Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-07-01

Out y NJ AOI hiOHt-tutilnKs lut NNtI~
age Is about one-twentieth usually in
the center of the stone. IL requires
great dexterity to cut this portion out
to the best advantage. When the color
line Is not even, they fit them for COM
mon work by coloring with various
acids. Almost all the cameo and
onyx stones in store rings are Of this
description. The greater part of the
massik found is Of the white and black
variety. This stone, when cut and
polished, is called onyx. When one Of
the layers is carved with design of
any kind, so that tho whole Of one
layer is cut away with the exception Of
the raised design, II is called cameo.
When the design is cut into the
stone until il reaches the bottom layer,
Il is termed intaglio. The rough mas
six isnot polished or cut into jewelers.
sizes in America. The great seat of
this branch is in Germany, around Mo-
selle and the smaller cities of the
Rhine. The water facilities there are
very great labor Is very cheap and
well organized, aud stones are pro-
duced ready for the engraving tool at
rates unapproachable elsewhere. A
large amount OF cameo and intaglio
cutting of a pcrfunctory and effective
kind Is also done In this same district.
These stones are shipped TO other Euro
pean countries, to Providence, II. l.,
and other jcwelry centers in America,
where they are mounted by the manu-
facturers in gold Of various qualities
This is the class of goods sold in forty
nine stores out of fifty. They pass
muster with the multitude. as they are
snowy and reasonable in price, but for
connoisseurs and others who will have
the best few Of the best stores import
artistic work from Italy or have IL cut
to their order here. You would hardly
believe that | can buy canoes and i'm
taglios at n lower rate than these un-
engraved stones, but II is a fact for all
that. The larger articles, such as
match-boxes. toilet bottles, and various
ornaments of all kinds in onyx, corne-
lian, Jade, etc, are all produced there.
They could not be turned out I'm this
country for double or treble the price,
even with the duty included"
"Will you please explain the differ
ent processes necessary TO the produc-
tion of such work as thisPn said the re-
porter, taking up the bust of President
Cleveland.
"The stone is first ground into the
shape and thickness required on the
steam wheels. As the work progresses
they are taken from the larger to the
smaller wheels, so that absolute exact
itude is attained. The stone is then
firmly secured with lapidary's cement
TO n piece of wood like this, about
three inches long and twice the size of
the stone. The outline from the por-
trait or wax cast is then penciled on.
| always do my own outline drawing,
but in Germany this is done by men
who have no connection with the actual
cutting. After that all depends on the
acuteness OF sight and delicacy of
touch in the operator. A great deal
also depends on the perfection of
the tools used. For cameo work
| use almost two hundred tools.
These can not be bought ready
made, but must be manufactured
in the workshop here. l often have TO
design and make number of tools of
a peculiar shape. before can start in on
an intricate piece of work. These tools
aSe almost all of one kind. Take up
anyNof those on this stand. At one end \
YOU see. is-s-seSew which fits into my
at the othe1N i gradually
tapers off, and at the poilnSrS worked
into sort of a circular saw.N The
diameters of the miniature saws vaSy
from one half an inch to a one-twenty-S
eighth. This is one of the smallest;
you can not see the saw with the naked
eye. The steel must be tempered per.
feetly, and teeth quite even or they
are not fit for their task. first cut
around the penciled outline until |
reach the bottom layer when l slice it
of. This is done with some Of the
larger saws. Afterward | cut the
features and accessory details. As the
work approaches completion the finer
are the tools brought into use, and the
slower is the progress.
"Do you do your work with the
naked eye"
"No, indeed. / use an eye-piece of
a great magnifying power. i might
used in every stage OF the work, as the
tool alone would make no impression
on fine onyx. II is eXhausting work,
as the eye and hand must be complete
in unison, for the most trifling error
would spoil the work Of weeks or
months This three-bust medallion
especially has kept me on the rack
many an hour. The ordinary run OF
work, Is, of course, much less exacting
In crest. seal, or name-work, in relief
or intaglio, the process is the same.
but generally make a wax impression
of the design before start on the
stone. These commissions, when sim
pie, are quite reasonable in price. |
have made some for as low as eighteen
dollars, but when the design Is very in
tricate or ornamental they cost be-
tween thirty and fifty dollars. After
the carving is done the stone is pol
ished first with lump of lead or zinc.
and then with tripoli, rouge and putty,
after which the stone is examined with
a glass of great power, and any slight
defect remedied. The work is then
ready for the jeweler." :"
what Is incrusted workP'
'Stone-incrusting Is an old method
that has sprung into favor again dur
ing the last few years. The design or
letters are cut into the onyx and pure
leaf gold or fine platinum hammered
into the cuts until flush with the sur
face. When properly done this work
is very beautiful aud lasting"
''Is there any thi z new in your line
for the coming sc ong"
Nothing Of inn ortance Here Il
the only thing that can be termed a
novelty. We call il the crazy-quilt
combination stone. Small fragments
of different colored onyx, cornelian,
tiger-eye and all varieties are ce-
mented together and afterward cut and
polished into ring and pin sizes. In the
one you have Ia your hand there arc |