The times., 1897-09-12

or mystic rings there are rnany-the
medicinal clrclet OF incantation.' the
charmed ''toadstonP.' and the South Ger
uan silver set with wolf 5 teeth
A long ocffin-shaped ring with three
canoes. :he center one representing Cleo
patra holding tile asp to her heart, IS
almost identical with one always worn by
Cheiro OF paIInist fame.
Ar ancient Venetian, or three chains.
lol,iing Il revolving turquoise, brown wi5n
age, is engraved on one side with Venus
Anadyornene and ON the other with Il
Gnostic cypher. Amid more costly gems
the turquoise holds Us own with strange
persistence. One great turquoise cameo
of the Rape OF Prosperinein this collection
IS almost large enough TO cover the back OF
the hand, aid there are some very beautiful
examples Of those inlaid wit tn Persian in
scripticns.
In tnumb-rinSs the most splendid are
those given by the Popes To cardinals -
though they did not always accompany
the scarlet hat, and WolSey's great anxiety
lest ring should not be sent with his pre-
cious head covering, stands recorded. OF
heroic size, they stand up several inches
from the hand, mad of course, would be good
in effect only when worn with massive
vestufs. Usually they are set in brass OF
bronze, with great cabochens or uncut
stones. One with the lion Of S t. Marks in
alto is crested With greenish chalcedony
those most priced hold a rough emerald
or caDochen ruby. Thumb-rings of n
more painful sort are the '.thumbkinS "
or tlumbcuffs, used to hold the thumbs
of prisoners while their clothes were being
cut from them. The example at South Ken
sington was found behind the paneliag Of
an old sixteenth centur house.
The puzzle rings" Lord Lytton used to
characterize as ingenious stupidity" The
baroQue pearls Of the Virgin del Pillar, and
the grotssqucs of little jeweled men and
animals are ingenius stupidity.
The collection is -ich in superb cameo
heaGs ofthuse whom art hasimmortaliZed =
in GIeek and Roman intaglii, that in finest
lines picture the loves and the woes Ji
the gods; but before the wealth Of precious
stones tie pen falls helpless, as We have
no adequnte words for these dazzling
harmonies.
Here are gems so rare that they are I'M
known 10 trade, and their names fall mean.
ingless upon our ears-Dichroite, ApophyI
lite, Euclase. Plasma, and even SumaChella
tells nothing of its glorious light.
Most splendid specimens are here-aE
| mounted in rings, and many set round with
diamonds of the Chasmdar 1.-THE Cingalese
! cat s eyel:the magic Alexandria, green by
| day and red by night; the star-rayed sap
| phire and the ruby astoria.
| or well-ilnown gems there are many
| rare varat ions-the engraved emeraltlS, thu
| great eahGchon pigeon-blood rubies. ant
the yet more becoming spinel; rose-ninl
| wine yellow, light-brown, claret and sea
| blue: the opal, Hungarian, harlequin, black
green or peaeock-hlue. Here il an apricot
eolpred sapphire sapphires, indeed, in
every Shade, amethystine, lavender straw
| color. deep blue pale blue, white and hone y
| yellow. There are diamonds in black
| blue, green ctnnanicn, and pink.
! We urn from 6liese concentrated poems
in stone TO jewels that owe ali their beauty
to the craftsman the fairy fiiainents and
artistic pewderings OF the Etruscans, and
the adnlirable effect of Egyptian glazing
| in simple materials which draw Us far
away from royal notices and God He'll
| tIdria.'