If Palace Museum tap into the beauty market

The eye shadow palettes draw inspiration from the gold royal jewels decorated with blue kingfisher feathers. [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]

Cultural and creative products of the Palace Museum are back into the public spotlight with an even greater market potential. This spring, an article titledWhat if the Palace Museum enters the cosmetic worldbecame a hit on Weibo, a micro blog.

Gugong Taobao listed a few potential items if the Palace Museum would launch its line of beauty products. They include eye shadow palettes, blushers and nail polishes, all of which derive from a myriad of artistic pieces in the Forbidden City. The museum neither claimed that they will tap into the beauty market nor made any comment on whether it had such a plan.

The eye shadow with four vibrant colors originates from the gold royal jewels decorated by kingfisher feathers. Gold and blue shades echo the royal taste of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Blushers and nail polishes draw inspiration from famous paintings such asA Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountainsby Wang Ximeng from the Song Dynasty (AD 420-479) andA Lotus Flower Just Rose from Under Waterby Wu Bin from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Nail polishes simulate the texture ofRuware, an extremely rare type of pottery from Song Dynasty(AD 420-479). [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]

With only design concepts, the museum has already stimulated people's desire to buy. It has received over 30,000 likes and has been shared more than 60,000 times as of June 15, 2017. Many internet users, mostly females, have expressed their passion for the products and their will to save money for future purchases even if they may have to skimp.

A Weibo user known as Lingluan Nini forwarded the Palace Museum article on her Weibo page. "I'm so into the new designs! Make-up can also have a unique Chinese style," she commented.

"If the Palace Museum really starts a cosmetic business, it will become a powerful contender for all the other cosmetic brands," the official Weibo account of Beijing Media Club said.

Nail polish sets echo the color system of a famous painting,A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountainsby Wang Ximeng from the Song Dynasty (AD 420-479). [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]

This is not the first time that the museum's creative products caused a sensation. Focusing on everyday needs,the museumhas developed various ranges of practical goods including phone shells, laptop bags, USB memory sticks, notebooks, tea sets, chopsticks, ties and quilts.

And all the products are available on Taobao and WeChat. Gugong Taobao, an online gift shop of the museum, has gained quite a popularity and influence in the online shopping circle.

Besides online promotion, the museum also holds cultural and educational activities open for the public and endeavors to teach the younger generations more about traditionalChinese culture.

The blushers draw inspiration from classical paintings collected in the Palace Museum. [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]

A lipstick shade echoes the tone of palace walls. [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]

A lipstick shade echoes thetoneofLangware. [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]

A lipstick shade echoes thetoneofcarmine ceramics from Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). [Photo/Official Weibo account of Palace Museum Cultural Service Center]