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 The Early Years…
Long a Field Museum favorite, the gem collection possesses a unique history as prized as the priceless jewels it encompasses. The tale of its illustrious past begins more than 100 years ago, even before the founding of the Museum, when Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812-1902) made his first forays into the field of jewelry…
Tiffany & Co.
Originally a distributor of stationery, Charles Lewis Tiffany branched out into gems after the French Revolution by purchasing pieces from fleeing aristocrats and breaking up the diamonds into smaller, more affordable stones.
Tiffany had little knowledge of minerals, so he soon hired a young, ambitious gemologist by the name of Georg Kunz (1856-1932) to expand the business. Kunz had a keen eye and quickly assembled a fabulous collection of gems and minerals that paid off handsomely for the company.
 The Founding of The Field Museum
By 1893, Charles Lewis Tiffany’s fame had spread, and he was invited to present at the World’s Columbian Exposition. Kunz curated a special compilation of the company’s best gems, including significant pieces from the famed Hope family. A huge hit, the Tiffany & Co. Exposition Collection captured the attention of royalty and regular citizens alike.
At the close of the fair, its president, Harlow Higinbotham (1838-1919), purchased the entire stupendous collection for $100,000 and donated it to help found the new Chicago natural history museum—later christened The Field Museum. Included in the purchase were books and articles written by Kunz, which now reside in the Museum’s rare book collection.
The Collection Expands
As the gem collection’s popularity grew, so did its size. In 1933, Prince M.U.M. Salie of Galle donated 55 breathtaking jewels representing gem mining in Ceylon. And in 1941, Mrs. Richard T. Crane—Higinbotham’s daughter—purchased an additional set of Tiffany & Co. gems compiled by Kunz and gave them to the Museum as well. But more was to come…
Continue to Recent Hall Renovations. >>
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