Jewels of the distant east

Gold Across the Seas

28 September 2016 - 26 February 2017

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Following on from Jewellery from the Roof of the World (2012), which led us down the trails of the Silk Road, this exhibition will follow the seafaring routes of this legendary trading circuit illustrated by the magic of archaeological and ethnic jewellery. So as to bring out the opulence and diversity of the cultures of the kingdoms from Arabia to Insulindia, the guiding thread of this waterborne journey will be gold, the legendary symbol of eternity. More than three hundred gleaming jewels, from private collections, will take visitors on a voyage through time and space. Their entrancing beauty and variety will return bygone civilisations to life and paint a detailed picture of a world of symbolism threatened with oblivion. The exhibition will also feature sculptures and textiles from the collections of the MEG, musée d’ethnographie de Genève, the Musée Barbier-Mueller and from a private collection.

An exhibition catalogue in French is on sale at the museum.