The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-20
The Turquoise
Past and Present,

A clear sky. free from all clouds. VIII
most excellently suggest the beauty of
true turquoise. No doubt II was due
TO this heavenlike beauty that the
Russian proverb came into being that
a turquoise given by a loving hand car
ries with II happiness and good WILL"
This gem maintains throughout the
same beauty, as well internally as ex-
ternalIy and II requires no help OF tine
ture or foil TO set off its grace. It's ex-
quisite color, which loses nothing by
gas or candle light, makes II the favor
lite stone OF betrothal ring no less
than the tradition which has grown up
around IL that the color OF a turquoise
fails when the well being OF the giver
Is In danger" This belief is strength
ened by the fact that there used to be
and still are certain turquoises (not the
true mineraD which fade and lose their
color. but these are simply fossIIized
teeth and tusk ends OF the mammoth.
which cannot bear exposure to the air
for more than a short time.
The orientals cut texts from the Ko-
ran on the gem and filled in the char
acters with gold. One such, belonging
to the Shah Nadr OF Persia, was cut In
the shape of heart and was sold In
Moscow for G7S0. The Due dOrleans
possesses two as large as hazelnuts. on
one of which is engraved the image OF
Diana. on the other that OF the Empress
Faustina. There Is very beautiful
cameo in turquoise in London, while
| the most famous one, the head OF Tibe-
rus Cesar. is i'm Florence. A magnifi-
In
1908 to Napoleon. consisting of IL stones.
each one engraved In relief with a figure
| OF one OF the IL C@sars. A revival OF
| this exquisite art now I'm progress In
London and Paris will cause this pre-
! cious stone TO be more in demand than
ever.
| AS the mines OF Persia are on the
point OF exhaustion IT. In gratifying TO
learn that the mines OF New Mexico are
yielding abundantly. For ages II was
the favorite stone OF the Aztecs tho
throne OF gold in the palace OF Tezones
being inlaid with turquoise. BY the an
cient Mexicans II was considered IA
vorite material for inlaying mosaic
work, of which there are some beauti-
ful' examples In the British museum.
Grimvaldus. who went on special en-
bassy for Charles v to the pope, took
with him an Aztec mask. the features
of which we're OF turquoise, emerald and
jasper on a ground of wood.
Since the marriage Of the Duke OF
York the turquoise has become more
and more fashionable in England. the
Princess Mays wedding jewels be!ne
entirely OF diamonds and her favorIte
turquoise on this side of the Atlantic
It's growth and popularity have been even
more marked. since the precious stone
comes from New Mexico. 1t Is being
i worn as typical Of that union OF hearts
between England and the United 6tates
or which the social and political worlds
have lately heard 50 much. 1t Is not
only as q polished or unpublished stone
that the turquoise is popular Lovers
OF beauty are keen To possess stones
large enough for carving heads, busts
fanciful designs, coats OF arms ant
Initials on them.
The turquoise today Is found In vein'
OF a gray white granite. with which
when cut and polished, il forms a beau
tiful contrast. In this form 1t make
most artistic handles for ladies' un
brellas and similar objects. Again,
forms most beautiful work in the NOR
recherche bijouteric. fans. waist belt
and other articles OF apparel. Nothin
Is daintler than turquoise studdc
buckle on white shoe.
| The turquoise is generally found 4
, seams. which are worked by the pick ol
IL the granite be too hard. by dyna
mite an easier but more destructiv
method. The New Mexican mines start
, ed from a pit dug by the Aztecs cen
| turjes ago two round Aztec hammer
having been found there quite recently
which can now be seen in London
thereby proving that the subjects o
Montezuma were as keenly alive TO tn
witchery of the stone as the ladies' 0
London and New York. The district o
silver City Is no doubt rich gem field
where nature is holding treasured VI
stores OF all grades of turquoise, whicl
can be easily won to increase the pleas
ure of the world.