Au fil de l'or: the brilliant exhibition on gold in the art of fashion at the Musée du Quai Branly - photos

The Musée du Quai Branly takes us into a sparkling universe, where gold meets the art of textiles. Travel from the Orient to the Land of the Rising Sun with the exceptional exhibition "Au fil de l'or", on view from February 11 to July 6, 2025.

All that glitters is not gold... Except in the exhibition Au fil de l'or, presented at the Musée du Quai Branly, from February 11 to July 6, 2025. This major exhibition tells the story of the long love affair between this precious metal and mankind, and how it is used in the textile arts by different civilizations.

In the Maghreb, the Levant, South Asia, China and Japan... For millennia, men and women have adorned their clothes, jewelry and accessories with gold.

A precious metal often reserved for the nobility and the wealthy, gold has fascinated mankind for almost 7,000 years. The craftsmen of every civilization have sought to shape and transform gold to add it to ornaments and clothing fabrics. A symbol of wealth, elegance and refinement, often linked to divinities, gold is the star of metals.

Featuring garments and models from different eras and civilizations, the exhibition brings together fashion, history and technology. Kimonos, silks and embroideries from Morocco, festive dresses and traditional saris, embroidered costumes... These exceptional pieces reveal a wealth of information about the skills, customs and beliefs of the associated societies.

Visitors can admire traditional outfits, festive and wedding garments, and the finery of kings and emperors from various countries of the Orient and Asia. The pieces, their gold-working techniques and motifs reveal a wealth of information about the craft practices of each country, while also revealing the commercial and cultural links that may have bound neighboring countries together.

The exhibition also sheds fascinating light on mankind's love affair with gold. A metal from the sky, it conquered mankind as soon as it was discovered, and numerous civilizations have tried to add this brilliant color, reminiscent of the sun, to their clothing, jewelry...

To complete this rich (no pun intended) journey, the Musée du Quai Branly has invited Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei to exhibit several of her creations. Along the way, we can admire five previously unseen pieces and nine existing costumes; works that enter into dialogue and sublimate the historical pieces presented in the exhibition. These exceptional creations bring a contemporary perspective to the exhibition, reminding us of the influence of art and culture in fashion.

Fashion, history, civilizations from different continents: with this exhibition, the Musée du Quai Branly is sure to please many enthusiasts!

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