gems, turquoise, Iran, Persia, Persian turquoise

An early mineralogical study by Gotthelf Fischer of two very different substances historically called turquoise. Fischer distinguishes “oriental turquoise,” which he regards as a true mineral, from “occidental turquoise” or turquoise odontolite, which he identifies as fossil tooth or bone colored by a copper compound. He proposes the name calaite for the mineral turquoise and discusses its occurrence, physical character and historical nomenclature, comparing it with Pliny’s descriptions of callais. Fischer notes that calaite occurs as rounded pieces in alluvial deposits rather than in a rocky matrix and discusses its resemblance to emerald and sapphire in ancient descriptions. The work is important in the history of gemology for its attempt to separate true mineral turquoise from odontolite and to reconcile contemporary mineralogical observations with the terminology of classical lapidary sources.

corundum, quality.10, gems

An encyclopedia entry on gems in Abraham Rees’s Cyclopædia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature. The article surveys the principal precious stones known in the early nineteenth century, discussing their names, physical characters, varieties, relative value and uses, and reflecting contemporary attempts to reconcile traditional jewelers’ terminology with developing mineralogical classification. As part of Rees’s broad technical encyclopedia, the entry is useful for understanding how gemological knowledge was presented to educated English readers at the time and for tracing the transition from older lapidary descriptions toward more scientific treatments based on mineralogy and chemistry. Contains a note on peacock feather put under sapphire.

gems, corundum, history.1, chemistry.2

This Catalogue first appeared, for the first time, at the end of the year 1813, when particular circumstances led me to feel the desire to part with my collection. At that time I had already been in England for nearly twenty years. The Battle of Battle of Leipzig, which soon afterwards took place, allowed me to glimpse the long-desired moment when my legitimate sovereign would be restored to the throne of his ancestors, and the worthy and respected princes of his august house reinstated in their rights. From that moment, I desired only to bring back to my homeland the fruit of the immense labour to which I had devoted myself ever since its deplorable and most unfortunate Revolution had voluntarily exiled me from it. I abandoned the project of selling my collection and became irrevocably attached to it. I had not been mistaken: the events that the outcome of this battle had led me to foresee soon came to pass. France, restored to herself, recalled to the inalienable right of ruling over her the illustrious family under whose ancestors she had risen to such a high degree of splendour, and whose exile and misfortunes had been the prelude to those of all Europe, which could not expect to remain forever the peaceful spectator of the crimes committed during that period. I had sacrificed absolutely everything in order to remain faithful to that family; its return to France restored to me a homeland toward which my desires and my hopes had ceaselessly turned, for more than twenty-five years, with regret and sorrow. I soon returned there, and upon my arrival I was rewarded for the many sacrifices that my constancy in fulfilling, without hesitation, all that my principles — the fruit of my fathers’ education — had always caused me to regard as duty, had led me to make. The King, to whom nothing concerning human knowledge is foreign, was gracious enough to acquire my mineralogical collection for himself, while entrusting me with its direction in his service. My wishes could not have been more completely satisfied: my love of tranquillity, my taste for work, and my desire to make that work useful — the only ambition to which my soul can today remain open — all these were contained in His Majesty’s act of kindness toward me. My gratitude can only be equalled by the wishes I form for the prosperity of his reign and for his happiness, so closely bound to that of the princes of his illustrious family. May those wishes be fulfilled! And may my beautiful homeland, through its return to justice, morality, and religion — inseparable foundations of the happiness of society — forget its errors and its misfortunes, just as a sick man forgets his most painful sufferings when health has been restored to him!

corundum, history.1, gems

Very scarce. As the title states, Exotic Mineralogy was intended to supplement Sowerby's other great mineralogical work, British Mineralogy; however, perhaps due to a lack of interest in the mineralogy of localities outside Great Britain, there appear to have been far fewer subscribers to Exotic Mineralogy. The result is these two volumes are exceptionally rare. Exotic Mineralogy is chiefly noted for its engraved, hand-colored plates, which are among the most realistic mineral depictions ever produced by Sowerby. In preparing the illustrations for this work, Sowerby sought out the best examples of minerals not then known in Great Britain. Weighted by a high quality in the models, the plates in Exotic Mineralogy are overall more appealing than those of British Mineralogy, whose purpose was to depict examples of every known type of mineral found in Great Britain not simply prime examples. Even though the plates of Exotic Mineralogy are numbered through 169, plate 73 was not always issued in section; therefore, a complete copy of the work contains only 168 plates. A note on the wrapper to the 13th section, which was to have contained the missing plate states, It was intended to have published the Turquois in Tab. 73, but it has been found necessary to postpone that plate." In fact, plate 93 figuring turquois is the postponed plate with the seven clearly over-engraved into a nine in some printings. [from Schuh]"

gems, jade, Fischer-Book

Sinkankas: An economic mineralogy. The large introduction is a condensed treatise on mineralogy, followed by a scheme of classification, then a large table and descriptions and discussions of mineral substances that extend into the second volume. In Volume I, under “pierres dures” (“hard stones”), are quartzes, flints and generally chalcedonic forms of quartz, as well as obsidian, lapis lazuli, jade, axinite, euclase, and others from p. 271 onward; however, the principal treatment of gemstones is found in Volume II, pp. 67–484, and includes zircon, quartzes, obsidian, jades, feldspars, andalusite, lazulite, diopside, garnets, tourmalines, euclase, beryls, chrysoberyls, corundums, peridot, and others. Serpentine is classified as an “unctuous” stone, while amber appears among the “combustibles” together with diamond.

corundum, properties.3, gems

An oriental moral tale by Stéphanie Félicité, comtesse de Genlis, centered on a marvelous sapphire endowed with talismanic significance. Published as part of her Nouveaux Contes Moraux, et Nouvelles Historiques, the story employs the exotic setting and supernatural associations characteristic of the European conte oriental tradition, using the sapphire as a literary device in an exploration of happiness, virtue and human conduct. Although fictional rather than mineralogical, the tale is of interest to the cultural history of gemstones for its portrayal of the sapphire as a precious object invested with magical and symbolic powers, reflecting the persistence of traditional beliefs concerning gems in early nineteenth-century European literature.

corundum, China.12, Tibet.12, gems

An early chemical analysis by William Gregor of a variety of corundum from Tibet. Gregor examines the material to determine its composition and compare it with other forms of corundum then under study in Europe. The paper belongs to the period when chemical analysis was being used increasingly to establish the identity and relationships of hard minerals that had previously been distinguished mainly by appearance and locality. It is particularly relevant to the history of gemology because it contributed to the chemical characterization of corundum and to the broader effort to understand the relationship between massive corundum and its gem varieties, ruby and sapphire.

gems, jade, Fischer-Book

A collected edition of the works of Isidore of Seville (c. 560–636), the influential early medieval scholar and archbishop of Seville. Of particular importance to the history of gemology is his Etymologiae (or Origines), an encyclopedic compilation of knowledge derived largely from classical and late-antique sources. Book XVI, De lapidibus et metallis(On Stones and Metals), discusses minerals, metals and numerous precious stones, including emerald, beryl, sapphire, amethyst, jasper, diamond and pearls, giving their names, supposed origins, physical characteristics and traditional properties. Isidore’s writings became an important conduit through which classical lapidary knowledge was transmitted to medieval Europe and strongly influenced subsequent medieval encyclopedias and lapidaries.

corundum, ruby, sapphire, Burma.12, gems

An account of Michael Symes’s diplomatic mission to the Burmese court at Ava in 1795, undertaken on behalf of the British government in India. Symes describes Burma’s geography, government, society, religion, commerce, natural resources and relations with neighboring countries, together with his journey to and reception at the royal court. Of particular gemological interest is his discussion of Burma’s precious stones, including the ruby-producing region and the royal control and valuation of gemstones. The work provides an important late eighteenth-century European account of the Burmese gem trade and of the association between the kingdom and its celebrated ruby deposits.

gems, jade, ruby, Burma, Myanmar, China, Yunnan

A wide-ranging description of the natural resources, products, geography, peoples, and material culture of Yunnan, completed by Tan Cui in 1799. The work comprises 13 sections, including caves and mountains, minerals and stones, aromatics, implements, animals, plants, and peoples. Of particular gemological importance is the second section, Zhi Jinshi [志金石], which discusses gold, silver, copper, jade, amber, gemstones, pearls, cinnabar, and other mineral substances. Its account of jade is especially significant because it explicitly describes jade from the region beyond Tengyue, the extraction and trading of boulder-like rough material, its transport to Dali and Yunnan, and the considerable uncertainty involved in cutting the rough to reveal fei cui [翡翠]. It is therefore an important early source for the history of the Burmese jadeite trade into China. The work was completed in 1799 and first printed in 1804. Sun Laichen: Volumes 2, 5, and 9 contain descriptions of Burmese products, including jade and jade Buddha images, penis bells, eggplants, insects, rubies, cotton, and cotton cloth. Prefaced in 1799 and printed in 1804.