Marvel at Bohemian Garnets at NCSML

Replica of the Czech Crown Jewels at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & LibraryPhoto byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

Marvel at the Brilliant Bohemian Garnets Exhibition at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML). The masterpieces within testify to centuries of Czech jewelers' skilled craftsmanship and artistry. The holidays are the perfect reason to visit the red jewels. Plus, the greenish moldavites add the other Christmas color.

The NCSML exhibition from the Czech Republic's National Museum in Prague is only coming to Cedar Rapids until Jan. 14, 2024.

The Brilliant Bohemian Garnets Exhibition returns to Prague afterward. The Czech National Museum will permanently display them in a special gallery, never to leave the Czech Republic again.

All classes wore the red stones. Jewelers enticed purchasers with cutlery handles, writing utensils, and grooming sets. Garnets adorned women's necklaces, bracelets, rings, and brooches, but the men used garnets, too. Men wore them as tie clasps, cufflinks, and scarf pins.

NCSML and Cedar Rapids Tourism sponsored my visit, but all opinions are mine.

Top 10 pieces to see

I chose 10 favorite pieces to see.

The tiny Wenceslas Crown replicaPhoto byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

1. Miniature of the St. Wenceslas Crown

Good King Wenceslas never wore the St. Wenceslas Crown. Charles IV commissioned it for his 1347 coronation and dedicated it to the Czech patron saint. He added precious stones to the crown throughout his reign.

The crown is the senior piece of the Czech Crown Jewels. The actual Crown Jewels are behind seven locks at Prague Castle. All seven keyholders must convene to reveal the treasure. The President of the Czech Republic is a keyholder and has the exclusive right to display them.

Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph wearing his FJI monogrram.Photo byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

2. Franz Joseph's monogram

The 1891 monogram that Emperor Franz Joseph wears are made from rose-cut garnets outlined with gold.

Ferdinand I of Hapsburg took the Czech throne in 1529, and the dynasty ruled the Czechs until the end of World War I in 1918.

Franz Joseph ruled for 68 years. His heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife Sophie’s assassination started World War I. Franz Joseph died during the war, and his nephew Karl I succeeded him in 1916.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire lasted another two years before the Allies dissolved it. Czechoslovakia gained independence on Oct. 28, 1918.

Four views of the garnet and moldavite braceletPhoto byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

4. Silver jewels with moldavites and Bohemian garnets

In South Bohemia, men present a moldavite stone to their intended. Moldavites are greenish stones formed from the impact of an ancient meteorite. On his journey, the prospective groom discovers natural objects. The longer the journey, the longer the jewelry chain becomes.

A pair of dazzling chalices depicting Christ Passion in enameled medallionsPhoto byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

3. Chalices with the Passions of Christ

Small garnets surround pink enamel depictions of Christ’s passion mounted on gilded-silver-and-brass chalices.

An Art Deco frame and snake braceletPhoto byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

5. A young girl's picture within a garnet-studded Art Deco frame and a golden snake bracelet with garnets

A charming little girl wearing Czech national dress holds a flower basket. A wreath of flowers crowns her hair.

The frame surrounding her image echoes the flowers. Delicate leaves and vines surround the inner frame, and a clamshell stands on the center top. Garnets cover the entire gold metal frame.

A golden snake bracelet is on a stand next to the little girl. Garnets enhance the snake’s scales, and it holds a tiny locket in its mouth.

Freemason's ceremonial star (left) and pectoral cross (right)Photo byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

6. Freemason’s ceremonial star and St. Margaret’s relic

Citrines are yellow quartz gems, named from the Old French word for lemon. The color makes the gems a gift from the sun. The red garnets and the silver alloy wire and background make this a stunning piece.

The jeweler set citrine and garnets in gold on this pectoral cross with a St. Margaret of Antioch relic.

The saint vowed to maintain her virginity. A Roman prefect desired her, but she rejected him. He betrayed her as a traitor to the Emperor, and a trial sentenced her to burning. The flames didn’t hurt her, and neither did boiling water. Finally, the prefect ordered her beheading.

Even though she remained a virgin, she is a patron of pregnancy.

I'd smile, too, if I were wearing these jewels.Photo byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

7. Unknown woman wearing garnet jewelry

This lady believes that garnets are a girl’s best friend.

She wears an elaborate beaded necklace in a double-diamond pattern, a gold bow with a heart dangling beneath, bracelets made from garnet balls on both arms and four rings, two with garnets and diamonds. The portrait hangs beside a box with four more garnet-encrusted rings.

The display case beside her holds more rings. The large one in the center is a man’s marquis-style ring. Garnets surround a citrine center.

Tiny white lead and garnet crossPhoto byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

8. 14th-century small cross

This tiny cross is the exhibition's oldest artifact. Twelve six-petal garnet flowers with white lead centers make the cross. Similar designs decorated funeral wreaths and garments.

This fine book includes an intricate clasp and gilded page edges.Photo byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

9. Small book with cross

Red garnets symbolize blood and suffering. The symbolism made the stones popular in Christian devotional objects. The color also made garnets useful in amulets intended to protect from suffering.

The jeweler lavished garnets on this holy book. Hopefully, the book's display protected its owner.

Roadie found no garnets.Photo byRoxie Yonkey/Roxie on the Road

10. Dig for a garnet

A bin invites guests to dig for a garnet. Sift through the bucket for a tiny gem to take home. Unfortunately, Roadie was unsuccessful. Don't be greedy if you find a jewel; the museum limits the take to one.

Afterward, learn about garnet mining and jewelry making.

Pro tip: Explore the full museum with this guide.