The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-07-07
FAMOUS JEWELS.
The Wonderful Hope Collection Of Dis.
monds. Sapphires, Opals and Pearls.

The Wonderful Hope Collection Of Dis.
monds. sapphires, Opals and Pearls.
The collection Of jewels and precious
stones formed by the late Mr.. Henry
Phillip Hope, the greater portion Of
which is to be sold, was one of very re-
markable interest, chiefly on account Of
the famous blue diamond which moro
than half century back was known as
the Hope diamond, having come into
the possession Of Mr.. Henry Thomas
Hope of Amsterdam, in London. This
extremely 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.
A splendid star of azure fire shines
out in the lovely sapphire known histor.
ically as lie Sapphire Merveilleux.
upon which Nine de Genlis founded a
charming story when it belonged to
Philippe Egalite, Duo d'Orleans. In
color this beautiful stone, which is FIVE
eighths of an inch octagon set round
with small brilliants as ring, is even
richer and softer in its tone than the
blue diamond, but less fierce in its lus-
ter. 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 pur.
| chased by one Mr.. Ruspoli, of Rome,
and eventually came to Paris jewel
merchant for 10000 francs.
Another interesting jewel is the King
of Candy's cat's-eye, the largest known.
being an inch and half in dameter
and hemispherical, mounted in the
original Oriental setting of gold studded
with rubies cut en- cabochon. Its color
cannot be better described than by its
resemblance to the glistening green and
tawny yellow of the cruel eye of cats
and tigers. The charm of the cat s-eye
is in the changing streak or ray of sill.
very light, and this it is that led the
Cingalese to fancy that it held genie
who could protect against witchcraft,
so that they prize with superstitious
! veneration these strange stones. There
are several other specimens in the col.
lection, and one of the gold cat's-eyes
known to mineralogists as crocidolite.
OF the opals there are some fine
spec mems, both of the Hungarian.
which are the best. and of the Next
/ can, which are softer and more porous.
A beautiful ornament made of these
gems is most appropriately formed like
. chameleon, with the creatures back
studded all over with opals of changing
irridescenoe. This is an exceedingly
fine example of the art of the .joatllSe'
of the seventeenth century, in goll
and enamel work.
Another very interesting opal is tlit
'.Mexican sun OPAL" so called from
having the head Of the sun god carved
upon It. This is an inch long and near
" the same in width, and the carving
seems to be barbaric and not antique
Roman, or we might fancy it was thu
opal of historic celebrity which was GOV
eted by Marc Antony, and led him t.
Danish Nonius, the possessor OF 1t, who
however, escaped with his opal. Thi!
curious Mexican opal has its tradition
as being historically known since tn
sixteenth century.
The largest pearl known is another o
| the rarities of the collection, two niche
long, pear-shaped, Of an opaline tint
mounted as a pendant to an archet
crown of enamel, rubies, emeralds
sapphires and brilliants. Interesting a
a specimen Of glypt!c work is adiamon'
cut in the form Of cross, which is salt
to be unique. There is also . eros
formed Of six rare brilliant green dia
monds, and another anomaly Of the KIN
is a white ruby. The sword hilt OF Kim
Murat, made Of large aquamarine Gu
in facets, with various jewels studde
about the gold cross piece, is anothe
curiosity in this remarkable collection
London Times.