of
the stone affording good contrasts for the display of the engraving ;
they are also cut into cups, vases, knife and sword handles, and are
much used in beads for necklaces.
The
onyx was the eleventh stone on the breastplate of the high priest,
according to the Authorized Version of the Scriptures, although the
almost complete uniformity of the other translations, given on page 36, would lead to a supposition that the eleventh stone
was the beryl, and not the onyx. The precious ring thrown into the sea
by the tyrant of Samos, Polycrates, was a sardonyx. The chaplets or
rosaries worn by the fakirs of India, from the time of Pliny down to
the present day, were and are usually made of onyx beads.
With
regard to the value of these stones, although an onyx when known to be
Oriental is of infinitely higher commercial value than a German onyx,
yet, as they are identically the same stone, and as there is great
reason to believe that those coming from India are frequently coloured
by the process described on page 165, one is at a loss to understand
why there should be any difference when the quality and translucency
are identical, more particularly as no lapidary or jeweller can tell
one from the other. If a fine stone be shown to a number of competent
judges, it will most likely be pronounced German by one half, and
Oriental by the other. The writer has seen onyxes sell for as high a
price as £ 200 each, when of large size, beautiful colour, and with many layers.
