The Nature of Diamonds (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1997 November 1 - 1998 August 30

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened November 1, 1997 and closed August 30, 1998. Located in Section 3, Floor 3 in Gallery 3 at the American Museum of Natural History. The Nature of Diamonds, curated by George E. Harlow of the Museum’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, covered the geological origins of diamonds, diamond exploration and mining, the role of diamonds in history, art, adornment, and literature as well as its uses in modern technology and research.

Summary

The Nature of Diamonds, curated by George E. Harlow of the Museum’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, covered the geological origins of diamonds, diamond exploration and mining, the role of diamonds in history, art, adornment, and literature as well as its uses in modern technology and research. The exhibition featured an opening section on the properties of the diamond, including structure, composition, shape, color, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and heat conduction, and featured a hands-on model of a diamond crystal structure that enabled visitors to understand the diamond’s strength. Other sections covered where diamonds come from, a historical panorama of the diamond’s role in adornment, the history of different kinds of mining, the progression from mine, to dealer, to use in industry or as a gem, and the preparation of diamonds in lapidary workshops. The exhibition featured short films, including an animated sequence of a volcano erupting, one about prospecting for diamonds in Canada starring Alan Alda, and a montage of Hollywood films about diamonds (1: 2).

The exhibition was designed and executed by the Museum’s Department of Exhibition under the direction of David Harvey, the director of exhibition. The exhibition developer was Joel Sweimler, and the exhibition director was Gerhard M. Schlanzky (5). Museum preparators who worked on the exhibition included Alec Madoff, Lesley Thelander, and Betty Derasmo (3).

A walk-in diamond vault included (1; 2; 4; 5):

*The diamond-studded crown of Peter the Great from the Kremlin State Museums in Moscow

*The gospel cover of Catherine the Great from the Kremlin State Museums in Moscow

*19th century regal diamond jeweler from Portugal

*Objects from the Grünes Gewölb (Green Vault) in Dresden

*The Tiffany Diamond

*The Arkansas Diamond

*The Incomparable Diamond, the third largest cut diamond in the world (on loan from Zales)

*Elizabeth Taylor’s emerald-cut Krupp Diamond

*The Aurora Collection, which featured color diamonds

*A re-created mine tunnel

Due to heavy traffic, some gems were moved out of the vault into the main gallery area (2).

A resource center at the end of the exhibition included access to specially-created pages on the Museum’s website and a small library of reference works on diamonds. Live demonstrations of diamond cutting were presented, and related programming included lectures, workshops, a film, getaway weekends, and brunches. A companion book was published by Cambridge University Press in association with the Museum. The exhibition was developed with support from its sponsor, the Diamond Information Center on behalf of De Beers. Due to its popularity, the exhibition’s closing was moved from April 26 to August 30 (1; 2; 4; 5).

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

(1) American Museum of Natural History. “The Nature of Diamonds.” New York: American Museum of Natural History, [1997] [brochure]

(2) Giusti, Ellen. “The Nature of Diamonds: A Visitor’s Perspective.” April 1998.

(3) Heires, Gregory N. “Dazzling diamonds.” Public Employee Press (December 5, 1997)

(4) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "American Museum of Natural History Announces Extension of Nature of Diamonds Exhibition Throughout August 30 in Response to Strong Public Interest." March 1998. Special Collections Vertical Files. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(5) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "The Nature of Diamonds." October 1997. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Related department

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Exhibition.
Designed and executed exhibition (5)

American Museum of Natural History. Gallery 3.
Location of exhibition 1997 November 1 – 1998 August 30 (1)

De Beers (Firm)
Sponsor of exhibition through the Diamond Information Center (1)

Derasmo, Betty
Museum preparator, worked on exhibition (3)

Diamond Information Center
Sponsor of exhibition of behalf of De Beers (1)

Gosudarstvennye muzei Moskovskogo Kremli︠a︡
Loaned objects for exhibition; Kremlin State Museums in Museum documentation (1)

Harlow, George E.
Organized exhibition; curator, Museum Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (5)

Harvey, David 1950-
Exhibition designed and executed under his direction; director, Museum Department of Exhibition (5)

Madoff, Alec
Museum preparator, worked on exhibition (3)

Schlanzky, Gerhard M.
Exhibition designer (5)

Sweimler, Joel D.
Exhibition developer (5)

Thelander, Lesley
Museum preparator, worked on exhibition (3)

Tiffany and Company
Loaned diamonds for exhibition (1)

Zale Corporation
Loaned diamond for exhibition (1)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1997-1998: 10, 14-15, 39-40, 42, 72.

American Museum of Natural History photographic drawers
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Black and white contact sheets of exhibition in preparation; black and white and color photo prints of objects in exhibition and possibly planning materials]

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"Advance Exhibition Schedule and Programs.” July 1996; “The Nature of Diamonds.” August 1997; “Fact Sheet.” June 1997; “Diamond Shop Opens at American Museum of Natural History in Conjunction with The Nature of Diamonds.” October 1997; “Special Programs Held in Conjunction with The Nature of Diamonds.” September 1997; “Special Publication Accompanies The Nature of Diamonds at the American Museum of Natural History.” October 1997; “Biography: George E. Harlow, Curator, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, and Organizer of The Nature of Diamonds.” October 1997; “A Few Facts About Diamonds.” October 1997; “Special Programs Held in Conjunction with The Nature of Diamonds.” October 1997; “American Museum of Natural History Announces ‘Diamond Getaway Weekend’ Packages in Conjunction with The Nature of Diamonds.” December 1997; “American Museum of Natural History Offer Elegant ‘Diamond Brunches’ with Guided Tours of The Nature of Diamonds in Celebration of the Exhibition.” October 1997; “Fact Sheet.” October 1997; “Advance Schedule of Exhibitions and Special Programs.” August 1997

[American Museum of Natural History temporary exhibitions posters] [poster]
Date of resource: [1975]-[2009]

American Museum of Natural History vertical files
Repository: AMNH Special Collections [Exhibition brochures; invitation to exhibition preview; press release; report: “The Nature of Diamonds: The Visitor’s Perspective” by Ellen Giusti, April 1998; news articles]

Daiyamondo ten : 2000-nen 9-getsu 9-jitsu (to) - 11-getsu 12-jitsu (jitsu), Kokuritsu Kagaku Hakubutsukan = The nature of diamonds : September 9-November 12, 2000, National Science Museum, Tokyo.
Date of resource: 2000

subjectOf

Nature of Diamonds exhibition photographic slides, 1997. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.

subjectOf

Nature of Diamonds photographic slides of merchandise. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.
Date of resource: 1998

Rotunda.
“Diamonds.” October 1997, p. 2

subjectOf

The nature of diamonds / edited by George E. Harlow.
Date of resource: 1998

subjectOf

The nature of diamonds. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.
Date of resource: 1985-2008; 35 Videorecordings : 1 1-inch, 1 VHS, 12 DVcam, 18 Beta SP, 3 D700, 5 Electronic Resources : 1 CD-ROM, 2 CD, 2 DVD;Identifier: EXH.023

subjectOf

The Nature of Diamonds exhibit walkthrough, 1997. The nature of diamonds, EXH.023 L-0875. American Museum of Natural History Library Special Collections.
1 Videorecording : VHS, screener 11 minutes

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