The Harry Oppenheimer Israel Diamond Museum, located within the Israeli Diamond Industry complex, will open an exhibition of rare and ancient jewelry excavated in archeological sites throughout Israel on September 12, 2008. The exhibition reveals gold jewelry that has never before been seen, much of which dates from Biblical times and even earlier. The jewels, some of which are set with precious stones, enable a rare glimpse into the lifestyle and culture of the ancient Israelites, and attest to the Land of Israel's unique position as a cultural and commercial crossroad of the ancient world. All of the items have been lent to the Diamond Museum courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The exhibition also reveals a great deal about the creation of ancient jewelry - the methods, the craftsmen, the influences of other ancient civilizations and the role jewelry played in the religion and culture of the times. Over 100 pieces from the huge collections of the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Hecht Museum were individually chosen by curator Yehuda Kassif to shed light on this subject.
Many of the pieces on display seem to have been created today - and might appear in the collections of leading contemporary jewelry designers. However, the exhibition brings us back to the days of the Bible, when golden balls used in intricate jewelry designs were known as "apples". The exhibition takes its name from the Book of Proverbs, chapter 25, verse 11: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
Eli Avidar, Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies as well as the Israel Diamond Museum, said "This exhibition is The Israeli Diamond Industry's tribute to the ancient jewelry tradition of the Land of Israel. It is a fitting way to connect our past and present, especially during Israel's 60th anniversary." He added that the Israeli Diamond Industry is poised to expand its activity into jewelry manufacturing, with many Israeli diamantaires now designing and producing their own lines of diamond jewelry. "Our ancient roots include a rich jewelry-making tradition. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to explore this tradition, which forms the basis for our contemporary jewelry creations. I invite jewelry designers to visit and to take inspiration from these timeless pieces," he said.
The Harry Oppenheimer Israel Diamond Museum was reopened this year after undergoing a major renovation, making it the most modern diamond museum in the world. In addition to a permanent display that utilizes the most modern technologies to showcase the fascinating journey of the diamond from the depths of the earth to the finished jewel, the museum holds changing exhibitions featuring jewelry from around the world. This is the first exhibition of ancient jewelry to be held in the diamond complex.
Shmuel Schnitzer, Chairman of the Israel Diamond Museum, said: "This exhibition, with its journey through the corridors of time, is another jewel in the crown of the renovated museum that serves as the showcase of the international world of diamonds - a world in which the Israeli industry plays such a central role."