102 THE GREAT DIAMONDS OF THE WORLD.
of
the House of Austria since the time of Maria Theresa, and the subjoined
official account of it is embodied in the recently issued Catalogue of the Objects contained in tlte Treasury of the Imperial and Royal House of A ustria, kindly forwarded to us by the Austrian Ambassador in London :—
"
The ' Florentine/ also called the ' Great Florentine diamond,' actually
forming part of a hat-button, is known to be one of the largest
diamonds in the world. It weighs 133-1/3 carats of Vienna,-)-
but is rather yellow. The stone is cut in nine surfaces covered with
facets forming a star with nine rays. This jewel was once the property
of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who according to the custom of
the day carried all his valuables in the battle-field, first to have
them always in sight, and, secondly, on account of the mysterious power
then attributed to precious stones. Charles lost this diamond at the
battle of Morat on the 22nd June, 1476. Tradition relates that it was
picked up by a peasant who took it for a piece of glass, and sold it
for a florin. The new owner, Bartholomew May, a citizen of Berne, sold
it
