Zucker Collection Of Gems And Antique Rings

To Headline Peabody Exhibition Of Rare Emeralds

NEW HAVEN — A new mineral exhibition featuring a spectacular array of gemstones, minerals and ores opens to the public on Saturday, November 15, at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. The mineral hall is the final stage of the Hall of Minerals, Earth and Space (HoMES), and its completion launches a grand opening celebration and full day of activities related to gems, minerals, and geology.

Highlighting the exhibition is the Zucker collection of 20 diamond rings, brooches and necklaces illustrating different styles of gem cutting, and suites of uncut rubies and sapphires from around the world. The jewelry is on loan from the Benjamin and Barbara Zucker Family Collection. The uncut specimens are gifts to the Peabody mineral collection, some donated by the Zuckers and others by Cap Beesley, president and founder of the American Gemological Laboratories (AGL).

Benjamin Zucker (Yale ’62), a third generation gem merchant, is known among colleagues as “Lord of the Rings” for his insatiable quest for antique rings. He is considered to have the best collection of antique rings in America.

On Thursday, November 20, at 5:30 pm, Mr Zucker will give a free talk at the museum on “The Gemstones of Yale.” He will address the early connections between gems and Yale, including the fortune Elihu Yale made in the diamond trade, as well as the evolution of the diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire trades.

Also of great interest is a fabulous suite of emeralds from North Carolina. These include an 8-carat faceted emerald that is considered the finest gemstone ever found in the United States. A 900-carat crystal of exquisite quality, on loan from the Houston Museum of Natural Science, is considered among the best gems ever discovered in North America.

Yet another was a gift to Yale by William Earl Hidden, developer of the Hiddenite, N.C., site that was the first emerald mine in the United States. Discovered in 1881, the Yale crystal is one of the earliest found there.

The exhibition also showcases the Peabody’s world-renowned mineral collection. Specimens on view include hundreds of minerals from around the world, many of which have never been displayed: opals from Ethiopia, sapphires from Sri Lanka, topaz from Japan, cryolite from Greenland, gold from Nevada. A magnificent rare silver specimen from Norway was collected in the late 1700s.

A special section on Connecticut geology features minerals from localities that no longer exist. These include rare crystals of chalcocite and bornite from the Bristol Copper Mine, a fine group of barite crystals from Cheshire weighing over 350 pounds, and a large crystal of chrysoberyl from Haddam. There are also specimens of scheelite from Old Mine Park in Trumbull.

The geologic history of southern New England is also on display. A large interactive map of the state depicts the roots of ancient volcanoes and earthquake faults as well as other sites of interest, such as the active Moodus earthquake zone. Visitors can learn about radioactivity and fluorescence and, using an interactive kiosk, find out how minerals form and grow, why crystals have such alluring shapes and colors, and how to identify minerals on hikes and outdoor trips.

The Hall of Minerals, Earth and Space was curated by Jay Ague, professor of geology and geophysics at Yale and curator of mineralogy at the Yale Peabody Museum. He is currently acting director of the Museum.

Although the exhibition is permanent, some of objects, including the emeralds, are on temporary loan ranging from several months to an indefinite time in the future.

The Peabody, at 170 Whitney Avenue, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays from noon to 5 (this season it will be closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day).

Admission is $5 to $7. Children under 3 are free as are all visitors on Thursdays between 2 and 5 pm.

For more information, call 203-432-5050 or visit peabody.yale.edu.