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Onyx, Nicolo

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264                                           ONYX.
the second century. It has been tastefully mounted in the Cinque-cento style, with a base and spout to convert it into a rose-water ewer, according to the usage of that period. It had long adorned the famous Gonzagu Gallery at Mantua, until, in the lamentable four days' sack of that city by the Imperialists in 1629, it fell into the hands of the Duke of Brunswick, one of the chiefs of the German robbers. The value formerly set upon it was 150,000 thalers, half which amount is said to have been frequently offered for it to its then possessor. The Vienna Cabinet possesses another alabastion, similar in shape to the Mantuan, covered with reliefs of masks and Bacchic ornaments ; but bearing a dedicatory inscription, a verse of Anacreon's, show­ing it to have been made for a present to a lady of pleasure.
Other alabastra in Onyx, though unadorned with camei, were long treasured in the French cathedrals, and devoted to their original purpose of holding (the consecrated) oil. A magnificent specimen of the stone, formerly belonging to the cathedral of Sens, is now in the possession of Mr. J. Webb.
Such alabastra were occasionally used by the liomans as wine flasks, in order to impart their perfumed flavour to the liquor ; Martial notes (xiv. 110), " Ampulla Potoria"—·
" Hao licet in gemma qufe servat nomina Cosmi Luxuriose bibas si foliata sitis."
The Onyx is enumerated amongst the articles of export from India early in the first century, by the author of the ' Periplus of the Bed Sea.' Thus he mentions " the city called Ozene (now Ougein), whence all things necessary to the natives are brought down to Barygaza (Barcellone, on the Gulf of Cambay), and also articles pertaining to the trade with us ; namely, stones, the Onyx and murrhina, Indian cloths—fine and common quality, &c." Again he has : " from the same places are exported nard, zedoary, assafetida, ivory, Onyx-stones, &c. To Barace (Baroach) are brought pepper, many fine stones ; also various and nume­rous kinds of lustrous gems, the diamond, the hyacinthus, &c." Further on he specifies the exact locality producing the Onyx : " From Plythanse (Pultanah) Onyx-stones in abundance, from Tagarœ (Dowlatabad) much common cloths, &c, all which are
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