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Ch. 10: Jewelry of the Ancients

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JEWELRY OF THE ANCIENTS.
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cross pattée jewelled, one of them bearing Sonnica's votive inscription. The remaining three are much lighter, and are simply ornamented with arcades in repoussé work in the common Byzantine style. The small diameter of the last six shows that they were not designed to he worn, hut merely for votive offerings. The two principal crowns, however, open with hinges, and the queen's has a row of rings along the edge evidently serving for the adjustment of a lining. All have gold chains proceeding from a centre or hook for suspension. In the king's crown this centre is artistically cut out of a large crystal into the pattern of a Byzantine capital, about one inch deep and somewhat wider across the top ; around this again spread gold acanthus-leaves supporting small pendants. The chains depending from it are stout flat almond-shaped pieces of pierced work.
It is curious to observe in some cases bits of mother-o'-pearl* set amongst valuable stones, and square pastes now colourless side by side with the richest : perhaps they were passed off upon the Gothic prince for real Opals by the court-jeweller of the day. It is very singular that neither the Ruby nor the Almandine should appear at all ; the whole species (Carbunculae) must have been purposely left out for some mystic reason, probably as being regarded of too Martial a dye.
Most interesting, as it explains the destination of the treasure, is a large Greek cross bearing the inscription on both sides—
Ch. 10: Jewelry of the Ancients Page of 377 Ch. 10: Jewelry of the Ancients
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