Shanghai jewelry show

 

Shanghai jewelry show loses its shine

The Shanghai Fine Jewellery and Art Fair, set to run from May 16-23 at RockBund Art Museum, hit into one small snafu: much of their jewelry was held up in Chinese customs. Oops.

The Wall Street Journal reports that “many of the galleries displayed, instead of art, simple signs that apologetically said ‘Due to a logistic issue, some or all of the exhibits of this gallery are not being displayed.’” We’re sure that this isn’t quite the debut event that the newly opened and much-talked about RockBund Art Museum had in mind.

For one antique dealers who was confronted with “logistic issues,” she found out that her goods were all kept in customs due to “two pairs of gold 17th-century gold hairpins. Apparently, the Asian art expert said, ‘You can’t import gold.’”

As for the galleries who are proceeding on, no customs issues in sight? One high-end antique gallery owner told the WSJ that they “sidestepped Customs snafus by hand carrying their items in backpacks and telling airport agents the items were cheap knockoffs.”

Considering this is far from the event’s first year (it used to be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center), one would think the event organizers would know how to help vendors properly navigate Chinese custom's chanels.

Now moved to a more luxurious location, The Shanghai Fine Jewellery and Art Fair is well-placed to target China’s growing luxury consumer market that everyone seems to want a part of these days.

Exhibitors -- and all those who flocked to RockBund ArtMuseum in search of new bling -- are hoping their goods will be released before the event ends on Mary 23.