The Washington herald., 1912-06-26
GOSSIP OF HIGH LIFE
FOR EUROPEAN CENTERS


Talking about priceless jewelry. was
not the famous tiara" brooch, now the
pride OF the Dublin Museum. offered to
q metal dealer for elghtpence ands-de-
clined2 From the days OF the ancient
Egyptian down to the present era the
love OF gems has been rooted deeply in
human nature. Treasure trove may be
found In the trinket boxes Of old ladies
who, having grown up in the days when
solid gold" reigned supreme, do not
value the pretty tribes on which able
craftsmen OF former days have displayed
their powers. and are quite willing to
part with them to those who do. A
pawnbroker's shop IN Paris yielded an
exceptionally fne Flemish pendant. and
in London West End shop a charming
eighteenth century buckle has been
bought for. a few shillings.
The Romans had an enthusiasm for
precious stones amounting almost to
madness, and many instances Of this
gorgeousness occur in Roman history.
Servilia, the mother OF Brutus, received
as a gift from Julius Caeser a single
pearl valued at something like 10000
solidt (S250,O0O. Cleopatra's earrings
alone were valued at about $4,000 in
our money Lolita Paullna, wife OF the
2NbAAAu SdllkuAA 30
from the small-sized boots he wore)
adorned herself for a betrothaI feast OF
friend with emeralds and pearls worth
almost 100000. Similar extraordinary
extravaganza recurs often in history, and
We find that even our friend, the Lsla-
gen-adoring poet, Horace, spent S250,000
OF our money for a single piece Of jew
elry' for his divinity. He was the rap
scallion who would make US believe in
the sincerity OF his
InteEer vitae sceIeriSqus purus
Non aeget MEuris jleulS. nnqu' Grcn,
Nee Vsnsnatis grATids SsEittis. FuSels
While all the time, nbertine that he
was. his odes lead up to a.
DUN mean oanto Lslasen."
Few persons ever have made a collec-
tion Of nineteenth century jewelry from
the point OF view OF the curio hunter,
because It cannot be said honestly that
Il had much to recommend II artisticaIly.
Yet gems made in the first half OF that
century may be sought after and priced
some day in the future. Some Of them
are dainty and very charming. though
the words nineteenth century bring
before our eyes a vision Of hair brace
lets, slabs Of moss-agate in coarse set
tlngs, and heavy gold chains. almost
enough TO restrain an unruly
bull. Such were the Jewelry and work
that appealed to the Victorian
era and taste.
The ring is not only one Of the most
ancient OF personal ornaments, but at
various times it has also been endowed
with all kinds OF mystical and en-
blmatc qualities. II has been associated
with religion with law. with love. with
death. In one form or another. in fact
II seems to have been interviewer with
most of the phases Of life. But 1t has
not been worn in the same way at all
times Some OF the ancient nations, like
the Egyptians, Phoenicians. Bayblonians,
or Syrians wore It on the third finger Of
the right hand II was also carried on
a string around the neck. so that it
hung down to the chest.
Greeks and Romans wore 1t on their
left hand, and they generally used a
ring that also served as a signet the
peZeI often consisting OF an engraved
sem. But all these antique peoples fire.
luently wore several kind: then, again.
every finger was adorned with one or
more Under the Roman Empire the
extravaganza in wearing rings verged |
On the ludicrous. Men and women wore
them on all fingers Of both hands, ex-
sept the middle finger, and besides wore
hem nearly on every Joint. There were !
light rings for summer and heavy ones !
Tor the winter. In fact, there really was
40 end to the folly displayed.
HeliOgabRlus never was known TO |
wear the same set twice. There are !
yery few AnElo-SaXon rings surviving. |
me OF the most noteworthy being the |
historic ring OF Ethelwulf 1t is made |
II gold with niello ornamentation. and |
[ is a beautiful specimen OF workman
ship OF that early period. This ring |
Incidentally is an example Of the ex-
way in which beautiful 1
hings may come to light after being |
hidden many years. 1t was discovered
n the rut of a cart track. or rather in
ba mot mud soueezad Out by the mas