Worth Its Weight

Worth Its Weight

Gold from the Ground Up

On view November 2015 - December 2016

“Worth Its Weight” captivates visitors with the many spectacular and unexpected ways gold has influenced our lives – from science and technology to entertainment and pop culture to finance and economics. The exhibit features hundreds of unique and rare objects from more than 40 public and private collections including the Smithsonian Institution, the Tiffany & Co. Archives and the Degussa Collection, as well as the work of jewelry designer Marla Aaron and world renowned jewelry artist Sidney Mobell, who transforms everyday items into dazzling gold and jeweled artworks.

1940s Tiffany jewelry suite, courtesy of the Tiffany & Co. Archives 1940s Tiffany jewelry suite, courtesy of the Tiffany & Co. Archives

Gold coin from a rare 12 Caesars collection, courtesy of Thomas Tesoriero Gold coin from a rare 12 Caesars collection, courtesy of Thomas Tesoriero

18-karat gold and jewel encrusted Monopoly set by Sidney Mobell, courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 18-karat gold and jewel encrusted Monopoly set by Sidney Mobell, courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Medium lock in yellow gold with 78 sapphires, courtesy of Marla Aaron Jewelry Medium lock in yellow gold with 78 sapphires, courtesy of Marla Aaron Jewelry

Gold boat bar, courtesy of the Degussa Collection Gold boat bar, courtesy of the Degussa Collection

14 karat gold and jeweled Nokia cell phone by Sidney Mobell 14 karat gold and jeweled Nokia cell phone by Sidney Mobell

Clum locket, courtesy of the National Postal Museum Clum locket, courtesy of the National Postal Museum

Rare US Treasury Department gold license, courtesy of Alan Kaye Rare US Treasury Department gold license, courtesy of Alan Kaye

Dentures with gold alloy base and porcelain teeth, courtesy of the National Museum of Dentistry Dentures with gold alloy base and porcelain teeth, courtesy of the National Museum of Dentistry

Decorative gold objects, courtesy of the Degussa Collection Decorative gold objects, courtesy of the Degussa Collection

“The Independent Gold Hunter on His Way to Klondike,” 1895, courtesy of John E. Herzog “The Independent Gold Hunter on His Way to Klondike,” 1895, courtesy of John E. Herzog

Mining pan from the California Gold Rush, courtesy of the Placer County Museums Division Mining pan from the California Gold Rush, courtesy of the Placer County Museums Division

1886 Grace Hawthorne Gold and Silver Mining Company stock certificate, courtesy of John E. Herzog 1886 Grace Hawthorne Gold and Silver Mining Company stock certificate, courtesy of John E. Herzog

Gold and jeweled mailbox by Sidney Mobell, courtesy of the National Museum of Natural History Gold and jeweled mailbox by Sidney Mobell, courtesy of the National Museum of Natural History

Cuffling bracelets in four gold alloys -- green, white, yellow and rose -- by contemporary jewelry designer Marla Aaron Cuffling bracelets in four gold alloys -- green, white, yellow and rose -- by contemporary jewelry designer Marla Aaron

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