RMO LEIDEN – National Museum of Antiques, Netherlands – 2022

“Magnificent and Meticulous brings together the most beautiful and remarkable cut stones from the collection of the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities. You will see over a hundred examples of these colourful and often precious gems with engraved images. They come from the ancient Near East, Egypt and classical antiquity. Some are no larger than a fingertip. The stones display images of gods, animals, symbols, emperors and magic spells.

The exhibition introduces you to the extraordinary craftsmanship of the artists who cut stones in antiquity and the centuries that followed. You will discover the symbolism behind varieties of stone and the enormously diverse engraved images. Enormous enlargements of some of these minute scenes are projected around the room. In addition, you will get to know the owners and admirers of the stones and the many ways they used them over the centuries. To complement the stones and their images, the exhibition also contains antique chests of drawers that were used by 19th-century collectors. ” Article by RMO

Museum: RMO LEIDEN 

Collection of Derek Content: Rijksmuseum voor Oudheden, Leiden

Designer: Anika Ohlerich

Lighting designer: Chris Pype licht

Graphic design: Esther Devries

Showcases: Glascom

Film: Scheltens & Abbenes

Photo Credit: Mike Bink

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