Jewels, Gems, and Treasures
Ancient to Modern
July 19, 2011 - June 1, 2014
“Spectacular…one-of-a-kind…a very sparkly part of our history.”—WCVB-TV
What is a gem? "Jewels, Gems, and Treasures: Ancient to Modern," the
first exhibition in the Museum's new Rita J. and Stanley H. Kaplan
Family Foundation Gallery, examines the various roles and meanings
associated with a wide range of gem materials. Drawn from the MFA’s
collection and select loans, these range from a 24th-century BC Nubian
conch shell amulet, to Mary Todd Lincoln’s 19th-century diamond and gold
suite, to a 20th-century platinum, diamond, ruby, and sapphire Flag
brooch honoring the sacrifices of the Doughboys in World War I.
Today, in the West, we have come to regard diamond, pearl, emerald,
sapphire, and ruby as the most precious of materials. That has not
always been the case. Other substances have commanded equal attention,
from feathers, claws, and mica appliqués to coral and rock crystal,
serving a protective role, guarding their wearer from dangerous
circumstances or malevolent forces. Other substances, especially those
that are rare and available to a select few, are signifiers of wealth
and power.
ABOVE: This charming enamel marsh-bird decorated with moonstones
and pearls was created by English Arts and Crafts designer Charles
Robert Ashbee as a hair ornament that was later converted to a brooch.
http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/jewels-gems-and-treasures
El catálogo de la exposición :
Yvonne J. Markowitz
About the Book
A mode of self-expression that can be traced back to the earliest
civilizations, jewelry can be as culturally revealing as it is
stunningly beautiful. Artful Adornments: Jewelry from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, features
over one hundred works of jeweler's art from one of the most
comprehensive jewelry collections in the world. With nearly two hundred
lavish color illustrations, the dazzling array ranges from an emerald
and diamond brooch once owned by cereal-fortune heiress Merriweather
Post, to a rock crystal and gold amulet found in the tomb of an ancient
Egyptian queen, to a twentieth-century kinetic necklace influenced by
the mobiles of Alexander Calder. Magical Jewels, emblems of wealth and
power, tokens of affection, adornment as dress, and jewelry as
expressions of avant-garde art movements are all discussed, revealing
how a jewel painted with chopped bits of a loved one's hair can be just
as precious-and no less decorative-than one encrusted with gemstones.
Spanning five continents and nearly six millennia, this book introduces
the reader to the variety and brilliance of the jeweler's art from
around the world and throughout the ages.
