gems, beryl, emerald, history of gemology, ancient gems, glyptic, Arabic Mineralogy

This bilingual exhibition catalogue accompanied Garden of Emeralds, presented by L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, in Shanghai, and explores emerald from mineralogical, historical, cultural, and jewelry perspectives. Through essays, catalogue entries, and extensive illustrations, it examines the geological formation and principal sources of emerald, the stone’s distinctive color and gemological characteristics, and its long history of mining, trade, collecting, and use in jewelry. Particular attention is given to emerald’s movement between cultures and its changing meanings in Europe and Asia, including its place in Chinese society and material culture. Historic gemstones and jewels are considered alongside more recent creations, demonstrating the varied ways emerald has been cut, set, combined with other materials, and appreciated across different periods. Bringing together gemology, archaeology, history, and jewelry arts, the catalogue provides a broad survey of emerald as both a natural material and an object of enduring cultural and artistic fascination.