Exhibition: ‘Wonderful Treasure of Oignies: 13th century sparks of brilliance’, Musée de Cluny, Paris, from 19 March to 20 October 2024

The Treasure of Oignies, recognised since 1978 as one of the Seven Wonders of Belgium, is leaving its home country almost in its entirety for the first time. From 19 March to 20 October 2024, the Musée de Cluny – musée national du Moyen Âge is presenting these pieces of gold and silversmithery in an exhibition entirely dedicated to them: “The Wonderful Treasure of Oignies: 13th Century Sparks of Brilliance”. 

Among the items in the treasure, usually exhibited at the Musée des Arts anciens du Namurois in Namur, the thirty-or-so that can travel will be on display at the Musée de Cluny. These include pieces of gold and silverware, mainly reliquaries, and a selection of textiles. The display brings together major works such as the Reliquary of the Virgin’s Milk, Reliquary of the rib of Saint Peter, bookbinding plates of the Oignies evangeliary or the chalice and paten said to have belonged to Gilles de Walcourt. The exhibition looks back at the history of the priory of St Nicolas of Oignies, a community of Augustine canons founded at the end of the 12th century, around three central figures: Marie d’Oignies (1177-1213), Jacques de Vitry (1185-1240) and the talented gold and silversmith Hugues de Walcourt, known as Hugo d’Oignies († circa 1240). His creations and those of his workshop, recognisable by the abundance of niello, filigree, naturalistic and hunting motifs, are a masterful example of precious metalwork. 

A few years after the priory was founded, the mystic Marie d’Oignies settled there. Several pieces in the exhibition tell the story of the woman who was beatified shortly after her death and who is still venerated today. At the same time, Jacques de Vitry, an illustrious preacher and, for a time, bishop of Acre in the Holy Land, became the priory’s principal patron and provided it with relics and valuable materials. His support enabled the priory to become a key centre for the creation of gold and silver objects. The exhibition shows the constant evolution of Hugo d’Oignies’ craft, followed by that of his workshop. 

This is the first time that this prestigious treasure, many pieces of which were added to the list of items classified as the “Treasury of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation” in 2010, will leave Belgium almost in its entirety, 100 years after a partial presentation of three pieces at the Musée du Louvre in 1924. 

Interactive terminals will also make it possible to take the visitor experience further, by looking back on the life of Jacques de Vitry or seeing the bookbinding plates of Hugo d’Oignies’ in minute detail. 

The exhibition “The Wonderful Treasure of Oignies: 13th Century Sparks of Brilliance” is presented at the Musée de Cluny in the current events room. The curators are Christine Descatoire, Chief Curator at the Musée de Cluny, responsible for the gold and silversmithery collection, and Julien De Vos, Chief Curator, Director of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Province of Namur. It is organised with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation, which owns the Treasure of Oignies.

Find out more about the exhibition over on the Musée de Cluny website.