Coral: Something Rich and Strange

Coral: ‘Something Rich and Strange’ examines the enduring fascination with coral as a material, symbol and inspiration for artists, cultures and societies across the centuries. Published to coincide with the eponymous exhibition at Manchester Museum, but exceeding it in scope and content, this richly illustrated book assembles essays and concrete object stories by art historians, artists, biologists and historians of science, who provide a comprehensive exploration of coral's mythical and metamorphic qualities; its longstanding resistance to classification; its geological and architectural significance; its religious iconography; its magical and medical properties; its decorative appeal; and its sensitivity to climate change and pollution.