"While working on a graduate school paper on the mystical powers of coral, gemologist Anna Rasche ventured deep into the archives of the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum's library. Coral is the most powerful material to ward off the evil eye-a belief Italians have held since ancient times. Romans often gifted newborns coral amulets to prevent sickness and bad luck."
"In the library, Rasche discovered lapidary manuscripts from the Middle Ages. "A lapidary is kind of like an encyclopedia of stones," Rasche explained to Untapped New York, "They explain all sorts of what we would consider magical attributes of the stones, as well as straightforward information like its origin and physiology. But also, 'It can keep you from being poisoned.' I thought that was really interesting and a fun idea for a novel.""
"To tell this story, Rasche would travel to the historic churches of Italy and comb through the artifacts of New York City's museums and libraries. On October 30th, just in time for Halloween, join Anna Rasche for a live virtual talk where she'll share insights about the artifacts and locations that inspired her debut novel, The Stone Witch of Florence! This virtual talk is free for Untapped New York Insiders!"
A gemologist's graduate research into the mystical powers of coral led to archival work at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum library. Coral has been considered the most powerful material to ward off the evil eye in Italian belief, with Romans gifting coral amulets to newborns to prevent sickness and bad luck. Italian horn pendants in Little Italy replicate red coral for malocchio protection. Medieval lapidary manuscripts function as encyclopedias of stones, describing magical attributes, origins, physiology, and claimed protections such as preventing poisoning. Research combined museum artifact study with visits to historic Italian churches. A live virtual talk on October 30 will present insights and related locations; the event is free for Untapped New York Insiders.
Read at Untapped New York
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