gems, turquoise, Iran, Persia, Nishapur

A popular account of turquoise covering its historical use, folklore, mineral characteristics, and importance in jewelry, with particular attention to the Persian mines near Nishapur. Drawing extensively on A. Houtum Schindler’s report, the article describes the deposits, underground workings and surface diggings, mining hazards, and damage to stones caused by blasting. It discusses grading, cutting and polishing, prices, and the influence of color, size, shape, and the quality termed zât on value. Particular attention is given to color instability and the reported practice of keeping inferior stones damp to preserve their appearance before sale. The article also distinguishes turquoise from odontolite and glass imitations, reviews beliefs concerning its protective powers, and concludes with the reproduction of turquoise blue in ceramics. It provides a contemporary overview of Persian turquoise production and trade alongside nineteenth-century gemological knowledge.