Information from the museum
Five centuries of valuable silver will be given a place of honour at M. Luxury tableware, religious objects and surprising curiosities tell a story about the rich history of Leuven and Brabant. From Gothic to art deco, you will see an overview of glittering creations commissioned by the city, her affluent citizens, guilds, university, churches and abbeys.
SILVER showcases Leuven’s curiosities, such as the golden key to the city and the mayor’s silver inkwell, rare design sketches, ceremonial guild silverware and – what else would you expect in Leuven – richly decorated beer mugs. The exhibitions presents showpieces such as the oldest windmill beaker in the world and a glittering ensemble of silver gifts for the primus of the university. Each of the pieces reflects the prestige of the annual university competition that was held in the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to the medieval treasures of liturgical silverware, you can discover the colourful designs of the monk-silversmith Dom Martin. In the 1920s and 30s, his unique style garnered worldwide fame. After more than eighty years, his art deco gems are returning to Leuven temporarily.
Study day: Silver Speaks, 23 April 2015
On Thursday 23 April Museum M organizes a study day in conjunction with the exhibition. Several experts are invited to speak. For more information see this page on the museum´s website (in Dutch).