DiamantmuseumAntwerpen

D iaman t museum A nt wer pen
The Antwerp Diamond Museum, an initiative
of the Province of Antwerp, thanks its existence
to the BrilliAntwerp Story that covers more than
550 years of Antwerp history as a world centre for
diamonds. Diamond today still occupies a leading
position in the economy of the Antwerp region. The
total diamond import and export totalled 42 billion
US $ in december 2010.
By participating in Europalia Brazil (www.europalia.
be/brasil/introduction/expos/) the Diamond Museum
wishes to shed a light on a rather sombre chapter in
the Antwerp diamond history. With the discovery
of rough diamonds in Brazil around 1714, the 18th
century was a period filled with challenges for the
Antwerp diamond sector. Antwerp experienced a difficult period, in particular when the Dutch acquired the
monopoly for the purchase of Brazilian diamonds. But
the local cutters could still continue developing their
skills because our northern neighbours passed on the
most difficult diamonds to them.
‘Circuito dos Diamantes’
The expo
evokes the colourful finds of colonial Brazil in contrast
to the sometimes shady trade practices that happened
in ‘old’ Europe.
The visitor is confronted with a passage, which simultaneously makes him/her aware of the illegal smuggling circuit,
with the Brazilian society involved in the diamond mining,
with the African slaves transported by Europeans on the
so-called ‘Black Ships’ to extract the diamonds and with
the colourful opulence of the Brazilian finds in the shape
of rough gems and finished jewels.
Thanks to the helpful co-operation of Portuguese museums such as the Fundação Eugenio the Almeida in Évora,
Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis in Porto, as well as the
collections of Cartier, Grünes Gewölbe - Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, the German Edelstein-Museum in
Idar-Oberstein; Rosenborg Slot - De Danske Kongers Kronologiske Samling and the Japanese Albion Art Jewellery
Institute, the Diamond museum can immerse the visitor in
this dazzling exhibition… Until January 10, 2012.
Check out www.ciruitodosdiamantes.be
Diamantmuseum Provincie Antwerpen
Koningin Astridplein 19-23 | B-2018 Antwerpen
T +32 (0)3 202 48 90 | F +32 (0)3 202 48 98
[email protected]
20/10/2011 > 10/01/2012
www.diamantmuseum.be • www.circuitodosdiamantes.be
© Fundação Eugénio de Almeida