Divine Gold: Jewellery from Java, Indonesia

Overview

Gold jewellery played a large role in the Javanese Court culture. The precious material was even granted a divine power, something also reflected in the way in which the pieces are decorated. Monsters, demons and other aggressive headlines are believed to bring the wearer happiness and protect them from evil forces.

The starting point of this publication is the beautiful gold jewellery collection of the Gemeentemuseum The Hague. Supplemented by other striking examples from the National Collection of the Netherlands, Divine Gold creates a fascinating picture of the meaning and use of the early Javanese ornament. This is the first time that the history of this Hindu-Buddhist jewellery is presented in such a way.