One of the most comprehensive and breathtaking collection of minerals, gems, crystals, jewelry and other pieces of art has a new home. The Carnegie Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has completed renovations to Hillman Hall adding the new 1,850 square-foot Wertz Gallery to showcase their outstanding gemological collection.
While the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has spent nearly half-a-century compiling an outstanding collection of minerals and gems, the original space in Hillman Hall limited the Museum as to the quantity of what it could display. Working with the renowned museum firm maltbie, a kubik company, the expanded gallery and new dramatic entrance provides a new home for the brilliant collection, including many pieces that have never previously been on exhibit. The new space also provides the Museum with an engaging space to display special temporary and traveling exhibits from around the world.
It was a pleasure to work on what is arguably one of the best gemological museum collections in North America, said Charles maltbie, President, maltbie Now that the built-in show cases, free standing cases and other design elements are in place, it’s easy to see how this elegant room is among the best presentations of gems and minerals in the world.
The entire project was completed under very strict time lines. In addition to designing, producing and installing the gallery graphics, maltbie was also tasked with building a variety of built-in and free standing cases with each case dedicated to specific gems and precious stones, including Jade, Diamond replicas, Ruby Spinel, Birthstones and Lapidary Art (precious and semi-precious gem art and jewelry).