06 August 2018
This exhibition “Bead art in Africa” at the Rietberg Museum showcases a magnificent new collection of African bead-based art. Both the older and the more recent jewelry reveals the extraordinary creativity of southern, eastern and western Africa. We discover that beads are much more than commodities or a currency of exchange: they convey complex messages about the age, sex and identity of those who wear them. Produced in Europe for the African market from the 17th century onwards, they can be seen as one of the first symbols of globalization.
“Bead art in Africa – The Mottas Collection” from 7th June to 21st October 2018
Entrance of the Rietberg Museum, a glass pavilion called Emeraude
The fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo drew inspiration from the Xhosa people bead work
Hermmann sample card of beads - 1942
Twin figure decorated with beaded cloaks, 19th-20th century - Nigeria
The nose ornaments in this exhibition are nothing short of sumptuous! Whether with pendants, crab-shaped, bimetal, rounded, hammered, these decorations...
Seeing jewelry in museums seems natural enough, but that wasn’t the case until the end of the 19th century!
The Comité Colbert is sounding the alarm: certain typically French skills are in danger of disappearing in the next 10 years! The luxury industry has 80...
Cartier was not merely inspired by motifs from distant cultures: the jeweler’s new creations have also often incorporated elements from old jewelry or...
Place Vendôme and the Rue de la Paix, I’ve photographed the most beautiful displays, from Cartier and Tiffany&Co. to Chanel.
Together with Mathias Kiss, Ségolène Dangleterre has created three pieces of jewelry: square bronze rings, layered and shaped like a cornice. Photo ©...