Pittsburgh Blues

by Gary Roskin, G.G., FGA, senior editor -- JCK Online, 4/1/2005 2:00:00 AM

Soaring ceilings of the Carnegie Music Hall Foyer, towering green marble columns, matching marble floors, a gold-gilded balcony ... what a magnificent venue for a gem show!

The 2004 Seventh Annual Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show in Pittsburgh was held from Nov. 18 to Nov. 21, transforming the Carnegie Museum of Natural History into a showcase of gems and minerals. The theme for the 2004 edition was Blue Sapphire, GANA, the Gem Artists of North America, participated in this event for the seventh consecutive year. Present were artist-members Larry Woods, Derek Levin, and Helen Serras-Herman, and associate member Andrew Herman. Works by Howard Friedler were represented by Woods. A total of 37 vendors participated.

Marc Wilson, the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems curator, and his wife, Debbie, the vendor chair, along with Carnegie staff and volunteers, deserve credit for another successful show.

Next year the Carnegie Gem & Mineral Show will be held Nov. 18–20, 2005. The show's theme will be Silver, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Hillman Hall of Minerals and Gems.

Carnegie Gems

Special Attractions

Sapphire Display: Bailey Banks & Biddle, one of the show's presenting sponsors, provided a collection of fine-color sapphires, loose stones, and antique and contemporary jewelry. Among the featured sapphires were the 126.43-ct. Ceylon Big Blue and the 10-ct. pink, donated to the Carnegie's permanent Minerals collection.

Gem-Artists Displays

Artist Helen Serras-Herman premiered a new Sapphire Collection with pieces featuring blue drusy chalcedony and rainbow-color sapphires. Her showstopper was Apollo's Rays, a watermelon sapphire surrounded by a dozen or so star sapphires.

Live Auction

Several museums including the Carnegie usually participate in an auction featuring deaccessioned specimens. The auction is organized by Argentum Auctioneers and is an exciting event for attendees.