Starting February 6th, Berlin’s Bode-Museum will host Dress to Impress: Reconstructions of Medieval Robes from Nubia (In Pracht gehüllt: Rekonstruktionen mittelalterlicher Gewänder aus Nubien), an exhibition highlighting the artistry and elegance of medieval African fashion. Running until April 12, 2025, the exhibition presents meticulously reconstructed robes based on wall paintings from the Cathedral of Faras, along with rare textiles from the Museum of Byzantine Art and the Museum of Islamic Art.
The exhibition focuses on the Nubian Kingdom of Makuria, a Christian state that flourished from the 6th to 14th centuries in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan. The reconstructed garments, which reflect royal and clerical prestige, were inspired by Byzantine court fashion and later evolved to incorporate African colour schemes, intricate patterns, and Arabic influences. These garments, recreated by an international team of researchers, represent the rich cultural heritage of medieval Nubia.
The Cathedral of Faras was discovered in the 1960s during a UNESCO-led initiative to protect Nubian heritage from the flooding caused by Egypt’s Aswan High Dam. Among its treasures were a series of murals depicting key figures of the Nubian court and clergy, which provided the basis for the reconstructions. The wall paintings, preserved in the National Museum in Warsaw and the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum, are celebrated for their historical and artistic significance.
Dress to Impress features five reconstructed garments, including robes for royal mothers, kings, and bishops, which debuted at the Louvre in Paris. These stunning recreations are displayed alongside textiles that illustrate techniques and designs from late antiquity and the early medieval period. Together, they offer an unparalleled glimpse into the splendour of medieval Nubian fashion and the interplay of Byzantine, African, and Arabic influences.
Wall painting depicting a bishop alongside the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child from the medieval Cathedral of Faras, Nubia (Sudan)
Amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war, the exhibition also serves as a reminder of the threats facing the country’s cultural heritage. By celebrating the artistry of Nubia’s medieval past, the curators hope to draw attention to the need for preservation and to inspire global efforts to protect Sudan’s archaeological treasures.
With its unique combination of history, art, and archaeology, Dress to Impress offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the elegance and cultural richness of medieval African fashion. The exhibition invites audiences to explore the dynamic legacy of Nubia and its enduring significance in African and global history.
Starting February 6th, Berlin’s Bode-Museum will host Dress to Impress: Reconstructions of Medieval Robes from Nubia (In Pracht gehüllt: Rekonstruktionen mittelalterlicher Gewänder aus Nubien), an exhibition highlighting the artistry and elegance of medieval African fashion. Running until April 12, 2025, the exhibition presents meticulously reconstructed robes based on wall paintings from the Cathedral of Faras, along with rare textiles from the Museum of Byzantine Art and the Museum of Islamic Art.
The exhibition focuses on the Nubian Kingdom of Makuria, a Christian state that flourished from the 6th to 14th centuries in what is now southern Egypt and northern Sudan. The reconstructed garments, which reflect royal and clerical prestige, were inspired by Byzantine court fashion and later evolved to incorporate African colour schemes, intricate patterns, and Arabic influences. These garments, recreated by an international team of researchers, represent the rich cultural heritage of medieval Nubia.
The Cathedral of Faras was discovered in the 1960s during a UNESCO-led initiative to protect Nubian heritage from the flooding caused by Egypt’s Aswan High Dam. Among its treasures were a series of murals depicting key figures of the Nubian court and clergy, which provided the basis for the reconstructions. The wall paintings, preserved in the National Museum in Warsaw and the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum, are celebrated for their historical and artistic significance.
Dress to Impress features five reconstructed garments, including robes for royal mothers, kings, and bishops, which debuted at the Louvre in Paris. These stunning recreations are displayed alongside textiles that illustrate techniques and designs from late antiquity and the early medieval period. Together, they offer an unparalleled glimpse into the splendour of medieval Nubian fashion and the interplay of Byzantine, African, and Arabic influences.
Amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war, the exhibition also serves as a reminder of the threats facing the country’s cultural heritage. By celebrating the artistry of Nubia’s medieval past, the curators hope to draw attention to the need for preservation and to inspire global efforts to protect Sudan’s archaeological treasures.
With its unique combination of history, art, and archaeology, Dress to Impress offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the elegance and cultural richness of medieval African fashion. The exhibition invites audiences to explore the dynamic legacy of Nubia and its enduring significance in African and global history.
Click here to visit the Bode Mueum website to learn more
See also Medieval Nubian Fashion Brought to Life
Top Image: Reconstruction of the Byzantine-style attire of a royal mother of Makuria, © Paulina Matusiak and Eddy Wenting
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