gems, engraved gems, agate, chalcedony, quartz, cameos, itaglios, turquoise, sard, onyx, coral, amethyst, glyptic,

Sinkankas: One of the finest and most informative engraved gem catalogs ever published and notable not only for the descriptions in the catalog but perhaps more so for the introductory matter. This discusses the history of the collection, especially important gems, gem materials, lapidary technique, casts of gems, history of gem engraving in detail (with much on celebrated engravers), inscriptions on gems, engraved gems as related to other arts, and the uses of engraved gems. By itself, this introduction would form an excellent introductory monograph to the subject. The catalog of 1139 gems presents them in chronological order in the broad categories of intaglios and cameos. The frontispiece plate in dark brown photogravure depicts a fine cameo of Queen Elizabeth I. Text figures of interest include Abraham De Goorle (Gorlaeus) portrait and Mariette’s famous engraving of a gem engraver at work at his bench. The high quality plates depict actual gems in natural size. Scarce, and much in demand. [?] A high quality treatise, in very good detail, and in its day enjoying an excellent reputation; it is still a useful reference. Unfortunately, there is no collected bibliography and only a few references are scattered throughout the text, but the foreword states that, in respect to gemstones, much was incorporated from Bauer’s Edelsteinkunde, 1909, and A. Eppler’s Die Schmuck- und Edelsteine, 1912, both very complete and very reputable references. [?]