one
of those ancient arts which were later lost, for conclusive evidence
does not exist of engraved diamonds earlier than the sixteenth century.
It seems probable that either the " Jahalom " of the breastplate did
not signify diamond, or if it did, that the stone was one of similar
appearance only and not what it was supposed to be, for all the
engraved diamonds known, have come to knowledge since the date
generally set for the discovery of the art.
It
is said that Jacopo or Como da Trezzo, or his pupil, Clement Birazo,
discovered the art of engraving the diamond at Milan in 1556. According
to Blum, Ambrosius Caradossa was the first to sculpture it. A specimen
of Jacopo da Trezzo's work, set in a ring, was exhibited in the Italian
section of the Paris Exposition of 1867, and another by the same
artist, on which the arms of Charles V are engraved, is in existence.
Streeter says that the Duke of Bedford has one with the head of the
philosopher Posidonius. He also mentions a portrait of the Spanish
prince, Don Carlos, by Clement Birazo; the arms of Queen Mary of
England by Jacobus Thronus; a signet of Mary of Modena, Queen of James
II, with an interlaced cipher M. R. surmounted by a crown; five fine
examples, of which four are signets, in a collection at Florence,
consisting of one which belonged to Catherine de Medici, with the
monogram M. C. and a coronet; one with the Medici shield crowned; one
with the crowned arms of Portugal and another small one with a shield,
arms and coronet. Three in the Hope collection have the portrait of a
philosopher, the head of Emperor Leopold II and one with an engraved
cross. A thin stone with the head of Napoleon 22