Seeking Transparency

English summary: All the while, royal courts and wealthy churches were eager patrons for the luxurious objects given that rock crystal was valued as one of the most desirable and precious of all materials, ascribed mysterious origins and powers, and renowned for both rarity and clarity. This collection of essays reveals the global and cross-cultural histories of rock-crystal production in and even beyond the lands of the Mediterranean Sea. It investigates many objects and varied...
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English summary: All the while, royal courts and wealthy churches were eager patrons for the luxurious objects given that rock crystal was valued as one of the most desirable and precious of all materials, ascribed mysterious origins and powers, and renowned for both rarity and clarity. This collection of essays reveals the global and cross-cultural histories of rock-crystal production in and even beyond the lands of the Mediterranean Sea. It investigates many objects and varied aspects of rock crystal such as: the physical nature and legendary as well as actual origins of the material; its manufacturing techniques and affiliations to other luxurious objects, such as cut glass and carved precious stones; legends and traditions associated with its aesthetic qualities; as well as issues concerning its varied functions and historiography. German description: Von der Spatantike bis zum Zeitalter der portugiesischen kolonialen Expansion waren die Bearbeitungstechniken von Bergkristall ein gut gehutetes Geheimnis weniger Werkstatten. Die legendare Herkunft des Materials und die besonderen Krafte, welche diesem zugesprochen wurden, ubten groae Anziehungskraft auf konigliche und kirchliche Schatze aus.Der Band nimmt die Bergkristallbearbeitung im mediterranen Raum als globale und transkulturelle Geschichte in den Blick. Die Beitrage prasentieren zahlreiche Objekte und deren physikalische Eigenschaften, Entstehung und Bearbeitungstechniken. Auaerdem thematisieren sie die Verwandtschaft mit anderen Preziosen wie Glas und Edelsteinen, Legenden und Traditionen, die sich um die asthetischen Qualitaten des Bergkristalls ranken, seine verschiedenartigen Einsatzmoglichkeiten und Historiografie.