422 A POPULAR TREATISE ON GEMS.
France
manufactures and exports coral ornaments to the value of six millions
of francs, and the demand for them is much greater; the establishments
of Barbaroux and Garaudy & Fils, in Marseilles, where the coral is
principally-manufactured into ornaments, give proof that France will
retain the supremacy in this species of luxury.
In the Paris Exhibition of 1855, many curious sculptured and chiselled objects were shown by Arsene Gourdin, of Paris.
In the London Exhibition, fine corals were shown from the Cape of Good Hope, from Reftaelli & Son, in Tuscany; from Algiers was also a collection. Tucker & Co.,
of Bermuda, exhibited a fine collection of both corals and
madrepores, including the black flexible coral (gorgonia). Among the
ancient rare coral engravings is the head of the philosopher,
Chrysippe, in high relief: it was in the Orleans collection. A coral
cameo of the 14th or 15th century, representing a Sphinx with three
Cupids, well executed, is mentioned by Caire.
The red corals are distinguished by the names of the countries where found.
1. The Barbarian, which are the thickest and purest.
2. The Corsican, which are the'darkest, but not so thick,
and less pure.
3. The Neapolitan, and those from Ponza, which are
clear and pretty thick.
4. The Sardinian, which are thick and clear.
5. The Catalonian, which are nearly as dark as the Cor-
sican, but mostly thin.
6. The Trapanian corals, from Trapani, in Sicily, which
are
somewhat preferred at Leghorn. The darkest corals are most liable to be
worm-eaten. The polished corals are generally sold in bundles, which
consist of a certain quantity of strings, of a certain weight.
