28 juni 2024 Visible Beauty, Hidden Meanings (Adornment as a historic source)

This afternoon, a group of national and international artists, historians and archaeologists will explore how the study of adornment, both ancient and contemporary, may help us understand the world of its wearers. From ancient gold to thriving henna practices today, join us for a kaleidoscopic journey into jewellery, dress, body aesthetic and more.

• date: Friday 28 June 2024
• time: 12.45-17.00 uur (with break, room open from 12:30)
• location: Leemanszaal, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (this afternoon will not be broadcast via livestream)
• costs: free (excl. museum admission)
• organized by Sigrid van Roode | Bedouin Silver

About adornment

People have always adorned themselves. Archaeological jewellery survives from the past, living practices show us that there is much more to personal adornment than just wearing jewellery. Smell, sounds, colours, movement, stories, songs, memories… there are so many aspects to adornment that do not appear in an excavation or on an old photograph.

Lecture program

Salma Ahmad Caller | Femina ornamentalis
An Elaborately Wrought Being

Fatima Ouled Thami | Moroccan Henna Art Skin Deep
(Hi)stories of sisterhood, spiritual significance and self-expression

Wafa Ghnaim | History on our Heads (online lecture)
Preliminary research into the origin of coins & adornment in Palestinian headdress

Karsten Wentink | Big Stories based on Small (but shiny) Objects
The first gold jewellery in the Netherlands, c. 2500 BCE

Yvonne Lammers-Keijsers | To see the future in past and present
Of magic wands, potion bottles and mysterious swan feet, or how ancient seeresses and modern witches are connected

Kim van Zweeden | Morbid or moving?
An introduction to mourning jewellery

Jolanda Bos | Making sense of the past
Multisensory aspects of personal adornment

If you want to attend this fascinating lecture afternoon, feel welcome! 

Please do register yourself here!