Met maagdelijke blik

The relic treasure of the Cistercian abbey of Herkenrode has long been linked to the devotion of Saint Ursula and the 11,000 virgins. Abbot Willem Van Rijckel, dealer in relics, delivered these devotional objects to Elisabeth van Spalbeek and the Cistercian women in the second half of the 13th century. After the abbey was dissolved by the French government at the end of the 18th century, the relics were transferred to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kermt. Since 1992, the collection has been owned by the Sint-Quintinus Cathedral in Hasselt. The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK), with the financial support of the Flemish Government, carried out an art-historical research into the provenance of this treasure in 2007-2008. Similar collections at home and abroad were studied by art historian Frieda Sorber. This project was also linked to scientific research, such as radiocarbon dating and analyzes of organic and inorganic elements. Both the fabrics and the decorative elements, including metal bobbin lace and inscribed parchment, were subjected to various studies. In 2009-2010, the IRPA's textile restoration workshop organized a final conservation campaign for all 114