The Washington herald., 1912-08-18
MANY VALUABLE TRINKETS
PURCHASED FOR A SONG
lectors of Ancient Ornaments for Jew
ery Deeply Rooted in Human Nature.

Tb. 1--we of jewelry is very deeply root
"a IN human nature. 1t is, perhaps, dit-
eor,, IN decide whether il is It's orna-
,,.ntal side or its .symbolical character
which has usually made the more direc'
appeal Nowadays, it is generaily ram
" worn for its beauty, except such thines
as medals and orders, civic chalhs ana
Masonic and ecclesiastical jewels
7, forn,er times however. a very large
r,ronortion of personal ornaments hdd
also an element of meaning sometimes
thew were charms to Waro OH III iuSh'
or amulets endowed with magic powers:
often they were insignia Of rank, or nad
n religious significance. But "hether
they were worn simply as ornaments or
as possessed of mystic powers, in almost
ayery age some of the best decorative
art of the day has been lavished- on
them Often when household furniture
and other things that We now deem ne
c.ssities of existence had sunk to very
low standard. says the London Chron-
icle. the jewelry and metal work were
still of the most exquisite character.
Treasures in Odd Places.
MacIver Percival has written a fasci-
mating volume which he dedicates to
minor collectors, those who love old
prices for them. The field is a wide one
wherein we may search, he tells US.
Treasure troves 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
trif1es OH which capable craftsmen of for
raer times have displayed their powers,
and are quite willing to part with them
to those who do.
Sometimes a find is made among the
oddments of a provincial jeweler put
aside to be broken up for the gold which
they contain. A pawnbroker in Edin-
hurgh has yielded a Very fine Flemish
PENDANT, and in a London West End shop
a charming eighteenth century buckle
has been bought for few shillings.
Even Of more splendid things the col
Iector must not despair Though being
oversanguine may lead him into the
tells of the forger), and he should keep
his eyes open, and know all he can of
all sides of his subject. so as to be ready
fer any chance that may come his way.
Was not the Tara" brooch, now the
pride of the Dublin Museum, offered to
a metal dealer for eighteen pence-and
refused?
Romans Valued stones.
The Romans had an enthusiasm for
precious stones amounting almost TO
madness. Many instances of this love of
gorgeousness occur in Roman history.
Servilia, the mother of Brutus, received
as a gift from julius Caesar a pearl
valued at s5o,0Oo. Cleopatra's earrings
alone were valued at s161.00o Lolli
Paulina, the wife of the Emperor Calig-
uls, adorned herself for an ordinary
betrothal feast with emeralds and pearls
worth nearly f35600o. This extraordinary
extravaganza is noted again and again.
and We find that nearly a quarter of a
million was given for single piece OF
iewelry.
Very few people probably have ever
made a collection of nineteenth century
jewelry from the point of view of the
curio hunter. The period Is too close
behind us for one thing. and for another
IL cannot honestly be said to have much
to recommend 1t artistically. But per-
haps in the future some of that made
in the first half of the century may be
sought after and priced.
Some Of it is very dainty and charm
ing, though now the very words 'nine-