"Indian Jewelry" exhibtion in Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden (NL)

general view of the exhibition

A visit to the Museum Volkenkunde in Leiden in 2012 offered me a nice surprise in the

 form of a small exhibit about "Contemporary Indian Jewelry".  The museum was going 

under huge renovation and was due to re-opened in fall of 2012, therefore the 

collections/exhibitions on display and amount of spaces open to public were limited, 

but enough to give a visitor a good idea of what the museum can offer.

The exhibit is the part of the museum currently open to public, in the main room 

dedicated to Asia but in a small space, which is not a problem to offer some substantial 

content about the subject.  It is curated by Saskia Konniger, who is researching for the 

museum about Indian traditions, and has conceived the show after two field trips to 

several regions in India: Rajasthan (Bikaner and Jaipur) to study the work of goldsmiths.

After the trips, her findings added some new pieces into the museum's collection.

I found the exhibit very appealing, condensed and well presented both in terms of 

pieces and layout, though the cases where the pieces were shown had too many 

reflects and the quality of craftsmanship was at times difficult to be appreciated.

Panels, labels and audiovisuals were instructive, as well as the walls covered by 

photos and images (we must guess from the researcher's travels?) and local

iconography.  That was a touch of artistic connection between the pieces shown and 

the anthropological vision, as a complete immersion into some aspects of Indian culture.

The catalogue contains good visual documentation, but (as informed from the museum's

 desk) it has only been published in Dutch, which from a quick reading is a pity for it

 surely contains valuable information that would allow to better understand the content

 of the exhibition.

Images of some of the pieces on display:

Silk textiles and costumes from Valencia (private collection, Valencia, Spain)

Valencia region has a very famous festivity, Fallas, celebrated by mid March every year,
going back in history.  And, as part of the celebration, the tradition dictates to dress in
costume that speaks about the history of dress in that region.

These are some images from a private collection of dresses, accessories and textiles of costume
from Valencia that are come much alive every year when the Fallas celebration takes place.
The history of costumes may be dated back into the XVIII century and where mostly
used by peasants, but tradition transformed them into a more elegant garment for special
 occasions. Along the years the garments suffered from influences that have altered or modify
the original patterns. But, nowadays they are a historic document of ethnological value.

Silk production in Valencia region was a very important in the textile tradition and is dated
to the VIII century, when the Arabs introduced the mulberries cultivation and later the city
was known to be the end of the silk route, the route for trade and commerce that along the
centuries expanded its  influence in Spanish and European economics.

These costumes are a testimony of a great industry that was very powerful.
In 2016 The Colegio de la Seda, that houses the Museo de la Seda,
 received the Unesco Silk Route Program Award.