Golden Threads: Behind the Scenes of an Exhibition

Golden Threads: Behind the Scenes of an Exhibition

The Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris, houses a significant number of women's ceremonial and festive costumes from the Maghreb, the Middle East and Asia in its collections. Some of these are made from fabrics embellished with golden threads. The beauty of these costumes gave Hana Chidiac the idea to create an exhibition dedicated to gold in textile arts.

Hana Chidiac's studies in archaeology led her to seek out more information about the history of gold and of its marriage with textile fibres. She began exploring this subject, delving into the past, reading articles … She made many wonderful discoveries that formed the basis of her glittering exhibition ...

This talk is an invitation to discover the Behind-the-Scenes of this phenomenally successful exhibition entitled Au fil de l'or - The Golden Thread - which traced the thousand-year-old history of gold in textile arts, from the Maghreb to Japan, via the Middle East, India, and China. It was the most visited exhibition in the history of the museum.

Au fil de l'or exhibition ran between February 2025 to July 2025.

**If you are unable to make the live talk, Hana Chidiac has kindly agreed that we can record her talk and send you a link afterwards. Sign up to Eventbrite to be on the list for the recording.**

Speaker: Hana Chidiac

Hana Chidiac was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and has lived in France since 1975. She graduated with a degree in History of Arts and Archaeology from the Sorbonne University and worked at the Institut du Monde Arabe (Institute of the Arab World) in Paris for 17 years (1983-2000). She notably curated significant temporary exhibitions such as Yemen, in the land of the Queen of Sheba.

Hana was appointed head of the North African and Middle Eastern collections at Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, Paris, in 2001. Since then, Hana produced The Orient of Women seen by Christian Lacroix, an exhibition that was intended as a hymn for oriental women. Hana went on to develop an exhibition dedicated to gold in textile arts, Au fil de l’or partnering in that the reknown Chinese designer, Guo Pei.

Hana's contribution to France cultural development was officially recognised in 2011 when she was named "Knight of Arts and Letters", as well as being awarded the medal of "French National Order of Merit" in 2014.

Images: Au fil de l'or exhibition, Musée du Quai Branly. Golden dresses by Guo Pei, golden silk cocoons, golden spider silk from Madagascar, Quai Branly collections.

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Online Programme 2026

Follow the Costume & Textile Association's Eventbrite page to receive notifications when new events are posted. Talks are held monthly on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

Spring & Summer 2026

Tues 13 January A Short History of Blackwork Embroidery with artist Toni Buckby

Tues 10 February Fragmented Histories: Piecing Together the Harris Collection with Jessica Gasson, Courtauld

Tues 3 March Artists and Weavers at West Dean Tapestry Studio with Philip Sanderson

Tues 14 April Golden Threads: Behind the Scenes of an Exhibition with Hana Chidiac

Tues 12 May Conserving the Clothed Royal Funeral Effigies at Westminster Abbey with Zenzie Tinker

Tues 9 June V&A East Storehouse with Dr Georgia Haseldine, V&A East Storehouse

Tues 28 July The History of Adire: Yoruba Tie-Dye/Batik Cloth with Benjamina Efua Dadzie

August summer break

Autumn & Winter 2026

TBC

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