On May 17, 2019, the LVR LandesMuseum in Bonn (“LVR-LMB”) organized as part of the accompanying program to the exhibition “Europe on the move – living environments in the early Middle Ages” an “experience tour goldsmith art”.
The exhibition "Europe in Motion" presents a surprisingly complex and multi-faceted picture of the late antique and early medieval regions between Ireland and Spain in the west and Egypt and Hungary in the east.
The invitation from the LVR-LMB to the adventure tour stated (quote):
"... Jewellery: its preciousness, workmanship and decoration can always be an indication of which culture, faith or social class one belongs to. The exhibition shows pieces of jewelery from all over Europe: brooches, rings, pearls, clasps made of gold, silver, amber and precious stones. They were often buried with their owners. Each piece tells its own story about the often far-flung origin of the materials, the craftsmanship of the makers, or what it means to the wearer. Our art mediators report on this during a tour of the exhibition. They are joined by the goldsmith, Stefani Köster. She has specialized in medieval replicas and will go into the special craftsmanship of the pieces of jewelery on display and answer questions from the participants over a drink together…” (quote from end of LVR-LMB).
I was able to explain the various manufacturing techniques used by early medieval goldsmiths in more detail to a small group of people interested in this guided tour, using the example of selected pieces of jewelry from the exhibition. For example, the LVR-LMB has an extraordinarily high-quality collection of medieval robe clasps (so-called "brooches"), some of which were also shown in the exhibition:
The participants in the adventure tour thus got an insight into the working methods and the historical craft techniques of my medieval colleagues from the point of view of a specialist.
For example, techniques such as the production of beaded wire, filigree or the production of the so-called "waffle foil" for depositing the gemstones on the brooches were explained in detail and enriched with one or the other anecdote from my own professional practice.
It was very helpful to have the extensive Documentation on medieval goldsmith techniques of the LVR-LMB from 2016 to flow into the adventure tour. For the visitors, this resulted in an even more lively picture of the often very simple means with which the medieval goldsmiths of the time worked - and still produced objects of extraordinary quality.
A small drink with interesting conversations finally rounded off the event evening in the LVR-LMB, which was exciting and successful according to the participants.