Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-02
GOSSIP ABOUT GEMS.
How Engravers Worked In the Oldes
TIme-Princeiy Jewels.

Ilme-ffincfly
Stones were engraved in the DAYS oi
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. 1t has
been coniectured that the artists. in
executing minute work. used lenses.
or more probably, globes filled with
water.
la the time of Francis l., Matteo del
Nassaro Of Vienna cut the crucilxion
on heleotrope, SO that the red spots
seemed drops of blood issuing from
the wounds of the Savior. Jacomo
da Trezzo Q567) was the first to en-
grave on diamond. though the honor
has been disputed with him. a noted
head of Nero was engraved on n dia-
mond by one of the Castanzi In l|9O.
The earliest instance of an engravec
gem is the emerald ring of Polycrates,
74O b. G. Classic history informs us
that Helen, Ulysses. and Pythagorus
wore engraved rings. The father OF
the latter, Mnesarchos. was noted en-
graver of gems. Orestes, in the TRACE
dies. was recognized rs the son OF
Agamemnon by the engraved ring
which he wore.
Gems to be used as seals were en-
graved at an early age of the world.
a square signet of yellow jasper en-
graved about 1850 3. G.. is in the pos
session of the British museum. 1t has
engraved upon it the horses and the
name and titles of Amenophis III.
Herodotus informs us that the Eth
opians engraved signets. In Judeo
the breast plate of the high priest was
adorned with twelve precious stones
with the names of the twelve tribes
engraved upon them. Strange to say,
however. no Hebrew-engrayed gems
older than the fifth century are known
to exist The Baetrians and the Hin
docs are the other oriental nations or
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 enTravcrs selected
stones that harmonized in colors with
their designs. Bacchanalian subjects
were engraved on amethysts. marine
subjects on bervls, rural ones on
green jasper, warlike ones on carnelians,
sards, and red jasper, and celestial
ones on chalcedones. In modern
times as high as S., 600 has been paid
to an engraver of celebrity for one
cameo.
The ancients placed an immense
value on their gems. In looking up
the subject find the following quota
tons: The pearl given to Serviiia by
Julius Cesar was valued at S24. 600;
the gems on the scabbard of Mithri-
dates were valued at s. I, $50; the value
of the pearl swallowed by Cleopatra is
placed ut $2j, 900; the gems worn by
Lolita Paulina. wife of Caligula, were
valued at 81, Co., 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 turquoiscs and pearls
are among the crown jewels of Russia,
!, and the finest sapphires known are
among the crown-jewcls of England.
Among the crown-jewes OF Bavaria is
II parurc of pink diamonds that would
command fabulous sum.
Frinrely gems have been bestowed
at royal weddings. The gifts present.
ed to Mile. dAIbe. niece of the ex-
Empress Eugene, were valued at ST.
GOO, 900. The earl Of Dudley present
ed to Miss Moncrielfc, while yet be-
trothed to him. bracelet of fifty
precious stones and diamond diadem
which was worth $50, 900. On their
wedding morning he prese nted her
with n necklace OF five rows OF pearls
of enormous value. Mile. Lcieunc. on
her marriage to the prince OF Chimay,
among other jewels received a neck
lace with an outer circle of forty-two
large brilliants, with inner circles each
Of which contained thrty-seven brill
lants, a magnificent emerald forming
the medallion. and three superb bril-
liants the pendants. When Murat
took refuge in Corsica. after the battle
of Waterloo. he had two diamonds
worth $40 900 in his pockets, while the
diamonds in his hat-band were worth
SIS, coo. and those on his epaulets were
worth $40 900.