Invitation to a press conference on the presentation of “Lace for the Elector: The Renaissance Parade Dress of August of Saxony”
24 October 2023"Lace for the Elector: The Renaissance Parade Dress of August of Saxony“
Yellow and black are not just the colours of the Dynamo Dresden football club. Back in the 16th century they were already the official colours of the Saxon electors. An original gown, being exhibited in Dresden for the first time in more than 80 years, showcases these vibrant colours in all their opulent glory. The sumptuous gown was worn by Augustus, Elector of Saxony (1526–1586), and is the centrepiece of the current special exhibition in the Rüstkammer.
This exhibition was made possible thanks to the Abegg-Stiftung in Riggisberg, Switzerland. Between 2017 and 2019, this foundation, which is internationally renowned for its work in the field of textile research, carried out comprehensive conservation and restoration work on the gown and also very generously covered the costs. The Abegg-Stiftung had already carried out a similar project for the Rüstkammer from 2002 to 2008, when it extensively examined, restored, and then published the results of its work on a ceremonial gown which had belonged to Moritz, Elector of Saxony.
Together with Augustus, Elector of Saxony’s wedding attire of 1548 and the gown of his predecessor Moritz, the yellow and black ceremonial gown is one of the few almost completely preserved princely gowns of the late Renaissance. It consists of a coat, a doublet, and puffed shorts. The striped trousers with codpiece has slits which surprise the viewer by revealing a precious gold fabric. The ensemble, made of bright yellow silk satin, was originally embellished with black silk-fillet-lace throughout the entire surface.
Prolonged light exposure in the Rüstkammer’s exhibitions before 1945, evacuation from storage and transport during the Second World War, as well as earlier restorations, impaired the substance and beauty of the ceremonial garment. In particular, the black lace and the gold fabric of the trouser puff were affected. The preparatory work and the restoration of the ensemble were very complex and time-consuming. Thanks to the meticulous work of several textile conservators of the Abegg-Stiftung it was possible to preserve the magnificent ensemble and restore it to its former festive splendour.
The exhibition focuses on the elaborate and complex research and restoration process and honours the challenging work of the restorers on this ensemble. In addition, the exhibition features contemporary portraits, jewellery, and ceremonial weapons, bringing to life the world of the fashion-conscious Electoral couple Augustus and Anna.
The museum also has a supporting educational program which includes the precious garments of the permanent exhibition “Electoral Wardrobe” and which offers opportunities to try out fashion and textile techniques.
The exhibition is accompanied by the new museum guide “Rüstkammer Dresden - Kurfürstliche Garderobe” in German and English (ISBN 978-3-422-98128-7, 19,00 €, Deutscher Kunstverlag Berlin) as well as the leaflet “Mode Macht Kunst” for teenagers and young adults by Claudia Blei-Hoch and Anke Albrecht in German (available free of charge at the exhibition).
High-resolution media images can be downloaded free of charge from www.skd.museum/presse.
The exhibition runs from:
October 27, 2023, to February 26, 2024, in the Sponsel Room of the Neue Grüne Gewölbe in the Residenzschloss (Royal Palace) Dresden.
