Belgian War Lace 1914-1918 : The Collection of the Royal Museums of Art and History

Fifty thousand lacemakers, led by four determined women, worked to keep the Belgian lacemaking tradition alive during WWI. Their endeavours created the distinctive style known as "war lace", with its symbolic references to the invasion and occupation of Belgium. Many noted Belgian artists, two famine-relief organisations, and one future president of the United States played crucial roles in preserving this national art form in the midst of a brutal war.
This catalog documents the Royal Museums of Art and History's collection of war lace. It also recounts the history of the endeavour, the leaders and artists involved, and the symbolism of the designs, as expertly interpreted by Ria Cooreman (Curator of Textiles, Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels) and Evelyn McMillan (Librarian Emerita, Stanford University, California).

(Also available in French and Dutch) - €30 in the museumshop

Pou Hakanononga, Royal Museums of Art and History, 2023, 112 p.

In 1934-1935, a major ethnographic and archaeological expedition to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) was organised by the Musée de l'Homme in Paris and the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels. In addition to the important scientific data recorded, the mission also led to the donation to Belgium of a statue (moai) called Pou Hakanononga, which is now known to be one of the oldest produced on the island. This book tells the story of this astonishing statue, which has been on display at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels since 1935.

(also available in Dutch and French) - €20 in the museumshop

The Wolfers Collection. The story behind the masterpieces

The Wolfers Collection comprises over 150 masterpieces and numerous archives of Philippe Wolfers and his son, Marcel, the leading lights of the Wolfers Frères jewellery business. It is now recognised as one of the most important collections of work by Philippe Wolfers, who is internationally acknowledged as a leading figure of Belgian Art Nouveau, as well as a pioneer of Belgian Art Deco. (2024)

(Also available in French and Dutch) - €7 in the museumshop

INCA – Textiles and Ornaments of the Andes

The Incas and their predecessors are renowned for their ceramics, their precious metalwork and their colossal stone buildings. But how did they dress? Precious textiles were used by the Incas not only to clothe themselves but also as a symbol of power and identity, for sacrificial purposes and as a means of exchange. The Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels will show a breath-taking collection of textiles and feathers, as well as gold, silver and shell jewellery. There will even be a workshop at which Peruvian women will demonstrate their traditional weaving techniques.

(Also available in French and Dutch) - €29.90 in the museumshop