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Jewelry of the Ancients

Orpheus on Gems Page of 453 Jewelry of the Ancients Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
JEWELRY OP THE ANCIENTS.                      399
JEWELRY OF THE ANCIENTS.
All the magnificent works in which, the artist-goldsmiths of Asia, Greece, and Borne displayed their wondrous taste and skill, have utterly perished. Of their magnificence we can form but an inadequate idea, of their excellence in point of art the per­sonal decorations of small intrinsic value yielded to modern dis­coverers by the Greek and Etruscan tombs, suffice to give us an example. The sole relic that has escaped the barbarian spoiler of the lavish splendour of imperial Home is the Patère de Rennes already described.
There exist, however, three monuments which exhibit the Roman art, though in its most degraded state and as practised by barbarian craftsmen ; and these both for their rarity and their historical interest are well deserving of a particular description. They therefore shall be taken in chronological order.
HISPANO-GOTHIC CROWNS.
In the year 1858 some labourers employed in bringing under cultivation a deserted cemetery at Fuente di Guerrazzar, two leagues from Toledo, came upon a deposit of eight crowns and coronets in gold adorned with gems, the intrinsic value of which is calculated at 2000 l. The whole treasure-trove quickly found its way to Taris, where it was without any needless delay (or reference to ignorant Trustees) secured by the proper authorities for the Musée de Cluny, of which it now forms the most inte­resting feature, being ingeniously displayed to public inspection within a glass case, accessible on every side.
Of these the most important is the crown of King Reces-winthus (a.d. 653), a broad circle of fine gold, eight inches in diameter, set with thirty uncommonly large Pearls, alternating with as many fine Sapphires. This band is edged with a border above and below, filled with a running pattern of Greek crosses
Orpheus on Gems Page of 453 Jewelry of the Ancients
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