French jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger (1907-87) left a legacy of creative work showing the wit, curiosity and imagination he used to present the wonders of nature through gemstones. His designs helped shape the fashion of the 20th century and enrich the collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

A jewelry design exhibition, to open at the National Museum of China on May 30, will show 123 ornamental pieces by Schlumberger, on loan from the Richmond-based museum — which boasts a larger and more comprehensive collection of Schlumberger's works than any other institution in the world.

The museum will also include several ancient Chinese jewelries from its collection in the exhibition, which runs through Sept 1, to enrich the audience's understanding of aesthetic similarities and differences between East and West.