heritage.