This gold wreath thought to be from Corinth, Greece, dates to thethird to second century B.C.E. Brooklyn MuseumFrom ancient Egyptian jewelry to contemporary fashion, gold has been linked to opulence and wealth for millennia. A new exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum is exploring why this particular metal has transfixed so many cultures throughout history and how its meaning has changed over time. Titled Solid Gold,Solid Gold will transport visitors through the many worlds of gold, its joyful, though at times heartbreaking, histories, says Matthew Yokobosky, the shows senior curator, in a statement. As a museum dedicated to bringing art and people in shared experiences, audiences will find inspiration, opening them to unexplored realms of beauty in their world.The show opens with a video of the 2018 launch of NASAs Parker Solar Probe, the first spacecraft to fly into the suns upper atmosphere. This footage sets the tone for an expansive, trippy show dedicated to the precious metal the Incas poetically called the tears of the sun, as Artnets Raquel Laneri writes. An installation view of "Solid Gold" at the Brooklyn Museum Paula Abreu PitaThe elaborate showcase, which includes items from around the world, is part of the museums 200th birthday celebrations. About half of the 500 items in the exhibition come from the Brooklyn Museums collections, including historic coins, Greek jewelry, Japanese screens and Renaissance altarpieces.I based the exhibition checklist on our impressive permanent collection, Yokobosky tells Vogues Christian Allaire. In reviewing our holdings, nearly 4,000 works are gold or have a gold aspect and span thousands of years, from ancient times to today.The shows opening galleries display an impressive array of artifacts that demonstrate the ancient worlds interest in gold, such as a sarcophagus dating to between 945 and 740 B.C.E. decorated with golden pigmentswhich are meant to mimic gold inlays. A golden ballgown fromBalenciaga's haute couture spring/summer 2020 collection Pari Dukovic / Trunk ArchiveThe exhibitions ancient artifacts are contrasted with contemporary artworks, films and designs. For instance, pieces of gold facial jewelry made in Panama around the first millennium C.E. are shown alongside examples of grills made in recent decades.As theNew York Times Aruna DSouza writes, This is ultimately a show about fashion.Among the highlights are splendid couture gowns from the Blonds, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Hubert de Givenchy, Marc Bohan, Azzedine Alaa and John Galliano while he was at the helm of Christian Dior, writes Vogue. Other items on view include a prototype of a necklace made for Elizabeth Taylor to wear in the film Cleopatra (1963) and a variety of Cartier jewels. A Roman bracelet from 379 to 395 C.E. decorated with gold, emeralds, sapphires and glass The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, CaliforniaMuseumgoers will also learn about golds origins, as well as the consequences connected to its production. Through artworks and artifacts, one section of the exhibition tells a global story of ecological transformation, environmental impact and the human repercussions that result from the search for this precious metal, per the statement. Nearby, a display of gold coins explores how currency was used to spread propaganda images of powerful rulers.In addition to golds cultural appeal, the exhibition also spotlights the lasting nature of the material itself. When it survives, gold provides researchers and archaeologists a window into the lives of cultures throughout history.Even though it doesnt corrode or tarnish, and thus can last a really long time, gold was commonly reused in the ancient worldmelted down and shaped into new forms, writes the Times. When it endures, it feels a little bit miraculous.Solid Gold is on view at the Brooklyn Museum through July 6, 2025. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.Filed Under: Art, Art History, Artifacts, Arts, Exhibitions, Exhibits, Fashion, Film, Gold, History, Jewelry, Museums, New York City, Painting, Pop culture, Sculpture