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Corallium, Coral

Corallium, Coral Page of 384 Crystallus, Rock-crystal Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
CORALLIUM.
103
In Pliny's alphabetical list of gems (56) occurs the Corallis, produced in India and Syene, and resembling ver­milion in colour. This is an exact description of the antique Eed Jasper, which certainly does not appear amongst any of the numerous varieties of the Jaspis, properly so called, described by him.
Fliny seems to have read the passage of Orpheus above quoted, for he has, under Gorgonia, " This stone is nothing more than Coral, the reason for the name being because it is transfoimed (from a soft plant) into the hardness of a stone. It appeases the angry seas ; it is affirmed that it defends against thunderbolts and whirlwinds."
The same perverted taste that has in these days made rose-coloured Pearls far more valuable than those of the colour proper to the species, has pronounced that the same faint tint in Coral "is the only wear," and consequently the deep-crimson, hitherto the most esteemed, as sense dictates, has become a mere drug in the market. The pale pink, of the shade of the opening rose, has obtained, on the other hand, a value never dreamed of before in respect of this article. A parure in it at the Dublin Exhibition (1865) was priced at 1000l. Yet in most cases this precious tinge is artificial, obtained by baking the common sort until its red is blanched down to the required tone.
Corallium, Coral Page of 384 Crystallus, Rock-crystal
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