West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-16

celled. The rugged features of the
Great Commander were especially
lifelike and striking.
What is your valuation of that me-
dallionP was asked.
II was at work on that niece for
nearly four months, not continually.
of course, and if ANYBODY wished To
purchase II | could not let it 90 for
less than $500"
"Will you give me a description of
your working methods, and some gen
eral information Of the materials YOU
practice upop?n
Our main commissions are designs
on onyx, though we occasionally work
ON jasper cornelian, Jade. lapis-lazui.
and other hard ornamental stones, of
course. excluding all precious Tor re-
fractng) gems. OnyN-callcd massik
IN the rough is found mainly IN Bra
zil. in pieces weighing from Jew
pounds to several tons. Here are some
specimens. Observe how il is marked
with veins and LAYERS OF different color.
sometimes, in a large piece. there are
hve or six colorS, but as a rule there
are only two. When the colors are
even and sharply defined. after polish
ing they are fit for the lapidary with
out further trouble. OF course but a
very small portion of the piece as dug
out is fit for stone-cutting. The aver
age Is about one-twcntieth usually in
the center of the stone. IL requires
great deNterity 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 i'm 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 "A design of
any kind, so that the whole Of one
layer is cut away with the exception of
the raised design, it is called cameo.
When the design is cut into the
stone until it reaches the bottom LAYER.
II is termed intaglio The rough mas
six is not polished or cut into jewellers
sizes in America. The great seat of
this branch is i'm Germany. around Mo
Scllc and the smaller cities of the
Rhine. The water facilities there are
very great labor is very cheap and
well organized, and stones are pro-
duced ready for the engraving tool at
rates unapproachablc elsewhere. A
large amount of cameo and intaglio
cutting of perfunctory and effective
kind is also done i'm this same district.
These stones are shipped to other Euro
pcan countries, to Providence, X. l.,
and other jewelrv ccnters in America.
where they are mounted by the manu-
iacturcrs 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
conuoisseurs 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 in
taglios at a lower rate than these un-
engraved stones, but il is "a fact for all
that The larger articles, such as
match boxes, toilet bottles. and various
ornaments OF all kinds i'm onyx, corne-
Ian, 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 az ths?' 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 progresse,
they are taken from the larger TO the
smaller wheels, so that absolute exact
itude is attained. The stone is then
Itf mi 10
to a 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 pencilcd 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
acutcncss 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. often have TO
design and make q number Of tools Of
a peculiar shape, before ] can start i'm on
an intricate piece Of work These tools
arc almost all Of one kind. Take ND
any Of those on this stand. At one end
you see, is a screw which fits into my
foOt-lathc; AZ the other 10 gradually
tapers of, and at the point is worked
into a sort Of circular saw The
diameters Of the miniature saws vary
from one half an inch TO a one-twenty-
eighth. This is one Of the smallest
you can not see the saw with the naked
eye The steel must be tempered per
fectlv, and teeth quite even or they
are not fit for their task. ] first cut
around the ponciled outline until
reach the bottom layer when 7 slice it
OF. This Is done with some of the
larger saws. Afterwsrd 7 cut the
features and accessory details. As tho
work approaches completion the finer
arc the tools brought into use, and the
slower is the progress.
do you do your work with the
naked eye
NO. indeed. use an cyc-piccc of
q great magnifyipg power j might
also mention that diamond dust is
used In every stage Of the work. as the
tool alone would make no impression
ON fine onyx. II j. cxhaustinq work.
o. the eye and hand must be- complete
Iu unison, for the most trining error
would spoil the work Of weeks or
months This threc-bust medallion
especially has kept me on the rack
many au hour The ordinary run OF