Quantcast
  We apologize for any slow response. This will be fixed before October 31st Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-gems-decorative-stones/page_117 - 2
 

Crystallus, Rock-crystal

Crystallus, Rock-crystal Page of 384 Crystallus, Rock-crystal Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
108
NATURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
use. And that he is opposing the old silver plate to the new-fangled gem-vases from Egypt is decided by his con­clusion—
Declaring that a drinking-cup of precious stone was only befitting the debauchee that could melt down old chased plate by the renowned Mentor to make a " chamber-service," in modern parlance, for a present to his mistress.
There is a great similarity in the elaborate designs of ara­besque foliage covering these bowls with those seen on the cameo-vases in glass of known Alexandrian fabrique, such as the elegant amphora of the Museo Borbonico, surrounded with a network of vine-branches. Indeed, Achilles Tatius (ii. 3) has " a crater (deep vase), the entire work carved out of one fossil Crystal (in contradistinction to glass), which vine-branches encompass like a garland."
The Arabs kept up the art they found flourishing there of working in Crystal long after their conquest of Egypt. One of the most valued ornaments of the treasury of S. Denys was : " Un vase de Cristal de roche fait en façon de broc (pitcher) avec son anse, le tout d'un pièce ; le couvercle d'or, attaché à un chaisne d'or. Ce vase est orné de feuil­lages et d'oiseaux perchez sur des branches sous lesquels on voit force lettres Arabesques, le tout en relief. Il est fort estimé et admiré tant pour son antiquité (car il a servi au Temple de Salomon) que pour l'artifice avec lequel il est taillé. Il vient de l'empereur Charles le Chauve." (' T. de S. Denys,'p. 120.)
Under the Lower Empire, Crystal seems to have been much in use for making solid finger-rings, carved out of one single piece, the faco engraved with some intaglio
Crystallus, Rock-crystal Page of 384 Crystallus, Rock-crystal
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page