The (history of) spice must flow

One of the most intriguing objects housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York is a container for something that few people have ever heard of: the lapis de Goa, or “Goa stone.”

Goa stones were a compound of gold, crushed gemstones, herbs, bezoars, and other exotic substances popular in the 1690-1750 period. Like the bezoars they imitated, they were thought to offer a powerful protection against poisoning. Tiny flakes would be shaved off and consumed (I picture them being dropped in wine glasses) by wealthy consumers in India and Europe. As you can no doubt tell from the incredibly lavish decoration of this particular Goa stone container, they were extremely valuable.