Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-01-21
ANTIQUITY OF JEweLR9.
The styles Most Popular In Ancient
Egypt, Greece and Rome.

Inc practlceOt carving precious stones
1s OF remote antiquity, writes Martha j.
Lamb in the Jewellers Weekly. Through
their hardness they were susceptible to
the highest polish, and thus retained
unimpaired the lines and figures cut
upon them. There are no objects known
which in 80 small sphere called for
such elegance Of taste and perfect skill
in ornamentation or inscription. The
earliest gems appeared among the
Egyptians chiefly as beetle-shaped sig
nets worn in rings, and many of them
were exquisitely engraved. The form
was oval and pierced from end to end
with hole through which there passed a
strong wire which kept the stone in place
in ring. When worn the fiat or seal side
rested against the finger, but when used
as seal 1t was turned. The Israelites
learned the art of the Egyptians and
the Greeks adopted it and speedily ex-
celled all their predecessors.
Herodotus mentions the famous emer-
aid Of Polynates, and the fame of it's en-
graver, Theodorus Of Samos. This was
about 600 b. c. Contemporary with the
Greeks the Etruscans achieved great ex-
cellence in gem engraving. The art
in Sicily and Magma Gracia.
Gold was much used in Egypt as set
ting for precious stones, and upon it
were engraved favorite animals, divini-
ties, flowers, coats of arms and hero
glyphios. There are many curious speci-
mems Of early Egyptian art to be seen in
New York City-in the museum of the
Historical Society-among which is a
diadem in gold ornamented with the
lotus flower; silver ring artistically
engraved with the name Amunoph III,
1870 b. c.; gold bird with outstretched
wings inlaid with turquoise and lapis
1nzuli; earrings chiefly in gold and va
riously ornamented-one pair terminal
ing in tigers head holding in his
mouth an engraved stone, another in
the form of q cows head with q car
buncle set In the forehead, and several
pairs terminating with heads of lions,
bulls and the ''dear gazelle." There are
also in this fine collection of antique
jewelry the gold necklace and earrings
bearing the name of Menes, the first
Pharaoh of Egypt and the earliest King
IN history to have been made
2771 B. G.
The Greeks we're extremely ingenious
In devices. They practiced engraving
chiefly in intaglio, and some of their
best works are in chhlcedony and car
nelian. One celebrated specimen of
Greek workmanship in carnelian Is the
beautiful seal of an unknown artist
which once belonged to Michael Angelo
and was preserved in the Imperial Lii
brary at Paris. The engraving repre-
sents vintage, and many copies Of it
have been made. Such stones as had diff
ferently colored layers, like onyx, were
found better adapted to the relief style
OF engraving. Several Of the most nota-
bic artists Of Greece established them
selves at Rome under the Emperors.
In the time of Augustus the art reached
It's highest excellence, and cabinets of
gems became numerous. 1t was q matter
OF pride with the old Roman gentlemen
to possess camel and tntagIl OF value.
The passion for gems spread through
France, Germany and England and in
all civilized countries tho art Of engrav-
ing on precious stones has over been
held in high estimation. The countries
that have been foremost in producing
those stones are Hindostan, Pegu, Coy
lon and Siberia, although in modern
times Brazil and Peru have been notable
rivals in THE class of gems. Tho Rus
sias, from their proximity to Siberia,
have become the most lavish of any peo-
pie in tho world in their use Of gems.
Tho head OF the royal family Of Russia
could outshine any other ruler in the
display OF costly jewels, and diamonds,
emeralds, pearls and opals are much
worn by the Russian aristocracy. Other
fashionable stones in Russia, brought
from tho mountains OF Siberia, are the
amethyst, garnet, topaz, aquamarine and
onyx. Engraved gems are for the most
part easily referred by connoisseurs to
their true period, country and some
times to the artist himself. Each had
his own cypher, which is commonly
found npn,, hn ,so,..