GIA exhibits ancient and rare works in gems and gemmology

Rare knowledge and works from the gem and jewellery industry dating some centuries ago, is being shared by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) in its latest museum exhibit entitled Tablet to Tablet: Treasured Pages from Past to Present.

Over 26,000 pages from rare books on gems, minerals, and natural science dating back to the 15th century is on display at the GIA museum in Carlsbad until early summer 2012.

“Visitors are amazed at how fascinating rare books are when combined with gems, jewels and images that reveal their stories,” said Dona Dirlam, director of GIA’s Richard T. Liddicoat Gemological Library and Information Center. “The museum and library have assembled the best of the best from our archives; books written in Roman times, those printed around the time of Columbus, and one written by a 17th-century French diamond merchant about his travels to India, ” she added.

The exhibit encompasses the development of gemology, crystallography, jewelry manufacturing and design, valuation of gemstones and precious metals, diamond mining and more. Among the 15 cases of books and distinctive objects, is the documentation of the Romanov jewels and regalia. The oldest book on view is a 1496 edition of Pliny’s Natural History, which includes content dating back to 77 CE. There are also original renderings of jewelers’ designs, a handwritten illustration book from 1840 about minerals from Great Britain, and a self-published book containing original artwork that the author, Wendell Wilson, created for the Mineralogical Record, amongst others.