gems, turquoise, Iran, Persia, Persian turquoise

In the Bazar, at Bushehr, and at every large town in Persia, a multiplicity of small turquoises, and sometimes garnets, rubies, and other coloured stones, might be purchased, set in silver as rings; the Mahommedans, at least the men, not wearing such ornaments set in gold. The turquoise is an universal favourite, called firuzeh, or more properly firuzelj by the Persians, who believe that to look on it, when first awake in the morning, ensures prosperity, and highly strengthens and preserves the sight during the whole day. To look on the emerald also, is considered by the Persians as good for the eyes. It appears from Theophrastus, that the ancient Greeks entertained this opinion; ἡ σμάραγδος πρὸς τὰ ὄμματα, ὑγιεινή [Greek badly garbled in the original scan; rendered here as a best-effort reconstruction]. In the Classical Journal, No. I. p. 65, March 1810, some observations on the emerald may be found, which I derived chiefly from the Juaher Namah, a Persian manuscript in my own collection, and below more fully quoted. These observations, from motives of secrecy which no longer exist, I communicated under a borrowed character, and the signature of Philosmaragdos. The efficacy of the turquoise, however, in this respect, does not altogether depend on magnitude; and, to the lower classes, a firuzeh, not so large as a grain of wheat, (but seldom perfect), is sold with the silver setting for about one shilling. Such rings are daily seen on the coarse fingers of the muleteers, grooms, and tent-pitchers; but when large, of a fine uniform colour, and free from blemish, their price is considerable, and I found at Cazvin that it was no longer possible to purchase for half a crown, like Olearius when there in 1637, turquoises equal in bigness to pease or beans. This ingenious traveller, and after him Chardin, Tavernier and others, mention Nishapur and Firuzkuh, as yielding turquoises most abundantly; but I could not learn whilst at Firuzkuh in 1812, that it was then remarkable for such a production. The Firuzehs of Nishapur were more excellent than any others, as all accounts agree in stating. A manuscript treatise on precious stones, entitled the Juaher Namah, enumerates three places besides, which furnish mines of turquoises. Hamdallah Cazwini says, that the Firuzeh, when he lived, (between four and five hundred years ago), was chiefly worn by women, and considered (as it is now) inferior in value to the zumrad or emerald. Sehem-ad-Dín, an author of the eleventh century, tells us that, “Piruzeh,” (for so he writes it according to the original Persian orthography), “being a stone without brilliancy, was not reckoned fit for the decoration of kings; but, on account of the name, (which signifies Victories or Fortunate), it was regarded as auspicious and lucky.” Eastern mineralogists always rank the turquoise among stones; late experiments have cast some doubt on the propriety of such a classification. —Sir William Gore Ouseley's Travels, vol. i. p. 210