Goud der Goden

The mysterious world of the Javanese Kingdom remained closed to outsiders for over a thousand years, with only the statues hewn from lava rock at Borobudur displaying the wealth with which the Javanese rulers venerated their gods. The Wereldmuseum is bringing you a world première with its exhibition 'Gold of the Gods'. It is a privilege to show you the most extensive collection of Javanese gold from the seventh to the eleventh centuries on display today, the beauty of which can barely be grasped by contemporary audiences. On special occasions Javanese royalty would adorn themselves with jewellery originally intended for the gods, honouring Vishnu, Shiva, and Parvati by embodying them. The jewellery itself was crafted by the most highly renowned goldsmiths, requiring not only superior craftsmanship but also spiritual knowledge as illustrated by the sagas and legends adorning the individual pieces and that portray the active role played by the gods in Javanese society. The Wereldmuseum is proud to be the first museum in the world to exhibit this collection. Being aware of our tremendous responsibility not only towards the collector, but also with regard to the collection's history, our aim was to create a presentation that will enable the audience to tangibly perceive the contemporary mysteries surrounding the works on display. Exhibition: Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the Netherlands (02.10.2015 - 06.04.2015).