About –

Lisbet Thoresen is an independent researcher specializing in ancient engraved gems, or glyptic. Among her interests is the historiography of ancient literature on natural history topics (i.e., the history of translating primary sources), specifically the problem of “gemology by literary description.”  Her research also includes the geographic origins of gems known in the ancient world, especially garnets, their earliest dates of discovery, periods of use, and transmission as well as gemstone treatments applied by ancient lapidaries. Her work has been published in professional gemological journals, conference proceedings, and most recently as a contribution to a book chapter on the History of Ruby and Sapphire co-authored with Richard Hughes in his updated opus on Ruby & Sapphire: A Gemologist’s Guide (2017). Previously, Lisbet worked in all aspects of the preservation, analysis, authentication, exhibition planning and conservation of antiquities as Associate Conservator at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California. Over a 17-year museum career Lisbet also performed research and lectured on topics related to art conservation and archaeometry (archaeological science).