The Linen Hall Library has a legendary guest this summer: the Cave Hill Diamond. The great shining piece of crystal quartz - a famous gem of folklore - is on display alongside some objects and documents tackling a puzzling story. To begin with, there are pictures by Raymond Piper representing the Cave Hill, of the landscape in which the legend was born. Then, the exhibition provides clues to help visitors appreciate the real story of the rock. The exhibit includes some information about the geological features of Northern Ireland, statements and cuttings from different newspapers that contributed to the myth surrounding the diamond….along with some hats. Hats? Yes, because a hat used to be the companion of the diamond originally, when it was first exhibited to the public. John Erskine, the owner of Erskine's High Class Hat and Cap Factory at North Street in Belfast, bought the gem from a boy who found it in Cave Hill at the end of the 19th century and displayed it at the window of his shop. Erskine was well known for his advertisements, as can be seen at the exhibition. Certainly, the sparkling diamond at his shop window had to be a good advertisement gimmick. But why was the gem lost until now? Rumours say the hatter sold it to Madame Tussauds, but the exhibition at Linen Hall Library revealed this is not true. So, where did the gem end up? A relative of Erskine discovered a few years ago that it wasn't very far away….. To find out the origins of the gem and through which hands it has passed until it arrived at its current public display, you will have to pop into the library. However, it's recommended you ask for the brochure about its story at the library's reception, as the exhibition itself is a little limited, with the documents on show seeming jumbled at first sight. The exhibition will run until 12th September. During the summer there are a range of worthy events aiming to deepen the knowledge of the Cave Hill and the Diamond heritage: There are tours at the library, storytelling exploring the legend, illustrated talks from the geological and historical point of view and guided walks around Cave Hill.
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