Gold: Power and Allure Exhibition

Gold: Power and Allure Exhibition | Mechanical mouse, gold with pearls, Henri Maillarugt, c.1810 (c) The Bowes Museum (p) GoUK.com

What

Gold: Power and Allure Exhibition - 4500 years of gold treasures from across Britain

When

From Friday June 1 to Saturday July 28 2012 (closed Sundays and Bank holidays) open from 10.00am to 5.00pm

Where

At Goldsmiths’ Hall, Foster Lane, London, EC2V 6BN

The Fanfare

Gold: Power and Allure Exhibition, the Goldsmiths’ Company’s summer exhibition, is the most comprehensive and ambitious ever staged at Goldsmiths’ Hall.

It powerfully tells the rich and previously untold story of Britain and its relationship with gold, demonstrating the country’s unique golden heritage.

This major project showcases more than 400 gold items ranging in date from as early as 2500BC to the present day.

It includes rare and exquisite works of art, combining sophisticated artistry and skill, together with pieces of exceptional historic significance. Others are esoteric, curious and amusing.

This is the first time such an extraordinary group of objects has been brought together.

All the exhibits, displayed over three floors at Goldsmiths’ Hall, have been loaned from distinguished institutions and private collections – many have rarely been seen in public before.

The exhibition focuses on various themes: the unique properties and surprising sources of gold, gold of antiquity, gold and religion, royalty and ceremony, gold and finance, golden dining and living, sporting gold, gold with military connections, golden threads and curiosities and finally gold of our time.

Each theme is vividly illustrated with a variety of golden treasures.

Throughout history the extreme preciousness of gold has captured human imagination and it remains a universal icon of enduring wealth and power, treasured by all societies.

Even in the 21st century human lives continue to be signposted with golden markers and, given the world’s uncertain economic climate, it is no surprise that for many gold offers long-term financial security.

Curated by historian Dr Helen Clifford, the exhibition Gold: Power and Allure Exhibition is engaging, educational, thought-provoking, awe-inspiring and illustrates that even today, this most precious metal has the power to captivate audiences with its universally mesmerising allure.

This is an exhibition not to be missed!

Admission is Free.

For further information, visit Goldsmiths.co.uk