Jewellery and Body Adornment from the NGV Collection

Presenting an exquisite selection of jewellery and body adornment from antiquity to the present day, Jewellery and Body Adornment from the NGV Collection reflects a wide variety of making traditions and practices across different material, cultural and geographical contexts. Defined by a relationship with the body, jewellery and body adornment are among the world’s oldest known artforms.

Ranging from the ceremonial and talismanic, to the decorative and conceptual, the exhibition features work composed of dazzling, highly prized materials, such as precious gems, metals, and iridescent seashells, as well as unexpected materials, such as hair, plastic, and rubber, which challenge conventional thinking of what constitutes jewellery and its significance.