Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones

· Sold by Penguin
Ebook
336
Pages
Tools
Eligible

About this ebook

Inspired by the lapidaries of the ancient world, this book is a beautifully designed collection of true stories about sixty different stones that have influenced our shared history

The earliest scientists ground and processed minerals in a centuries-long quest for a mythic stone that would prolong human life. Michelangelo climbed mountains in Tuscany searching for the sugar-white marble that would yield his sculptures. Catherine the Great wore the wealth of Russia stitched in gemstones onto the front of her bodices.
 
Through the realms of art, myth, geology, philosophy and power, the story of humanity can be told through the minerals and materials that have allowed us to evolve and create. From the Taiwanese national treasure known as the Meat-Shaped Stone to Malta’s prehistoric “fat lady” temples carved in globigerina limestone to the amethyst crystals still believed to have healing powers, Lapidarium is a jewel box of sixty far-flung stones and the stories that accompany them. Together, they explore how human culture has formed stone, and the roles stone has played in forming human culture.
Inspired by the lapidaries of the ancient world, this book is a beautifully designed collection of true stories about sixty different stones that have influenced our shared history The earliest scientists ground and processed minerals in a centuries-long quest for a mythic stone that would prolo...

Discover more

About the author

Hettie Judah is one of Britain’s leading writers on art and a sought-after public speaker. She writes regularly for the Guardian, Vogue, Frieze, The i, Apollo and the New York Times, and is the author of several art books that include Art London, Frida Kahlo and How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers (and Other Parents). She lives in London.
Hettie Judah is one of Britain’s leading writers on art and a sought-after public speaker. She writes regularly for the Guardian, Vogue, Frieze, The i, Apollo and the New York Times, and is the author of several art books that include Art London, Frida Kahlo and How Not to Exclude Artist Mothers ...

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.