Gemstones, Plague, and Power: A Review of “The Stone Witch of Florence”
Non-Fiction: Gemmologist Anna Rasche’s Debut Novel Weaves a Tale of 14th Century Florence.
“The Stone Witch of Florence” is a multifaceted debut novel by gemmologist and historian Anna Rasche that alchemizes history, mystery, and fantasy. Set in Florence during a devastating period of rampant Black Plague, the compelling central character is Ginevra di Gasparo. She is a gifted healer who uses a treasured collection of gemstones to alleviate illness and save the lives of rich and poor alike despite threats of being condemned as a witch. The story transitions seamlessly between multiple timelines: scenes of Ginevra’s childhood and teenage years in the port city of Genoa during the early 1330s; her time at a Florentine convent in the mid 1330s-1340 until being exiled; and her eventual return to Florence in 1348.
The Magical Mentor and the Power of Gemstones
Ginevra’s “invisible golden strings” that signal her inheritance of magical aptitude are recognized in her youth by a local folk healer, Vermilia. This healer teaches her how to apply her gift, urging utmost discretion given the closed-mindedness of their medieval society on the cusp of the Renaissance. Precarious situations that could result from Ginevra’s impetuousness matched with her kind heart are portended. Vermilia sends Ginevra to Florence to learn from her cousin Agnesa, an abbess at a convent. Ginevra is trained by Agnesa and reads ancient classical treatises to intuit and implement the power of specific gemstones for healing and protection.
Gem lovers will delight in the essential role familiar stones—amber, amethyst, bloodstone, heliodor, jasper, selenite—and seemingly unfamiliar ones—hyacinth (sapphire), smaragdus (emerald)—play in the plot. Specific jeweled pieces that Rasche modeled on historic extant examples include a “mano figa,” sweetheart brooch, pomander, and engraved ring.
A City in Crisis: Relics, Plague, and Redemption
The crux of the novel revolves around Ginevra’s recall to Florence in its hour of greatest need. As the city crumbles and citizens fall prey to disease, a thief has been stealing holy church relics. Ginevra is engaged to recover them and, if successful, will be aided in her lifelong dream of attaining official recognition as a physician. Rasche’s research expertise is on full display as she conjures the sights and smells of Trecento Italy, the geography of Florence, and the rituals of relics. Serendipitously, The Metropolitan Museum of Art has currently on view a special exhibition on a rival Tuscan city in the first half of the 14th century that was also decimated by the bubonic plague. “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350” provides an immersive, complimentary experience to this novel, affording viewers the opportunity to see objects that evoke Rasche’s detailed descriptions of imported textiles, religious art, and reliquaries.
Myth, Magic, and the Timeless Allure of Gems
The primal and poetic connection jewelry lovers have to stones is evoked in passages such as Ginevra’s recounting to her friend Lucia (a character who discovers her own agency later in the novel) about the origin of the exotic and expensive diamante. Ginevra tells the fantastical tale, which was believed at the time, about how diamonds were mined in India by eagles. In addition, protective coral features in pivotal scenes throughout “The Stone Witch of Florence,” and Ginevra is told hauntingly about the origin of the organic gemstone—that it stems from the blood of Medusa’s head. The novel emphasizes the importance of female mentorship and friendship that is strengthened with a delightful and timely cameo by a famous woman scholar in the epilogue set in 1925.
For NYC Jewelry Week 2024, Rasche will be talking about her book on Tuesday, November 19th, at the beloved West Village store Gray & Davis, which specializes in antique and custom jewelry. It is a fitting setting to toast a book that conveys a love of gems and jewelry. Purchase the book here to immerse yourself in the world of The Stone Witch of Florence ahead of the event.
Written by Michelle Plastrik. Michelle is an art advisor and writer living in New York City..
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