From the museums

[Arkteia]

View attachment 702226 So I love visiting mineral museums, and I wanted to start a thread, of different things I saw in museums, and maybe other people will join as well. There are tons of mineralogy and jewelry museums scattered in the world, even in Seoul I found one. Since emeralds were discussed, it is started with Russian emeralds from the Urals mountains. They were first discovered in XIX century, and it was a tar extractor who is credited with finding them between the roots of the fallen tree. He took them for aquamarines.

 

[strawrose]

Ahaha I like the first picture.

 

[Bluegemz]

Great thread! That man and his relationship to the treasure, with his withered body and defiant face amidst the war gear is completely archetypal. Oh, the sacrifices and the ecstasy. The human condition in one of its many dilemmas and tragedies... and the point is so often missed that in becoming a hoarder, he has completely lost the vision and reason for holding this beauty ! Awesome image!

 

[voce]

Neat exhibit. Leave it to @Bluegemz to write the most thoughtful commentary!

 

[T L]

Great thread! That man and his relationship to the treasure, with his withered body and defiant face amidst the war gear is completely archetypal. Oh, the sacrifices and the ecstasy. The human condition in one of its many dilemmas and tragedies... and the point is so often missed that in becoming a hoarder, he has completely lost the vision and reason for holding this beauty ! Awesome image!

Um, I don’t have a creative writing bone in my body, but I think I’ll try.

“Roses are red, violets are blue, gemstones are great, I love them, don’t you?”

 

[Arkteia]

Interestingly, Easter eggs were popular in Russia before Faberge. Perhaps he was the first to be incorporate “the secrets” into the eggs.

The lower one was made in Faberge’s shop, the rest, simply by the masters of Russian Empire, one was ordered by Faberge (so he was outsourcing his orders, too).

 

[prs]

Um, I don’t have a creative writing bone in my body, but I think I’ll try.

“Roses are red, violets are blue, gemstones are great, I love them, don’t you?”

T L you definitely have far more than your fair share of creative gemstone bones in your body!!!

However when it comes to creative writing, you might just need a little more practice.

 

[natasha-cupcake]

Interestingly, Easter eggs were popular in Russia before Faberge. Perhaps he was the first to be incorporate “the secrets” into the eggs.

The lower one was made in Faberge’s shop, the rest, simply by the masters of Russian Empire, one was ordered by Faberge (so he was outsourcing his orders, too).

These eggs are incredible. I wish I could see them in person. I especially love the animal feet. It's such an unexpected touch!

 

[voce]

These eggs are incredible. I wish I could see them in person. I especially love the animal feet. It's such an unexpected touch!

The chicken feet definitely remind me of Baba Yaga!

 

[Arkteia]

Now these are demantoids from Ural; the trilliant one is more dispersive IRL, the one set in blue material has great color.

Also added (top) is an emerald from a tiny museum of Jewelry in Seoul. I was positive it was a garnet till I came closer.

 

[wordie89]

Bluegemz did a great caption of first pic. Here are some pics from a Florentine museum....