Amethyst.
Of
all the quartz varieties the amethyst has (next to rock crystal) been
the most highly valued, and the most frequently used for ornamental
purposes through all ages. It is perhaps to-day one of the most
popular of this class of gem stones, and although much cheapened of
late years, continues to be largely cut and used for rings, brooches,
pendants, pins, &c.
It is necessary to bear in mind that the Oriental amethyst is
allied to the sapphire, is a rare and valuable gem, and is certainly
not to be purchased for a small sum, although vendors of ornamental
stones often attach the name of Oriental to the quartz variety. It may
safely be considered that nearly the whole of the amethyst sold in
jewellers' shops belongs to the quartz family.
All
those specimens of quartz having a purplish or violet hue, and
transparent, come under the name of amethyst. The colour is supposed
to be due to a trace of manganese, but Heintz, who analysed a Brazilian
specimen, considered the colour to be owing to a compound of iron and
soda. The deepest shades are, when cut, less brilliant than the
lighter, and it is supposed that this accounts for the fact that the
ancient lapidaries preferred to exercise their art upon the lighter
coloured stones.
A
dark-coloured amethyst does not, as a rule, belong to ancient times;
although C. W. King, M.A., says he has seen perhaps the grandest Greek
portrait in existence, a head of Mithridates (probably) cut in a large
amethyst of the deepest violet colour, and which was found a century
ago in India.
In
early times the amethyst seems to have been a favourite stone for
cameos and engravings. Many Egyptian and Etruscan scarabei were
amethyst. A very fine gem of this variety of quartz fell into the hands
of Napoleon during his invasion of Prussia ; or, as Mr. Streeter puts
it, " of which the Prussian treasury was robbed during the Napoleonic
wars." It was engraved with a likeness of the Emperor Trajan. Another
historical gem of this class is a bust of Antonia, the daughter of Mark
Antony. An engraving by Dioscorides is in the National Library of Paris.
The name is from the Greek a not, methuo to
be drunk; the amethyst being regarded by the ancients as a preservative
against drunkenness. It was thus considered the most suitable for
drinking cups, on account of its being a protection against
intoxication. Pliny says that the gem was so called, from the fact of
its approaching near to the colour of wine.
In
the middle ages it was believed to dispel sleep, sharpen the intellect,
and to be an antidote against poison. It was in such repute, that in
the middle of the seventeenth century a specimen of amethyst was
considered to be worth as much as a diamond of equal weight; but since
that time, perhaps owing to its being found in large quantities in
Brazil, America, and elsewhere, the value has much depreciated. Queen
Charlotte had an amethyst necklace made of well matched and very
perfect stones, and it was valued at one time at £2,000, but Mr.
Streeter considers it doubtful if it would now realise £100.
The
amethyst is cut in various ways, but the best form is that of the
brilliant, the table or flat part of the stone being slightly domed
instead of quite flat. The majority of these stone3 are cut in Germany,
the labour in England being too expensive. A copper wheel with emery is
used in the cutting, and the polishing is done on tin with tripoli. It
takes a very fine polish.
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