The Smithsonian National Gem Collection—Unearthed

Author: Jeffrey Edward Post
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1683359402
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 376

Book Description
The scandals, mysteries, and human stories behind the world’s greatest gems are brought to life by the curator of the Smithsonian’s National Gem Collection Dr. Jeffrey E. Post, curator of the National Gem Collection for more than 25 years, separates fact from fiction in an all-new and original book, revealing fresh information and regaling the reader with anecdotes and tales of some of the world’s greatest and most famous gemstones. Dr. Post is the author of the now out-of-print book The National Gem Collection (Abrams, 1997), which has sold more than 50,000 copies. In this brand-new book, he tells the stories of the Smithsonian’s most famous gems, including the Hope Diamond, Star of Asia Sapphire, Carmen Lucia Ruby, Hooker Emerald, and Blue Heart Diamond—and also presents the tales, details, and fascinating facts surrounding rarely displayed gems from the Smithsonian vault and additions made to the collection since 1997. Not only a resource for learning about rare and beautiful gems, the book also presents the stories of the people who once owned or were associated with these jewels—from ordinary people to kings, emperors, maharajas, celebrities, and captains of industry.

The Smithsonian National Gem Collection : Unearthed

Author: Jeffrey Edward Post
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781419745805
Category : Minerals
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description

Hope Diamond

Author: Richard Kurin
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
ISBN: 1588344193
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 405

Book Description
An entertaining and well-researched history of the Hope diamond Since its discovery in seventeenth-century India, the Hope diamond, a glimmering deep blue gem weighing over 45 carats, has been shrouded in mystery and steeped in intrigue. In this groundbreaking work, Dr. Richard Kurin goes beyond the speculation to reveal the truth behind a legendary stone. Kurin, a cultural anthropologist, spent more than a decade on the trail of the legendary gem. But the 'curse' that surrounds it, which Kurin puts to rest once and for all, is only one small piece of a long and lustrous story that moves between ancient religion and modern magic, royal power and class rivalry, revenge and greed. Richly illustrated, Hope Diamond works in a grand historical tradition: depicting the specific to reveal the universal.

Gem

Author: DK
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0744084873
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 442

Book Description
Prepare to be dazzled by this shining and sumptuous visual guide to the world's greatest treasures. Feast your eyes on glittering gemstones, kaleidoscopic minerals, and famous trinkets in this comprehensive exploration of Earth's finest jewels. Following a foreword from Aja Raden, hundreds of pages take a lavish look at precious stones, precious metals, and organic gems in all their natural wonder. From agate to zoisite, everything under the Sun is encapsulated in spectacular photography and accessible text. Trace the history of gemmology and get the inside story on our planet's most famous and fabulous gems, including the mysterious Hope Diamond, the stunning Koh-i-Noor of the Crown Jewels, and exquisite Fabergé eggs. Find out their physical properties, check the price tags, and discover the most remarkable record-breakers. This exceptionally extravagant book is a picture-packed, fact-filled celebration guaranteed to bring sparkle to your life and your library.

Jewels

Author: Victoria Finlay
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345493354
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 456

Book Description
Throughout history, precious stones have inspired passions and poetry, quests and curses, sacred writings and unsacred actions. In this scintillating book, journalist Victoria Finlay embarks on her own globe-circling search for the real stories behind some of the gems we prize most. Blending adventure travel, geology, exciting new research, and her own irresistible charm, Finlay has fashioned a treasure hunt for some of the most valuable, glamorous, and mysterious substances on earth. With the same intense curiosity and narrative flair she displayed in her widely-praised book Color, Finlay journeys from the underground opal churches of outback Australia to the once pearl-rich rivers of Scotland; from the peridot mines on an Apache reservation in Arizona to the remote ruby mines in the mountains of northern Burma. She risks confronting scorpions to crawl through Cleopatra’s long-deserted emerald mines, tries her hand at gem cutting in the dusty Sri Lankan city where Marco Polo bartered for sapphires, and investigates a rumor that fifty years ago most of the world’s amber was mined by prisoners in a Soviet gulag. Jewels is a unique and often exhilarating voyage through history, across cultures, deep into the earth’s mantle, and up to the glittering heights of fame, power, and wealth. From the fabled curse of the Hope Diamond, to the disturbing truths about how pearls are cultured, to the peasants who were once executed for carrying amber to the centuries-old quest by magicians and scientists to make a perfect diamond, Jewels tells dazzling stories with a wonderment and brilliance truly worthy of its subjects.

Jewels of the Romanovs

Author: House of Romanov
Publisher: Corcoran Gallery Of Art
ISBN:
Category : Antiques & Collectibles
Languages : en
Pages : 76

Book Description
Catalog of the exhibition held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and other American venues.

Rockhounding for Beginners

Author: Lars W. Johnson
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1507215282
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Book Description
Go on an outdoor treasure hunt and enjoy all nature has to offer with this field guide to rockhounding, perfect for armchair geologists or anyone headed out on an adventure! Geology meets treasure hunting with this field guide to rockhounding! If you’ve ever kept an interesting rock or shell, bought a polished stone from a gift shop, or even just enjoyed a ’gram of a really cool crystal, congratulations! You’ve already experienced a rockhounding adventure! Rockhouding for Beginners shows you how to take your rockhounding to the next level, providing everything you need to know from tips for finding local sources for really cool finds to techniques for safely cleaning, cutting, polishing, and caring for the best samples. Complete with full-color photos to help you identify each rock and mineral wherever you find them, this guide has all the rockhounding information you need whether you’re ready to get down and dirty or simply want to learn more from the comfort of your couch.

The Crown Jewels

Author: Anna Keay
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780500289822
Category : Crown jewels
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
This text captures the magnificence of a collection of symbolic objects steeped in English history like no other: the crown jewels.

Pearls

Author: Wendy Graham
Publisher: The Crowood Press
ISBN: 1785008137
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 214

Book Description
Pearls are one of the oldest precious gemstones. They have been revered through history and the best reserved to adorn royalty and their favourites. Now, with the arrival of freshwater pearls, they are available to suit every pocket and every style, from the classic to the most creative. It includes a guide to the types of pearl and to the farming process. It gives advice on buying pearls; what to look for and what to avoid and gives instruction on working with pearls, including drilling, setting and knotting. Finally, there is information on South Sea, Tahitian, Akoya, freshwater and natural pearls. This practical book celebrates their exquisite beauty and enduring elegance.

Gems

Author: Daniel J. Dennis Jr.
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
ISBN: 9780810941267
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
In this lively guide for the casual collector, Dennis covers in detail more than 100 different gems--from diamonds, pearls, and rubies to emeralds, jade, opals, and a host of less-familiar stones as well. 55 full-color illustrations.