Turquoise: The World Story of a Fascinating Gemstone
Turquoise has been mined on six continents and traded throughout the world’s history, including among the European, Middle East, Chinese, Mayan, Aztec, Inca, and Southwest Native American cultures. It has been set in silver and gold jewelry, cut and shaped into fetish animals, and even formed to represent gods in many religions. It is displayed in museums around the world, representing prehistoric, historic, and modern society's arts and histories.Turquoise's history and folklore is laced with mystery and colorful legends about its alluring mystical qualities. Turquoise: The World Story of a Fascinating Gemstone represents the arts and traditions of prehistoric, historic, and modern societies, and includes examples from the greatest collections in the world. Included are artifacts and collections representing cultures, museums, and individual artists from Egypt, Persia, China, Tibet, Russia, Germany, Italy, Mayan, Aztec, Inca, Southwest Native America, the United States, Great Britain, and Australia.  Lively stories, new information, scientific methods, and vivid photography combine to capture the romance and passion of one of the world's rarest and most colorful gemstones.Joe Dan Lowry is world-renowned for his knowledge about turquoise and is sought after for appraisals, interviews, and lectures. His research has led him to work with many experts in the fields of geology, mineralogy, and archeology, and he has seen some of the most spectacular turquoise specimens and artifacts on display in the world's museums as well as private collections. He owns one turquoise mine, has worked at many mines around the world, is a skilled lapidary, and is co-author of the book Turquoise Unearthed. He developed and is curator of the Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he lives.Joe P. Lowry has been the president of Zach-Low since 1973 and is the founder and president of the Turquoise Museum since 1993. He has been involved in bringing education to the turquoise and Indian jewelry industry at museums and national parks around the country and has worked with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board in Washington, D.C. He co-authored Turquoise Unearthed with his son, Joe Dan Lowry.