Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-16
THE HOPE JEWELS.
A Wonderful Collection OF Beautiful Stones.
l., TSrr,sS

A Wonderful Collection OF Beautiful Stones.
London Times
The collection of jewels and precious
stones formed by the late Mr.. Henry Phil
ip Hope, the greater portion of which is
TO be sold at Christie'S. was one of very
remarkable interest, chiefly on account of
the famous blue diamond, which more
than q half a century back was known as
the Hope diamond, having come into
possession of Henry Thomas Hope, of
Amsterdam, in London. This extreme
rare gem, however, which was the rival of
the koh-i-noor IN the great exhibition of
1851, and which is the chief of about five
of the only blue diamonds known. Is not
included IN the present sale.
4 splendid star of azure fire shines out
in the lovely sapphire known historically
as lie Saphir Marveilleux." upon which
Nine. de Genlis founded charming story
when it belonged to Philippe Egalite, due
dOrleans. In color this beautiful stone,
which Is five-eighths of an inch octagon
set round with small brilliantS rs ring.
Is even richer,and softer in its tone than
the blue diamond, but less fierce in its
iuster. Its weight is a grains; not large,
therefore, since there is one at Ava of 951
caratS, and the one in the collection of
the Jardin DIES Plantes weighs 1872 l-l6
carats, without a flaw. which was found by
poor Bengalee, afterward purchased by
one Mr.. Ruspoli, of Rome, and eventually
| came to Paris jewel merchant for no.
! 600 francs.
Another interesting jewel is the king of
| Candy's cat's-eye. the largest known, be-
ing an inch and Il half in diameter, and
hemispherical, mounted in the original
| oriental setting of gold, studded with
rubies cut en- cdbochon. Its color can not
DE better described than by its semblance
to the glistening green and tawny yellow
of eye of cats and tigers. The charm of
the cat's-eye is in the changing streak or
ray of silver light, and this it is that led
the Cingalese to fancy that it held
genie who could protect against witch
craft. so that they prize with superstitious
veneration these strange stones. There
are several other specimens in the collec-
ton, and one of the gold cat's-eye known
to mineralogists as crocidolite.
OF the opals there are some fine speci-
mems. both of the Hungarian, which are
the best, and of the Mexican, which are
softer and more porous. A beautiful or
nament formed of these gems is most APP
| propriately formed like a chameleon,
creatures back studded all over with
opals of changing iridescence. This Is
an exceedingly fine example of the art of
the jodillier of the seventeenth century, in
gold and enamel work.
Another very interesting opal is the
Mexican sun opal so called from having
the head of the sun god carved upon it.
This is an inch long and nearly the same
in width and the carving seems to be bar
barrie andnot santique Roman or We
might fancy it was the opal of historic
celebrity which was coveted by Mare
Antony and led him to Danish Nonius the
possessor of it who however escaped with
his opal. This curious Mexican opal has
its traditions as being historically known
since the sixteenth century.
The largest pearl known is another of
the rarities of the collection two inches
long pearshaped of an opaline tint noun
ted as pendant to an arched crown of
enamel, rubies emeralds sapphires and
brilliants. Interesting as a specimen of
glyptic work is a dimond cut in the form
of cross which is said to be unique
There is also a cross formed of six rare
brilliant green diamonds and another an
omaly of the kind is white ruby. The
sword hilt of King Murat made of large
aquamarine cut in facets with various
jewels studded about the gold cross piece
is another curiosity in this remarkable
collection.