Rocks, Ice and Dirty Stones: Diamond Histories - Hardcover

Pointon, Marcia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1780237529 ISBN 13: 9781780237527

Publisher: Reaktion Books, 2017

Synopsis

The king of stones, valued since antiquity for their unrivalled hardness, diamonds today are both desired and deplored. Once faceted and polished they glitter on the fingers of brides-to-be and in the ornaments of the super-rich, but their extraction from some of the world’s poorest countries remains contentious. Immensely valuable for their size, diamonds can be easily hidden and transported, making them perfect contraband. Diamonds have been widely used in industry since the nineteenth century and have long been valued for their pharmaceutical and prophylactic properties.

This entertaining and richly illustrated book examines the history of the diamond trade through the centuries from India and Brazil to South Africa and Europe and investigates what happens to diamonds once they reach the cutters and polishers. Marcia Pointon takes the reader on a unique tour of the ways in which the quadrahedron diamond shape has inspired design, architecture, and painting, from the symbolism of medieval manuscripts to modern-day graffiti. She questions the etiquette of engagement rings, and she reminds us why and how lost, stolen, or cursed diamonds create suspense in so many classic novels and films. This compelling and fascinating account of the history of sparklers around the world will appeal to all who covet, as well as all who despise, the unparalleled brilliance and glitter of the diamond.
 

About this title

About the Author

Marcia Pointon is professor emerita in the history of art at the University of Manchester. She is the author of Brilliant Effects: A Cultural History of Gem Stones and Jewellery, Portrayal and the Search for Identity, and History of Art: A Student’s Handbook.
 

Review

“A story of glitter and the dark side of history. Here are diamonds as objects of desire but also as magnets for human cupidity: theft, fraud, and murder. This is a rich and compelling cultural history, cool, precise, and laser-sharp in its analysis. And it sparkles with style.” (Carol Dyhouse, author of Glamour: Women, History, Feminism)

About this edition

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1780237529
• ISBN 13: 9781780237527
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272