gems, jade, Fischer-Book

An important bilingual dictionary by the Franciscan Alonso de Molina, providing equivalents between sixteenth-century Spanish and Nahuatl (the “Mexican” language). Based on extensive knowledge of spoken Nahuatl, the work documents vocabulary relating to everyday life, religion, trades, natural materials, plants, animals, metals, stones, ornaments, and Indigenous material culture. It is particularly valuable for historical gemology because it preserves early Nahuatl terminology for precious and ornamental stones and the Spanish terms by which these materials were understood in colonial Mexico.

gems, jade, Fischer-Book

An early firsthand chronicle of Peru by Pedro de Cieza de León, based on his travels through the Andes during the Spanish conquest period. The work describes the geography, peoples, customs, political organization, roads, settlements, natural resources, and antiquities of the Andean world, including detailed observations on the Inca realm and earlier cultures. Of particular gemological interest are references to gold, silver, emeralds, pearls, and other valuable materials, together with accounts of Indigenous mining, ornament, tribute, and the movement of precious substances within pre-Hispanic and early colonial Peru.

gems, jade, Fischer-Book, early gemology, early mineralogy

A monumental sixteenth-century cosmography by Sebastian Münster, combining geography, history, ethnography, natural history, and descriptions of cities, regions, peoples, animals, plants, and mineral resources throughout the known world. Richly illustrated with maps and woodcuts, the work went through numerous expanded editions after its first appearance in 1544. Of particular gemological interest are references to mines, gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, and other natural resources, together with descriptions of the regions from which such materials were believed to originate.

gems, jade, Fischer-Book

A pharmacological work by the Italian physician and botanist Antonio Musa Brasavola examining the “simples”—individual substances used medicinally in contemporary pharmacies. Drawing on classical authorities while also critically assessing actual apothecary practice, Brasavola discusses substances of vegetable, animal, and mineral origin, their identification, properties, preparations, and medicinal uses. Of particular gemological interest are precious stones and other mineral substances employed as medicines, reflecting Renaissance beliefs concerning the therapeutic properties of gems and the continuing influence of classical and medieval lapidary traditions on sixteenth-century pharmacy.

gems, history of gemology, Fischer

Sinkankas: This work is ably described by Thorndike, History of Magic, 6, p 298-302, ie, the Speculum lapidum or Mirror of Stones of 1502 was dedicated to Caesar Borgia. Camillo justified the writing of it by the assertion that he had not found the subject treated completely by any previous author, although it had been touched on by divers doctors, both ancient and modern. It does not seem, however, that his book represents any distinct advance over the treatment of gems and their sculpture in the De mineralibus of Albertus Magnus, from whom he has borrowed extensively. Neither in tone nor content does Camillo make any noteworthy departure from the traditional treatment of gems common to the previous authors. Indeed, his book is merely a compilation with little trace of independent or scientific observation ... Brasavola, writing in 1534, said that he knew of no one who had written more ineptly on any subject than Lunardi on stones ... The Speculum is not a long treatise, running to about thirty thousand words. More than a third of the space is devoted to an alphabetical listing and description of particular stones, while another third is occupied with astrological and magic images carved on gems and is in large part made up of chapters drawn from various books of magic. In both cases it is the occult virtues of gems or of images engraved upon them that especially attract the author's attention." Leonardus lists, among others, the following authorities from which he drew information, Dioscorides, Aristotle, Hermes, Evax, Serapion, etc., as well as Albertus Magnus, all of which were noted by Thorndike, who also concludes that Leonardus believed in the magical properties of gemstones, and after noting the various editions, includes therein the plagiarism of Ludovico Dolce, which see. This work was described by Conrad Gesner in his Bibliotheca universalis, 1545, f 161 r. See also comments of Mariette, Trait/ de Pierres Gravies, 1, p 248–9 concerning the credulity of Leonardus in respect to engraved gem magical powers. A modern extended review by J H Oughton, Austral Gemm, 74, 1967, 20–6, who calls it "the very first[!] gemmologist's compendium.""

gems, jade, Fischer-Book

A medieval encyclopedia by Bartholomaeus Anglicus (Bartholomew the Englishman), originally composed in the thirteenth century and covering theology, medicine, natural history, geography, astronomy, animals, plants, minerals, and other aspects of the natural world. Of particular gemological interest is Book XVI, De lapidibus (On Stones), which describes numerous precious stones and minerals, including their appearance, supposed origins, physical characteristics, medicinal properties, and magical or talismanic virtues. Drawing heavily on earlier authorities such as Pliny, Isidore of Seville, and medieval lapidary traditions, the work became one of the most influential encyclopedic sources on gemstones in medieval Europe.

gems, jade, jade identification, jadeite, fei cui, nephrite

The purpose of this manual is to provide an introductory knowledge of jade to all those who, for one reason or another, are interested in this material, which has been used to create luxury and jewellery objects from prehistory to the present day. This text is intended to be read by gemologists, but it is also designed to be useful to anyone seeking information about the diverse group of minerals of similar appearance that are confused with jade and used in the manufacture of carvings and gemstones intended for jewellery. Throughout this work, jadeite and nephrite—the two minerals that are properly considered jade—are continuously compared with the materials that most closely resemble them and are most frequently encountered in the marketplace, such as serpentine, chalcedony, and prehnite, while also considering artificial materials such as plastics and glass. This manual for the identification of jade is, as a whole, a synthesis of other works cited in the bibliography at the end and the result of my own laboratory experience in the identification and study of jade. Since it cannot exactly be said that bookshops are overflowing with gemological works published in Spanish, I hope that this modest contribution will help, in some measure, to fill that gap.

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, lapidary

Many jade polishing techniques are cited in Old and New World ethnographic and ethnohistoric accounts, including the use of leather, wood, bamboo, emery, slate and other stones. Archaeological evidence emerging from Maya sites indicates that limestone polishers may in some cases have been used, possibly in conjunction with an abrasive. Soil chemistry has demonstrated the presence of iron associated with some jade-working surfaces, possibly suggesting the use of hematite powder — often a component of modern jeweller’s rouge — as a polishing agent. This research will attempt to replicate some of these techniques and test their efficiency.Many jade polishing techniques are cited in Old and New World ethnographic and ethnohistoric accounts, including the use of leather, wood, bamboo, emery, slate and other stones. Archaeological evidence emerging from Maya sites indicates that limestone polishers may in some cases have been used, possibly in conjunction with an abrasive. Soil chemistry has demonstrated the presence of iron associated with some jade-working surfaces, possibly suggesting the use of hematite powder — often a component of modern jeweller’s rouge — as a polishing agent. This research will attempt to replicate some of these techniques and test their efficiency.

gems, history of gemology, history of mineralogy, history of mining

Sinkankas: A disappointing work, and considering the author’s qualifications, one of very little merit—obviously hastily composed and written as a speculative essay with virtually no facts, figures, or references to support its statements. Overall, it consists of broad generalizations about what might have happened in antiquity during humanity’s search for and exploitation of underground mineral wealth. As far as I can find, the only mention of gemstones—specifically diamond and ruby—appears on page 41, and even that is grossly inaccurate.

gems, jade, China, Adam, Chinese jade books, jade lore

The Kao Gong Ji [考工記; Record of Craftsmen’s Work] is an ancient Chinese technical text concerned with the organization, materials, methods, and standards of state-controlled craft production. Probably compiled during the late Warring States period and subsequently incorporated into the Zhou Li [周禮; Rites of Zhou], it describes specialists engaged in metalworking, woodworking, leatherwork, pottery, vehicle construction, weapon manufacture, architectural planning, and other crafts. Of particular interest to historians of materials and gemology are its discussions of the selection and working of natural materials such as jade, systems of measurement, standards of workmanship, and the relationship between material properties and successful manufacture. Although it is not principally a lapidary text, the Kao Gong Ji provides exceptionally early evidence for systematic Chinese technological thought and for the sophisticated classification and manipulation of materials in ancient craft production.