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-natural-history/page_046 - 2
 

Adamas, Diamond

Adamas, Diamond Page of 453 Adamas, Diamond Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
38
ADAMAS.
husband labouring under a dysentery (apparently on the ho-mceopathic principle), without producing the slightest effect.
CHARLES THE BOLD'S DIAMOND.
J. J. Fugger has left accurate drawings (made 1555) of the Ducal jewels purchased by his great-uncle Jacob Fugger from the Bernese,3 which Lambeccius has well engraved (Bib. Imp. ii. 516). The famous " big, deep, pointed Diamond, talked of all over Christendom" (" der grosz und dich spitzig Diemandt vom dem in der gantzen Christenheit gesagt ward "), is cut as a pyra­mid, f-inch square at the base, the apex formed as a four-rayed star, each ray coinciding with the centre of a face of the pyra­mid—a most singular design, but totally foreign from any idea of facetting. It is quite clear that Berghem's invention extended no further than this, with the reducing the sides of the native Diamond into a regular form, and equal to each other. The three Balais are somewhat irregular pyramids of 7/8-4/8 in. the base, styled, from their equality in size and weight, the " Three Brothers." Fugger notices particularly, to mark their natural excellence, that they were set open, without a foil. The four Pearls are monstrous, somewhat irregular indeed, but each half an inch in diameter. Jacob Fugger bought this, together with the Ducal cap covered with Pearls, with a band of Sapphires and Balais, and a plume-case set with Diamonds (points), with Pearls and Balais-Rubies between, for " no more than 47,000 florins." The cap terminates in a huge Balais cut into an acute pyramid, springing out of an elegant socket resting upon cherubs' heads set under the four angles of the base. All the other Balais are cut as flat pyramids. Fugger kept the pendant many years,
Adamas, Diamond Page of 453 Adamas, Diamond
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page