New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-28

ANTIQUITY AND GENERAL USE OF JEWELRY.
As regards the general custom Of wearing jewelry,
that appears be to all mankind In all ages
and all conditions OF civilization and It 10 somewhat
curious 10 find about 500 b. C. false cheap Jew
elry was worn as commonly IN Cyprus 1t Is in the
present day by certain class Of people Several
examples OF bracelets earrings and ring were found by
me in Cyprus which Of bronze or copper covered
with thin leaf OF gold In the primitive history OF
nation the right ceranpersonai gold ornaments
seems to mark OF honor This has been the
case even in very advanced times, as, for instance
the right to wear gold finger ring among the Romans
Of the Republic was first, the mark that the wearer
had served In the capacity OF ambassador and after
ward the mark Of Of the higher orders Even
in our day there exist in Europe many personal orna
ments which mark the order Office Of the as.
example the crown or the chain Of ofoe worn by the
English MAYORS In every ease these ornaments had
originally meaning. TIE represented the city
walls ana indicated the wearer the defender OF the
State The finger ring worn by the Roman ambassadors
was also the sgnet ring with which he empowered
10 seal aud other International engagements But
In the case of other personal ornaments n is not
to discover the original sisni1eanee what for
instance, ~as the meaning OF eai-rhgsI "
some nations hey We're the sign OF eapiviy,
and probably This was 80 among the Greeks and RO-
mans as you are aware always regarded marriage as
form ~ carrying the bride OF 10 captivity. IL was on
In Assyria however, we una men as well as women.
II was great distinction between the Greeks and cou-
vigorously avoided personal ornaments except OF course
10 n limited extent ainOnI the women. Even finger
rings thought To be sign OF ellemlnacy aud In
State ike hens where Tie influence of individual
zens was so strictly guarded against anything like
personal spay OF wealth wOuld have been Of
danger Hence IL happens that from Athens indeed,
from any part the mainland Of Greece, gold
ornaments are exceedingly scarce, much so,
That were 1t not for the discoveries made
Cyprus and In other Greek islands, or ON the site
or Greek colonies Tie coast OF ASIA Minor ana
Crlmca, should not have been able 10
form adequate idea Of Tho great refinement of Greek
Workmanship anu designs. 10 tins class Of antiquities
CuruuI, uIstde large addiuOnin fact the
largest addition ~, that which obtained from
the tomb OF Ic5tcss ~ KcTtth the Clmei, nd
the Museum OF 81. Petersburg. This piesess have
been person OF great wealth. Her private chariot
and horses were buried III the tomb with
her, also her robes and insignia
OF Office. Toe material OF the robes mad peIIsned,
there reIniDcd thousands of small thin tablets Of
gold, each beaten into some beautiful design, which had
been stitched upOu the robes To .hein the
pcarauce Vf q mass OF gUld not solid heavy APP
peaTanCe, but supple aud mobile like SILK inc linen.
rings nscslaces diadens Rrnlets ana bracelets eacn
set being obviously OF different value and doubtless
by her according 10 the Importance OF the Occa-
sous on which she had Oticiate. There was not So
much splcudOr this lett in the treasury at
Curuin winch was fortunate enough TO discover, but
there was greater variety IN the ddie Of the OBJ
Jects The Pfiesirss of Kereh aud all her magnificent
Christ Bufrom Curium tue dates range very widely
FUI example have the gold bracelets OF King Eevan-
DIR which date IRON 672 Il. c.; OF winch repre-
scented Cut No T. IL u thore Is art these
royal arnlets; they Of PLAIN solid gold. But In this
case we have that Which may compensate FOR the