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164 PRECIOUS STONES.
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cavities,
within the Topaz. The Oriental Topaz, (or Yellow Sapphire), which is of
a soft Jonquil, or citron colour, shows sometimes bright, and golden;
some-whiles as if full of gold, in fragments.
Next
to the Oriental in hardness, and in richness of colour, comes the
Brazilian, of a deep orange-yellow; or sometimes so limpid, and
colourless as to be mistaken for diamonds, being then called " gouttes
d'eau." Bohemian Topazes are hyacinthine, red, brown, or
tawny,—sometimes of a dirty yellow-white; those from Saxony are hard,
clear, and yellow ; the native Topaz of Ceylon is a pale soft blue,
this being called the " white, and water Sapphire." Furthermore, very
fine green, and blue varieties are brought from Siberia, and Kamschatka.
Quite
recently (1906), a Rock-Crystal hiberon— drinking vessel—(mounted with
enamelled gold) was sold at Christie's, fetching the unprecedented
price (for such a jewel) of sixteen thousand, two hundred, and
seventy-five pounds sterling. Mr. Charles Wertheimer became, after a
spirited competition, possessor of this cup ; and at the same time the
record-maker as to the highest auction price ever paid for a single
object of art in an English saleroom. This wonderful vase, carved of
Rock Crystal, is of Sixteenth Century Italian work; the body of the
vessel roughly resembling a Monster, with the head forming a spout. It
is about a foot high ; and sixteen inches long.
To
resume about the Topaz. This stone derives its name from the island
Topazion, which was supposed to be situated in the Red Sea. There are
the gold-coloured Topaz, and another, greenish-yellow of hue. This
second species was called Chrysoprase, having a blend
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