Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire

Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire

30 September - 12 November 2023

Guildhall Art Gallery, Basinghall Street, City of London EC2V 5AE

Dazzling display of robes, uniforms, costumes, and jewellery provides “feast for the senses” at Guildhall Art Gallery exhibition

A piece of the only surviving dress worn by Queen Elizabeth I, Charles Dickens’ court suit, an RSC robe worn by David Tennant as Richard II, and the Coronation glove of Queen Elizabeth II are among the highlights at a major exhibition at the City of London Corporation’s Guildhall Art Gallery.

Featuring over 200 items dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, many of them on display for the first time, Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire will present historical items and royal, military, ecclesiastical, and theatrical costumes, and fine examples of modern jewellery, silversmithing, and embroidery.

The exhibition is part of the City Corporation’s Destination City, its flagship policy programme that sets out a renewed vision for the City to be a world-leading leisure destination for UK and global visitors, workers, and residents to enjoy.

Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire celebrates the 400th anniversary of the ancient Livery Company, The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, and recognises how it has evolved over the last four centuries.

It has been curated by Curator Emeritus at the Royal Armouries, Dr Karen Watts, and will be opened by the Worshipful Company’s Patron, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester.

Other selected highlights of the exhibition include:

• Hearse cloth of rare English Tudor embroidery, Fishmongers’ Livery Company (1515) 
• Queen Mary's Coronation Dress of gold and silver silk thread (1911)
• Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee Cope presented to the Bishop of London (1977)
• Masters’ crowns from the Girdlers’ and Broderers’ Livery companies
• opera costume for Geraint Evans in Don Giovanni, designed by Franco Zeffirelli (1962)
• crown worn by Dame Helen Mirren as Cleopatra (RSC, 1982)
• Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation dress and Prince Philip’s wedding naval suit worn by Claire Foy and Matt Smith in the Netflix series, The Crown (2022)
• coat of a State Trumpeter, Household Cavalry
• ceremonial, civic, and royal robes of state
• contemporary jewellery, embroidery and fashion accessories made by the company’s Freemen and Liverymen using gold and silver wire
• a hat created exclusively for the exhibition by milliner to the Royal Family and Liveryman, David Shilling
• art works made by the Royal School of Needlework, Glasgow School of Art and members of the Goldsmiths’ Company
• gold braided dress uniforms for the Army, Navy and Air Force

Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Munsur Ali, said:

“With such a visually engaging range of exhibits on display, this new exhibition promises to provide a feast for the senses.

“I am sure that the show will prove very popular, in particular, with costume designers, fashion and military historians, theatre fans, and lovers of jewellery, who will find it very hard to resist the invitation to see this remarkable collection.

“We are proud to host the exhibition as part of our Destination City programme”

Master Gold and Silver Wyre Drawer, Catherine Carr, said:

“This superb exhibition will showcase the beautiful application of gold and silver wire over the centuries and will appeal to all ages, offering an opportunity to view examples of gold and silver wiredrawing of a calibre unmatched anywhere.

“Visitors to the gallery will be able to put the exhibits in their proper social, cultural, and historic contexts, discover the stories connected to them, and marvel at the creativity, attention to detail, patience, and technology that went into their design.”

The City of London Corporation, which owns and manages Guildhall Art Gallery, is the fourth largest funder of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £130m every year.

• Susan Cross
• Patrick Davison
• Leonid Dementiev
• Alison Evans
• Anna Gordon
• Teri Howes
• Jessica Jue
• Josef Koppmann
• Andrew Lamb
• Shimell and Madden
• Hazel Thorn
• Jo Thorne
• Laura Williams
• Heather Woof
• Joanne Thompson
• Rachel Jones
• Megan Brown
• Stepan Terteryan
• Edwin Charmian
• Nan Nan Liu - Liveryman
• Bradley Humphreys - Liveryman
• Jean Scott-Moncrieff - Liveryman

‘Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire’ runs from 30 September to 12 November 2023 at Guildhall Art Gallery, Basinghall Street, City of London EC2V 5AE.

Opening hours: 10.30am to 4.00pm every day including weekends (last admission 3.45pm).

Tickets can be purchased at the art gallery entrance – priced at £10 (£7 concessions).  Group tours available with all details via this link: gswd.co.uk/400th-anniversary

Details gswd.co.uk/400th-anniversary

Tickets guildhall-art-gallery.myshopify.com/products/treasures-of-gold-and-silver-wire

Guildhall Art Gallery www.thecityofldn.com/guildhallartgallery

Destination City www.thecityofldn.com/event/treasures-of-gold-and-silver-wire