LAPISGUIDEL is a dedicated online space exploring the fascinating world of Lapis Lazuli. Our mission is to share knowledge, historical insights, and aesthetic appreciation for this ancient and revered stone, connecting enthusiasts, historians, and artists through curated content.
Ove Dick is a gemologist and cultural historian with over fifteen years of experience studying mineralogy and its intersections with human history and art. His journey began in museum curation, where he developed a deep fascination with how stones like lapis lazuli shaped trade, art, and symbolism across civilizations.
Ove's core philosophy is that understanding the story behind the stone enriches our appreciation of both natural history and human creativity. He believes in education that is both rigorous and accessible, bridging the gap between academic study and public curiosity.
My most profound connection with lapis lazuli wasn't formed in a lab or a library, but in a quiet corner of an old monastery library in Europe years ago. I was examining a centuries-old illuminated manuscript, and there, glowing from the page, was a vibrant, ultramarine blue used to depict the Virgin Mary's robe—a color made from ground lapis.
In that moment, the stone transformed from a mineral specimen into a vessel of human expression. I wasn't just seeing a pigment; I was feeling the deliberate choice of an artist for whom this material was so precious, it was reserved for depicting the divine. The physical journey of the lapis—from a single mountain range in Afghanistan, along the Silk Road, to the hands of a medieval artisan—became palpably real. It felt like touching a thread in a vast, historical tapestry.
This experience shifted my perspective entirely. Now, whenever I hold a piece of lapis, I sense that weight of history. I think of the caravans, the artists, the beliefs it carried. It’s a humbling reminder of how nature's artistry fuels our own, and why preserving this knowledge matters. This sense of wonder and connection is what I hope to share through every article on LAPISGUIDEL.
You can explore more insights on our history of pigments page.
$
