Found as far back as 5,000 BC, notably in the form of pearls, rock crystal is the most widespread variety of quartz. Its name comes from the Greek word "krustallos" meaning "ice", which has long been attributed to a divine creation, and has clearly contributed to enriching the collective imagination.
The mineral has played an important role in the history of jewelry, from Mesopotamian pieces, including a necklace dating from the 4th millennium BC that was discovered in Tello within present-day Iraq, to lavish rings with female heads from the Roman era. The medieval period also produced a wealth of power instruments and religious and liturgical silverware, such as reliquary caskets, monstrances and shrine caskets made in Limoges in the 12th century. While rock crystal tableware was very popular in the West during the Middle Ages, it also made its appearance in Italy and India in the 17th century.
The "Journey into Crystal" exhibition currently presented at the Musée de Cluny - Musée National du Moyen Âge, where this conference will be filmed, is an incredible opportunity to discover this fascinating, transparent material.
Join us on November 20th at 7:00 pm, for an exciting journey through history and material.
Speakers:
Isabelle Bardiès-Fronty, General Heritage Curator at the Musée de Cluny – musée national du Moyen Âge
Marie-Laure Cassius-Duranton, Gemologist, Art Historian and Lecturer at L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts
This online conversation will be broadcast from Musée de Cluny - Musée National du Moyen Âge in Paris. For audiences in Europe and Americas, and for the conversation conducted in French, please click here for the other available timeslots.