This bite-sized exhibition of recent acquisitions of twentieth-century jewellery and dress from Oman gives a taste of the sensory, social and spiritual relationships between Omani people and their bodily adornment. Confined to a small corner of the British Museum, the display is modest in scale but intimate in atmosphere, a layout perfectly suited to the fine detail of the pieces on view.

The objects displayed create an image of the Omani body as a dynamic surface for the projection of myriad aspects of identity, including religion, beauty, and financial and marital status. On view are vibrant collections of dress, grouped according to the area of Oman from which they originate. A box-stitched turquoise Baluchi woman’s dress, or dishdasha, is particularly exquisite, as are the indigo dyed silks with glimmering burnished surfaces. Equally impressive are the examples of handcrafted silver jewellery, weaponry and kohl sticks that round out the exhibit. Their elaborately patterned ornamentation can be further appreciated in light of the simple tools used to make them, which are exhibited simultaneously.

Threads of the traditional and contemporary are woven throughout the displayed objects, as centuries-old techniques and craft skills begin to incorporate distinctly modern materials. One silverwork necklace has a pendant made from a reclaimed bicycle reflector, and the more contemporary pieces of clothing gleam with mass-produced, synthetic plastic sequins.

Although the exhibition itself is small, there is a comprehensive programme of events in conjunction with its run. Highlights include Kate Humble, speaking on ‘The Frankincense Trail’, Saturday 2 April (3–4pm), as well as a lecture on, ‘The beauty and significance of indigo-dyed costumes of Oman’, Thursday 17 June (1.15pm). Further details can be found at www.britishmuseum.org.

Until Sep 11

JEMIMA KLENK