The transparency of rock crystal has always fascinated us in all civilizations! The exhibition brings together artistic masterpieces from prehistory to contemporary art.
They illustrate the attraction and mystery that the transparency of quartz triggered in all civilizations and especially in the Middle Ages. The chronological and thematic narrative suggests dreamlike and fantastic universes that highlight the multiple aspects of the aesthetic, scientific and spiritual power of rock crystal.
Reliquary of the figure of the Prophet Philon d'Alexandrie (c. 1390). High Cathedral of Saint Paul, Münster. Photo: © High Cathedral Chapter of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Münster; © Stephan Kube, Greven
In the Middle Ages in particular, this transparent quartz was used in tableware, where it was prized for luxury tableware, but also in decorative objects or jewelry. It is also ascribed a symbolic power relating to purity, which is expressed in the production of liturgical objects or relics. The exhibition is laid out in six acts and presents more than 200 pieces. It explores all facets of this mysterious material, which only reveals itself to those who observe it closely.
September 26, 2023 to January 14, 2024
