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Tuesday, 10th March 2009 (2053 views)

The Wallace Collection is currently showing a series of gold items dating from the Medieval period as part of a collection entitled Treasures of the Black Death.

Looking at the plague that swept through Europe in 1349, the exhibition focuses on two hordes of jewellery discovered in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Both the haul from Erfurt and that from Colmar are believed to be the result of wealthy German Jewish merchants hiding jewels before fleeing for their lives as they were accused of spreading the disease by their neighbours.

Intricately crafted gold rings, clasps, buttons, hair ornaments and brooches form part of the collection, including the earliest known Jewish wedding rings, which will be on display at the Wallace Collection in London until May 10th 2009.

Admission to the display is free and the Wallace Collection also houses numerous other gold items collected in the 18th and 19th centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, son of the fourth marquess.

 

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