Chit-Chat: Lizzadro gem of a museum

Lovers of gemstones, jade works of art and other treasures born of the earth will be drawn to the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, where a traveling Smithsonian exhibit provides added sparkle for a few more days. Gemologist Dorothy Asher, museum director, talks about the Smithsonian’s pieces by San Francisco jewelry designer Sidney Mobell, including his gem-encrusted chess set, trash can, and gold mousetrap with a diamond wedge of cheese.

Dorothy Asher, director of the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, gives a mini-tour of her favorite pieces from the permanent collection. STAFF PHOTOS BY BILL ACKERMAN

How do people react to Mobell’s jewelry?
They’re surprised and they always get a smile or a laugh from it. A lot of the jewelry pieces are really large.

How old are the jade works in your permanent collection?
Most go back 300 years, no farther. The founder collected for beauty, not for age. He collected for the craftsmanship and the actual stone and didn’t care whether it was 1,000 years old or 50 years old. Many of our pieces are from the 1700s to the 20th century.

What’s your favorite jade piece?
I love the lavender jade brush pot and washer — basically, a bowl carved with animals and fruits around it. Jade comes in most colors; the most common is green. The purest form of jade is white. The real emerald green, the imperial green, is the most valuable.

The lavender jade brush pot and washer is a favorite of Dorothy Asher, museum director.

How large are some of the works?
The blue jade pagoda is almost 3 feet high. It’s an incense burner. Popular exhibits (include the 28-inch) ivory puzzle ball, which has 24 inner spheres that are all carved. People just marvel at it.

Are there educational exhibits and workshops?
Downstairs, we have the rocks and minerals of Illinois ... meteorites, fossils, earth science and some touch exhibits. Coming up are programs on dinosaurs and bead stringing and birthstones.

Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art hosts a touring Smithsonian show, which includes the Agnew Dagger, made of gold, diamond and emerald in Mecca. The dagger set was presented to former Vice President Spiro T. Agnew by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia in July 1971.

What will gem fans find to impress them?
A green beryl over 500 carats ... a lot of beautiful stones.

Part of the Smithsonian exhibit at the Lizzadro Museum is a 7,478-carat Brazilian corundum piece by John Sinkankas.

SEE THE EXHIBIT

WHAT The gem collection of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History offers up a touring art exhibit, “Jeweled Objects of Desire,” showcasing 10 creations of jewelry designer Sidney Mobell, along with other objects from the Smithsonian’s vaults.
WHERE Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Wilder Park, 220 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst; (630) 833-1616; www.lizzadromuseum.org
WHEN Exhibit runs through Jan. 3. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; on Dec. 31, it closes at 4 p.m., and is closed Jan. 1
HOW MUCH $4, $3 for seniors, $2 for students and teens, and $1 for ages 7 to 12; Friday is a free day for everyone, and admission is always free to active military