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Sec. IV, Ch. 26: Semi-Precious Stones, Oriental Onyx
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Oriental Onyx.
Amongst the most celebrated of these cameos is the " Schaffhausen Onyx " — one of the most cherished, treasures of the Canton of Schaffhausen. The figure engraved on it is a female wearing a crown of honour, holding in one hand a horn of plenty, in the other a Mercury's staff. The figure Dr. Oeri identifies as " Pax," and the Cameo was cut between A.D. 68 and 82. It is of great historical interest, and is supposed to have been brought from Constantinople by Ortleib von Frohberg, who was a trusted friend of Konrad III. and Friedrich I, and took part in the Second Crusade.
One of the most famous of the Antique Cameos is the Mantuan Vase ; the base is brown, and on it, in relief, are groups of white and yellow figures, representing Ceres and Triptolemus in search of Proserpine. The Vase is formed from a single stone, and is seven inches high and two-and-a-half broad. In the Museo Nazionale, at Naples, there are many Cameos in Onyx ; one (eleven inches by nine) representing the apotheosis of Augustus ; and another with the head of Medusa carved on one side, and the apotheosis of Ptolemy on the other.
Onyx has been found in such large masses that small pillars have been made of it : there are six such in the Basilica of St. Peter, at Rome. At Cologne, in the Temple of the Three Magi, there is one broader than the palm of the hand. Appianas says that Mithridates, King of Pontus, had 2,000 cups of this gem ; it is scarcely possible, however, to believe that they could have been of true Onyx ; probably they were simply Onyx-marble.
By modern mineralogists the term Onyx is restricted to an Agate-like substance, formed of alternating white and brown or black layers of Chalcedony. When the
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Table Of Contents
Annotate/ Highlight
Streeter: Precious Stones and Gems
Introduction & Preface
Sec. I, Ch. 1
: Precious Stone or Gem Defined
Sec. I, Ch. 2
: Where Precious Stones are Found
Sec. I, Ch. 3
: Uses in Bygone Times
Sec. I, Ch. 4
: Working of Precious Stones
Sec. I, Ch. 5
: Engraving & Carving
Sec. I, Ch. 6
: Precious Stones as Objects of Commerce
Sec. I, Ch. 7
: Burning & Colouring of Precious Stones
Sec. II, Ch. 1
: Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 2
: African Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 3
: Australian Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 4
: Borneo Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 5
: Brazilian Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 6
: British Guiana Diamond
Sec. II, Ch. 7
: Indian Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch.
: Russian Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 9
: United States Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 10
: Coloured Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 11
: Bort Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 12
: Carbonado Diamonds
Sec. II, Ch. 13
: Value of Rough Diamonds
Sec. III, Ch. 1
: Ruby
Sec. III, Ch.
2: Ruby Mines of Burma
Sec. III, Ch. 3
: Ruby Mines of Burma Connection
Sec. III, Ch. 4
: The Sapphire
Sec. III, Ch.
: Star Stones
Sec. III, Ch. 6
: Spinel & Balas
Sec. III, Ch. 7
: Emeralds
Sec. III, Ch. 8
: Cat's Eye, The Chrysoberyl
Sec. III, Ch. 9
: Alexandrite
Sec. III, Ch. 10
: Opals
Sec. III, Ch. 11
: Turquoise
Sec. IV, Ch. 1
: Agate
Sec. IV, Ch. 2
: Amazonite
Sec. IV, Ch. 3
: Amber
Sec. IV, Ch. 4
: Amethysts
Sec. IV, Ch. 5
: Andalusite
Sec. IV, Ch. 6
: Aquamarines or Beryl
Sec. IV, Ch. 7
: Aventurine
Sec. IV, Ch. 8
: Bloodstones
Sec. IV, Ch. 9
: Carnelian
Sec. IV, Ch. 10
: Chrysoberyl
Sec. IV, Ch. 11
: Chrysoprase
Sec. IV, Ch. 12
: Crocidolite
Sec. IV, Ch. 13
: Euclase
Sec. IV, Ch. 14
: Garnet, Carbuncle, & Cinnamon Stone
Sec. IV, Ch. 15
: Hematite
Sec. IV, Ch. 16
: Hiddenite
Sec. IV, Ch. 17
: Iolite
Sec. IV, Ch. 18
: Jade
Sec. IV, Ch. 19
: Jasper
Sec. IV, Ch. 20
: Labradorite
Sec. IV, Ch. 21
: Lapis-lazuli
Sec. IV, Ch. 22
: Malachite
Sec. IV, Ch. 23
: Moonstone, Selenite, & Sunstone
Sec. IV, Ch. 24
: Moroxite
Sec. IV, Ch. 25
: Obsidian
Sec. IV, Ch. 26
: Oriental Onyx
Sec. IV, Ch. 27
: Peridot or Chrysolite
Sec. IV, Ch. 28
: Phenakite
Sec. IV, Ch. 29
: Quartz Cat's Eye
Sec. IV, Ch. 30
: Rhodonite
Sec. IV, Ch. 31
: Rock Crystal
Sec. IV, Ch. 32
: Sphene
Sec. IV, Ch. 33
: Spodumene
Sec. IV, Ch. 34
: Topaz
Sec. IV, Ch. 35
: Tourmaline
Sec. IV, Ch. 36
: Zircon or Jargoon
Appendix A
: Discrimination of Precious Stones
Appendix B
Index
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