Silver collection

The MOU hosts a rich and varied silver collection, the vast majority of which presents the various highlights and regions of European silversmithing and the rest of which provides an almost complete overview of Oudenaarde’s silver during the Ancien Régime.

The collection is spread over three rooms: the Chapel Room, the Upper Guardian Room and the Great Silver Hall “De Boever-Alligoridès”.

With much expertise, affection and dedication, Lord Ernest De Boever and the late Lady Hélène De Boever-Alligoridès spent many years bringing Oudenaarde’s silver together. As they wanted to preserve this absolutely unique collection as a whole and see it on display in their home town, the collection was given on loan to the town of Oudenaarde.

Ernest De Boever remained passionate after the death of his wife and kept on collecting special pieces from the European silversmithing. This resulted in the collection ‘European Silver’, which you can admire in the Upper Guardian Room and in the Great Silver Hall. This generous gesture is definitely a huge asset for the museum.

We also mention the various churches in Oudenaarde and the surrounding communities who were willing to exhibit their valuable pieces in the Chapel Room to the public.