The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-01-10
GOSSIP Asour GEMS.
How EnEravers Worked In the oidsv
Time-Prinosly Jewels.


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Stones were engraved In the DAYS OF
Horace. says the keystone. They were
largely done by hand with diamond
points. like GLACIERS diamonds; the
deeper and larger parts Of the work
were executed with drill. Emery
powder was used. but the wheel and
lathe did not come into use until the
time of the Byzantine epoch. II has
been coniccturcd that the artists. In
executing minute work. used lenses.
or more probably, globes iillcd with
water.
In the time OF Francis l.. Matteo del
Mascara OF Vienna cut the cruciExion
on helcotrope, SO that the red spots
seemed drops OF blood issuing from
the wounds OF the Savior Jacono
din Trezzo (l567) was the first to en-
grave on diamond. though the honor
has been disputed with him. A noted
head ofNero WAS engraved on dia-
mond by one OF tho Castanzi in 1900.
The earliest instance OF an engraved
gem Is the emerald ring of Polycratcs.
7iO Is. G. Classic history informs ms
that Helen. Ulysses, aud Pythagorus
wore engraved rings. The father of
the latter, Mnesarchos. was n noted en-
grayer of gems Orcstes, in the TRACE
dies. was recognized as the son OF
Agamcmnon by the engraved ring
which he wore.
Gems TO be used as seals were en-.
gravcd ut an early age of the world.
A square signet of yellow jasper en-.
grayed about 1850 Is. G. Is Ina the pos
session OF the British museum II has
engraved upon il the horses and the
name aud titles OF Amenophis III.
Herodotus informs us that the Ethi-
opians engraved signcts. In Judes
the breast-plate of the high priest was
adorned with twelve precious stones
with the names of tho twelve tribes
engraved upon them. Strange 10 say,
however no Hebrew-engraycd gems
older than the fifth century are known
TO exist Thn Baetrians and the Hin.
docs are the other oriental nations OF
antiquity that engraved gems. The
Chinese early in their history used
gems, soapstone. and porcelain for
seals, with devices in relief
in old times the engravers selected
stones that harmonized in colors with
their designs. Bacchanalian subjects
were engraved on amethysts. marine
subjects on beryls. rural ones on
green jasper, warlke ones on carneians,
sards, and red jasper aud celestial
ones on chaccdonies. In modern
times rs high rs $4,000 has been paid
TO an engraver Of celebrity for ono
cameo.
Tho ancicnts placed an immense
value on their gems. Ia looking up
tho subject find the following quota
tons: The pearl given to Servilia by
Julius Cesar was valued at $2i. ZOO;
the gems on the scabbard Of Mithri-
dates were valued mt s37 500; the value
of the pearl swallowed by Cleopatra Is
placed at $25 900; the gems worn by
Lolita Paulina. wife of Caligula. were
valued at 81 GOO. 900.
1t is said that the grand duchess OF
Saxe-Weimar owns the most perfect
collection of jewels in the world. The
finest and largest turquoises and pearls
y. arc among w. go sl-s.'s els 81 Russia:
and TIC hncst sapphlros known are
among the crown-jewels of England.
Among the crown-jewels OF Bavaria IL
u parure Of pink diamonds that would
command fabulous sum.
Princcly gems have been bestowed
Mt royal weddings. The gifts present.
ed TO Mile. d'Albe niece Of the ex-
Empress Eugene, were valued ut 81
GOO. 600. The earl OF Dudley present.
ed TO Miss Moncrieffe, while yet be-
'trothcd to him. bracelet OF fifty
precious stones and diamond diadem
which was worth $50. 900. On their
wedding morning no prcse ntcd her
with necklace OF five rows OF pearls
of enormous value. Mile. Lejeune, on
her marriage TO the prince Of Chimay.
among other jewels received neck
lace with an outer circle of forty-two
large brilliants, with inner circles each
IF which contained thirty-seven bril-
liants. "A magnificent emerald forming
the medallion. and three superb brill
liants the pendants. When Murat
took refuge In Corsica. after the battle
OF Waterloo. he had two diamonds
worth 400 in his pockets. while tho
diamonds in his hat-band were worth
$4,000 and those on his epaulets were
worth 800
How RothschiId Got Rich.