Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-11
ssEEw OBJECTS OF ART, IN MY oPIN

| - ion, are SO interesting as engraved
gems" said an enthusiast on the subject to q
| STAR writer. They have come down to us. I'M
injured, you see from times which transmitted
| hardly anything else to this remote posterity
that Is perfect, and as it was CT old. Fifty CEN
turtles old are many of these canoes and in
ta5iios carven on precious stones. They are
beautiful as ever, just as they were executed by
artists OF the past and worn by those who
bought them. Not only were they priced by
their original possessors for the quality of their
workmanship, but they were supposed to have
a value as charms against misfortune.
The ancient Greeks and Romans enter
tanned very sincere superstitions respecting
them, which were illustrated in the designs
craven on the gems they wore Seamen affected
the dolphin because it was believed to be the
mariner friend. and such an amulet adorned
with Its image could not but serve as protec-
uon against sharks and other voraciOus mon
sters of the deep. Women SO far as fishes were
concerned, preferred the representation of the
prolific ArInga' of the Adriatic which wasan
embiem OF fruitfulness because OF the great
number of Its eggs. The ant was similarly worn
as symbol OF industry. by the frog was ndi-
Gated the Idea OF resurrection. because that in
terestlnS batrachlan renews its youth each
spring by kicking off its winter coat and ap-
pearlng In brand new suit of clothes. The
turtle meant domestic inclination, being
always at home, while the snail was 'in no
hurry to abandon pleasant places. serpent
indicated wisdom, and with its tail in its mouth
II symbohzed eternity. The owl was refiec-
tlon-not wisdom, ms is commonly thought.
Bacchus, engraved on gem. was often accom-
panied by parrot, representing the loquaCious
disposition OF the iIIsbriate. Women COM
monty wore stones engraved with scorpions,
spiders or other poisonous things as protec-
tlOn against ike Ouiac hi.
THE BEETLE AN ENBLEM OF IMMORTALITY.
Among the earliest gems that were engraved
were stones more or less precious that we're
formed into the shape of beetles by the ancient
Egyptians. They regarded the beetle as an
emblem of Immortality, and hence it was the
most popular of all forms of ornament mas
much as these people were quite as seriously
exercised respecting the future state as any
Dody Is nowadays. Counterfeit beetles Of stone
were commonly buried with dead persons and
1t was customary to engrave upon them the
expression of wishes for future repose and
happiness dedications of the soul to God and
various hieroglyphs. One of the latter was a
hawk with a human head. symbolizing resur-
rectlon. Another, the vulture. meant the
mother-maternity. A goose was the son of a
King, belonging to prince. The business OF
engraving scarabae in ancient Egypt was a reg
ular trade. Not only were these products made
to order. but dealers in them kept a varied
n
son died Unexpectedly the surviving relatives
repaired to shop OF this description and looked
over what was TO be had in the way of carven
beetles. The latter were inscribed with a great
variety OF appropriate mortuary sentiments,
and 1t was merely requisite that those most
nearly interested In the remains should make
their choice and have the name of the deceased
added. Before the funeral the scarabans was
placed beneath the mourning wrappings. 1t
often happened that living persons provided
themselves with the requisite beetles in antici-
patton OF their own demise, just as people fire.
quently buy their own collins nowadays
THE GEM ENGRAvER.
"The occupation of the gem engraver was
once held In high respect. Most people have
heard the story of TrypLon, who made for
King Polemon signet in intaglio. which rep
resented group OF NEUROLOGICAL divini.ics
GROWING the royal gentleman with laurel
30 delighted was his ma esty that this ilnper-
ishable token OF his glory. craven upon iacinth.
should be transmitted to future generations
that he bestowed upon the artist the exalted
privilege of immortalizing hia own name by
cutting 1t into corner of the work.
I'm ancient times the greatest artists We'd
with each other in the engraving of gems
But You must really have studied the subject
TO appreciate IN any degree the consummate
skill with which they operated upon the stones,
which were to them both canvas and palette
Where this color or that was needed thew had
TO find 1t In the material they worked upon
Spotted stones they utilized for this purpose in
a marvellous way. spot served for the cup
from which Socrates represented in the
act OF swallowing the draught of hemock
poison. The v.ri-colOred strata of the stones
were utilized to the utmost for their natural
tints. One stratum gave diadem. an other the
hair, another the beard. another the draperv
and the lowest for a background. The Phoenix
scared from flames of imperishable rock and
the rose tints of fair cheeks were made eternal
in the mineral substance. To such heights did
the giyptic art proceed
The ancient Greeks wore engraved gems in
rings OF silver, gold and bronze. as early az 600
BIC. By the Romans they were adopted as
seals, though at first their use as such was re-
stricted to the emperors. who assumed the
right OF giving like permission to others. For
some time this right WAS only granted to men
i'll authority. Ambassadors of kingdoms wore
gold seal rings as part Of their official regalia
just az cardinals do today. Subsequently SEN
ators, chief magistrates and military officials
acquired the right, which was in time extended
to the army and citizens, many of the latter
wearing rings of iron. Readers OF eastern
tales will remember what power the seal of Sol
ONION had To inclose genius in a bottle or to
accomplish other marvels equally extraordinary.
\ seal ring transmitted from one monarch to
another has commonly been respected in the
past as an emblem of authority.
THE ORIGIN OF SEALS
"The ancient Assyrian nearly 5000 years
ago put in moist clay their seals, engraved in
intaglio upon precious stones. on chests and
doors, in order to prevent their being opened
There were no locks or KEYS in those days. If
they wished to send a private letter, they would
often seal it with hippogriff, which fabulous
winged horse was regarded the emblem of
secrecy. Centuries later the Greeks and
Romans adopted similar devices for the same
purpose. and it is an historical fact that curl
Gus women and other prying persons with an
itch TO find out what none of their business
used to have skilled workmen make forged
seals for them, SO that they might investigate
without detection the private affairs of their
lords or neighbors. 1t is curious to observe at
this day the complicated geometrical patterns
IL which some OF the ancient Roman seals are
designed, Enthusiastically for the purpose of de-
featinS the ingenious counterteiter, Just as the
engravers at the bureau of engraving and
printing try by similar means to multiply the
forger's difficulties.
"One of the most ancient and beautiful of
engraved gems that have been discovered is a
cameo representing the pharaoh Ptoamy Phil
adelphus and his lovely queen Arsinoe, who
reigned i'll Egypt $50 years before Christ was
born. 1t is as perfect today as when il was first
carved and one can scarce imagine that the
portraits are not taken from persons living at
this moment, lifelike are they. A prettier
woman than Arsnoe must have been rare even