Gems and Jewellery of the Medici

300-year rulers of the city of Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, the Medici family made its fortune in banking before developing a sprawling network of political power, business connections and patronage of the arts – not unlike some of Japan's more storied family dynasties, albeit on a grander scale. The Teien Art Museum now exhibits some of the Medicis' most prized treasures, with a special focus on jewellery and portraits created by Renaissance-era court painters. On loan from Florence's Museo degli Argenti, known as the 'Medici Treasury', these pieces tell the dramatic story of a family once named the most powerful in Europe. When visiting, make sure to dress up for the occasion – anyone wearing something with pearls gets ¥100 off the ticket price.