Treasures of Heaven @ The British Museum |

Inspiration for fashion or accessories designers comes from the most unexpected places.

In a previous post for example I looked at the connections between fashion and religion (though that theme could and should be expanded to explore also the fashion-devotion/worshipping connection…).

If you're into this connection or if you want to rethink a bit the interpretation of Paradise as tackled by Elsa Schiaparelli, try visiting the exhibition "Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe" at the British Museum.

The main point of this exhibition is exploring the spiritual and artistic significance of Christian relics and reliquaries in medieval Europe.

Yet the pieces (over 150 objects), dating from between approximately 1000–1500 AD and coming from more than forty institutions (including the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Walters Art Museum, the Vatican and quite a few European church treasuries), are also a testimony to craftsmanship.

While the early reliquaries were indeed simple boxes, as the years passed, they became refined artistic pieces made in precious metals by the most skilled goldsmiths.

One of the richest, most opulent and beautiful reliquaries (and most inspiring also from an architectural point of view…) remains the Holy Thorn reliquary (1390-97) that still retains its sacred relic taken from the Crown of Thorns, set amid an enamelled representation of the Last Judgement.

But there is also a reliquary bust of an unknown female saint, probably a companion of St Ursula, that looks very inspiring since the details of her hair, jewels and draped dress sculpted in wood are simply amazing (you can learn more about it from this short video).

If you are a textile designer, you should definitely take a look at the reliquary wrappings and in particular at the fragments of St Cuthbert’s vestment.

When St Cuthbert’s tomb was opened in 1827 his body was found wrapped in Byzantine silk called “The nature goddess silk” and the “Earth and Ocean silk” because it was covered in cosmic symbolism. In the exhibition there are just the textile fragments (probably from around AD 800) of robes wrapped round the body of St. Cuthbert.

Before his death Cuthbert is said to have instructed the Lindisfarne monks to wrap him in expensive cloth that had been given to him (in The Life of St Cuthbert Bede mentioned the textiles, claiming the saint had stated about them, "I would not wear them in my lifetime"). The textile fragments in the exhibition may have been part of that gift.

If you visit the exhibition, try also to pay attention to some of the colours employed in the pieces displayed such as the Byzantine gold and silver reliquary pendant of St. Demetrios with St. George with its blue and white enamel details, as you may find these beautiful and poetical shades inspiring for any fashion-related work.

"Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe" is at the British Museum (Round Reading Room) until 9th October 2011.

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