Gemstone

Français :

La contribution des ressources naturelles au développement économique des territoires
producteurs fait l'objet de nombreux débats. Si certains travaux soulignent que les matières
premières constituent une source de richesse, d'autres les considèrent à l'inverse comme
une cause de pauvreté, allant même parfois jusqu'à les assimiler à une malédiction.
Cependant, les raisons invoquées ne sont pas forcément identiques selon la ressource et les
espaces dont il est question.
L'objet de cette thèse est d'étudier la relation qui existe entre l'abondance de richesses
naturelles et le niveau de développement économique des populations d'un territoire en
prenant pour exemple les ressources en pierres de couleur et l’État brésilien du Minas
Gerais. Cet espace, qui constitue l'une des plus grandes réserves de pierres gemmes du
monde, ne semblerait pas à priori tirer pleinement profit de ses ressources car les lieux au
sein desquels se déroulent les opérations minières sont pour la plupart caractérisés par des
indices socio-économiques situés en-deçà des moyennes nationales. La plupart des acteurs
locaux impliqués dans l’exploitation de ces minerais précieux doivent de plus faire face à
d'importantes difficultés qui se sont accentuées au cours des vingt dernières années.
La principale cause de ce ralentissement de la production n'est toutefois pas, comme il est
souvent avancé, la subordination à des puissances étrangères ou l'intensification de la lutte
des autorités publiques contre les activités minières illégales. En réalité, le déclin des
activités étudiées qui est observé a pour origine la récente amélioration des conditions de
vie des populations locales, devenues moins enclines que par le passé à faire le choix
d'activités dangereuses, usantes physiquement et mal rémunérées. Au regard de ce constat,
cette thèse défend ainsi l'idée selon laquelle la spécialisation de certains territoires dans
l'extraction minière ne serait pas toujours une cause mais plutôt un reflet de la pauvreté.

English:

The role of natural resources in the economic development of producer territories is the
object of many debates. While some studies highlight raw materials as a source of wealth,
others on the contrary connect them to growing poverty rates, at times to the point of
identifying resources as a curse. The reasons evoked are however not always the same,
depending on the nature of the resource and the spaces at issue.
The aim of this thesis is to study the relationship between the abundance of natural
wealth and the level of economic development of local population, as exemplified by colored
gemstone resources and the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais. This space, which constitutes
one of the greatest reserves of gemstones in the world, does not appear to profit fully from
its resources because the areas in which mining operations take place are mainly
characterizes by socio-economical indexes below the national average. Most local actors
involved in the exploitation of these precious minerals must besides face significant
difficulties, which have increased over the last twenty years.
The main reason for this decrease in production is however not, as it is often suggested,
the subordination to foreign powers, nor the intensification of public authorities’ battle
against illegal mining activities. The decline of activities observed actually has its origin in
the recent improvement of living conditions amongst local populations, which have
therefore less inclined to choose physically tiring and badly paid dangerous activities than
they were in the past. On the basis of this assessment, this thesis defends the idea according
to which the specialization of certain territories in the field of mining extraction is not a
cause, but rather a consequence of poverty.

Português:

A contribuição de recursos naturais ao desenvolvimento econômico dos territórios
produtores está no centro de diversos debates. Ao mesmo tempo em que alguns estudos
afirmam que as matérias-primas constituem uma fonte de riqueza, outros vão em direção
oposta e as responsabilizam pela pobreza em si, às vezes até relacionando-as à uma
maldição. Entretanto, as razões citadas não são necessariamente as mesmas, dependendo
dos recursos e dos espaços em questão.
O objeto da presente tese é estudar a relação entre a abundância de riquezas naturais e o
nível de desenvolvimento econômico das populações de um território, utilizando como
exemplo os recursos de pedras de cor e o estado brasileiro de Minas Gerais. O território
mineiro, que constitui uma das maiores reservas de gemas do mundo, não parece tirar muito
proveito de tais recursos, pois os locais onde acontecem as atividades mineradoras
apresentam, em sua maioria, índices sócio-econômicos abaixo da média nacional. A maior
parte dos atores implicados na exploração destes minerais preciosos precisam enfrentar
grandes dificuldades, acentuadas nos últimos vinte anos.
Entretanto, a causa principal desta diminuição de produção não é, como muitas vezes é
destacado, a dominação de atores estrangeiros nem a intensificação da luta das autoridades
públicas contra as atividades mineradoras ilegais. Na verdade, este declínio tem origem na
recente melhoria de condições de vida das populações locais, que tornaram-se menos
inclinadas a escolher trabalhos considerados perigosos, duros fisicamente e mal
remunerados. Desde ponto de vista, esta tese defende a ideia segundo a qual a
especialização de certos territórios na extração mineradora não seria a causa, mas apenas
um reflexo da pobreza.

Ebû Reyhân Muhammed bin Ahmed el-Bîrûnî (973-1061)
Biyografi ve Arapça orijinalinden tercüme:
Dr. Emine Sonnur Özcan, Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları, Ankara 2017.

ÖNSÖZ
Doğumunun 1040. yılını idrak ettiğimiz 2014 yılında, Ebû’r-Reyhân Muhammed bin Ahmed el-Bîrûnî ’nin, Kitâbu’l-Cemâhir fî Ma‘rifeti’l-Cevâhir isimli eserini geç de olsa Türkçe’ye kazandırmaktan onur duyduğumuzu söylemeliyiz.
Yalnızca Ortaçağların değil, tüm zamanların en büyük âlimlerinin biri olan Üstad Ebu’r-Reyhân’ın yüz elli civarındaki eserinden günümüze ulaşan yirmi iki kadarı arasından Türkçe’ye tercüme etmek üzere seçtiğimiz el-Cevâhir, sadece bir mineraloji kitabı değildir. Kozmolojiden astronomiye, kimyadan fiziğe, edebiyattan tarihe, Ortaçağların pek çok  ilmî, moral ve sanatsal alanına ilişkin eşsiz bilgiler veren bu eserin, hemen her okurun kulağına fısıldayacak bir sözü var, diyebiliriz.
Tercümede kullandığımız temel nüsha, el-Cevâhîr’in Kayseri, Râşid Efendi Kü-tüphânesi’nde bulunan, 596-553.1 numaralı ve h.626/m. 1229 tarihli elyazmasıdır. Bu nüshada okuyamadığımız ya da anlayamadığımız yerlerde, eserin Topkapı Sarayı Kütüphanesi, No: 2047’de bulunan yazmasına dayalı Arapça baskısı (el-Cemâhir fî’l-Cevâhir, Tahkîk: Yûsuf el-Hâdî, Kültür Bakanlığı, Tahran 1990) ve Fritz  Krenkow’un yine aynı nüshaya dayalı olarak 1936’da yayımladığı ilk Arapça baskısının, merhum Pakistanlı âlim Hakim Muhammed Said tarafından yapılan İngilizce tercümesine başvurduk. Bununla birlikte, başta şiir tercümeleri olmak üzere, Arapça tercümesini yapamadığımız ve İngilizcesi’nin de Arapçası’yla uyuşmuyor olduğunda karar kıldığımız beyitler ve diğer bazı cümleleri atladığımızı,  köşeli parantez arasındaki noktalarla belli ettik.
Ömrünün hemen her anını ilme adamış büyük âlim el-Bîrûnî’ye karşı duyduğumuz derin saygı ve hayranlıkla, ortaya koyduğumuz bu tercümenin her bir harfini kaleme alırken onun inanılmaz dehasına lâyık olmaya çalıştık.  el-Bîrûnî’nin el-Cevâhîr ve diğer eserlerinde sıkça ifade ettiği üzere, başarı Allah’tandır.

Dr. Emine Sonnur Özcan
Temmuz 2014, Ankara

A sapphire means blue in Greek. The blue goes from dark blue almost black to pale blue. The finest blue sapphires are a strong blue. The star sapphire is very valued. Sapphires of colors other than blue are always referred to with the color. There are pink sapphires, yellow sapphires, violet sapphires, green sapphires and clear sapphires. Today most sapphires are mined in Australia.
The sapphire was called the "Stone of Destiny". Sapphires contribute to mental clarity and perception. They can promote financial rewards.
The sapphire is the symbol of heaven and joyful devotion to God.
Sapphire is associated with Aquarius, Virgo, Libra and Capricorn. It is the birthstone of September and has been the birthstone of April. Sapphire is the symbol of Saturn (dark blue) and Venus (light blue).

This study is on the marketing research, scope and method forward for jewelry and gem exchange of India, because this sector plays an enormous role among the Indian economy one in every of the fastest growing sectors contributing around 6-7 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. This study is conducted with the help of case studies and reports published to throw light on the market scenario of India and the expected growth in jewellery and gem industry. China and India are leading the market in terms of process jewellery and gems, supported its potential for growth and price addition; the govt of India has declared the gems and jewellery sector as a spotlight house for export promotion. The worldwide gems and jewellery trade is to boot expected to witness high demand among the near future owing to the enlargement among the consumption of branded jewellery. It’s expected that branded jewelleries will gain an enormous share among the market over the forthcoming years.

The need for gemological knowledge has been recognized since the dawn of our industry. As is the case today, old-time dealers required technical information in order to make informed business decisions when purchasing goods. Understanding imitations was the main concern and, over time, the concerns evolved to more sophisticated mat- ters such as synthetics and then treatment disclosure, origin, and traceability. Gemological knowledge is now more com- plex and scientific, although classic gemology still remains accessible for the non-scientist.

Das kelten römer museum manching präsentierte vom 24. Juli 2021 bis zum 6. Februar 2022 die erweiterte Sonderausstellung »Kunst in Miniatur – Antike Gemmen aus Bayern«. Ihr Kernbestand umfasste Exemplare aus der Archäologischen Staatsammlung München, für die jeweils ihr bayerischer Fundort und meist sogar ihr archäologischer Kontext belegt sind. Dies ist insofern höchst bemerkenswert, als viele andere Gemmen bekanntlich ohne konkrete Provenienzangaben in öffentliche und private Sammlungen gelangen. Exklusiv für den Standort Manching wurde die Ausstellung noch bedeutend erweitert, insbesondere um eine gänzlich neue Abteilung zum reichen Nachleben der antiken Steinschneidekunst im mittelalterlichen und neuzeitlichen Bayern.

History of Lapidaries / Gem Cutters. Histoire des Lapidaires, tailleurs-polisseurs de gemmes.
Résumé 1ère partie :
Orfèvres Joailliers, Lapidaires et Diamantaires ont été opposés dans de profondes rivalités afin d’établir en France les mérites artisanaux de leurs métiers. Il faut suivre une histoire millénaire pour appréhender la mise en place de leurs textes régisseurs et comprendre comment au fil de l’avancement des techniques, de leurs connaissances empiriques, du développement de leur art et malgré les contre-coups politiques et économiques, ces hommes ont érigé leurs statuts. Après avoir réuni les métiers de transformation des gemmes, les Lapidaires vont perpétuellement lutter contre les Marchands Orfèvres Joailliers pour la défense de leurs intérêts. Contrôlant les forains, submergés par les importations plus ou moins illégales de diamants brésiliens, anéantis par les puissants négociants flamands, surpassés par les cliveurs hollandais, défiés par les «banquiers» trafiquants, les Lapidaires s’affaibliront peu à peu jusqu’à perdre leur excellence naturelle qu’était la taille du diamant.

Résumé 2nd partie :
La première partie de cet article nous a conduit jusqu’au règne de Louis XV qui vit les Marchands Orfèvres Jouailliers l’emporter sur la corporation des Lapidaires, dès lors qu’ils furent les seuls autorisés à réaliser toutes montures des pierres acquises. Les Lapidaires se retrouvèrent, une nouvelle fois, contraints par des textes bridant leurs activités. Voyons ce que réserve la fin de l’histoire.


Abstract 1st part:
The gem-cutters / Lapidaries corporation finds its roots in the Middle Age, a period where we can trace their first records. They established themselves as a proper corporate entity at the end of the XVIth. Until the French Revolution (1789) they fought to get the title of Merchant, a title reserved to five corporations which included the Goldsmiths. From then on, they focused on the control of merchandise imported more or less legally by “bankers”, stallholders or Marranos diamond dealers belonging to powerful Flanders hub and from hegemonic Holland. After numerous trials, edicts, laws, blow-down, two centuries later Parisian Lapidaries had even lost their reputation as gem cutters.

Abstract 2nd part :
The first part of this article has taken us to the reign of Louis XV, who saw the Merchant Goldsmiths ‘Jouailliers’ taking precedence over the corporation of Lapidaries, since they were the only ones authorized to make all settings of the stones acquired. The Lapidaries found themselves, once again, constrained by texts restricting their activities. Let's see what the end of the story holds.

A gemstone (also called a gem, fine gem, jewel, precious stone, or semi-precious stone) is a piece of mineral crystal which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However, certain rocks (such as lapis lazuli and opal) and occasionally organic materials that are not minerals (such as amber, jet, and pearl) are also used for jewelry and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their luster or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone. Apart from jewelry, from earliest antiquity engraved gems and hardstone carvings, such as cups, were major luxury art forms. A gem maker is called a lapidary or gemcutter; a diamond cutter is called a diamantaire.

Turquoise, coral, rubies, diamonds, amber, and pearls are among the potent substances used in Tibet’s medical traditions, specifically in ‘precious pills’ or rinchen rilbu (rin chen ril bu). Tibetan physicians use precious stones as medicines only after processing, without which none of them are considered medically beneficial. In this paper, I analyze three precious substances—turquoise, coral, and pearl—which appear together in many precious pill formulas and are processed using the same techniques. Based on textual analysis and interviews with Tibetan physicians in India, I address the questions: What makes these substances particularly ‘potent,’ expressed in the Tibetan term nüpa (nus pa)? How and why are these substances processed for use in medicines, and how is processing linked to nüpa? I argue that Tibetan medical practitioners authenticate their tradition of using precious stones as potent substances primarily through relying on authoritative texts and oral transmission, since the direct sensoexperiential understanding of the stones’ nüpa is limited compared to the more sensorial assessments of the nüpa of plants through smell and taste. Findings show that potency of precious stones emerges as a complex synergy of interactions between substances and their socio-historical, religious, economic, and political values, which are all encapsulated in ‘tradition.’ In line with Neveling and Klien (2010) and Scheid (2007), I look at tradition as a fluid process of knowledge transmission over time, and analyze what happens when practitioners try to explain the rationale behind processing practices they still meticulously follow, and how questioning, especially by foreign researchers, might influence practitioners to call on biomedical science to explain tradition.

The three-headed goddess Hekate is well known from texts and depictions from the middle of the first millenium BC onwards and also a common motive on so-called magical gems from the third or fourth century AD. The present paper presents a collection of the known attestations of magical gems with a depiction of Hekate and classifies these into different groups. The representations of the goddess clearly represent her typical appearance with three heads or faces, but can be separated into groups of triprosopos, trikephalos or a depiction with three heads and three bodies.

Ð «Le Miracolose Virtu Á Delle Pietre Pretiose Per salute Del Vivere Humano» by Scipione Vasolo: a Renaissance treatise on gems as means to be in good health without medical intervention. An unpublished miscellaneous manuscript in the Corsinian Library (Corsinianus 901) contains 14 leaves written by a late 16th century cursive hand of a treaty on precious stones («gems») referred to the authorship of Scipione Vasolo, a poorly-known late Renaissance writer. This section of the handwritten codex is here edited for the first time, whilst the following section, dealing with 69 decorative stones («marbles») and illustrated with 58 watercolours, is omitted, because it is only an abridged copy of Agostino del Riccio's Istoria delle pietre (1597) probably compiled during the 17-18th century. The treaty by Vasolo (dated March 20, 1577) describes the properties attributed to 28 gems to keep men in good health and merry, and claims their use as being much more effective than medical treatments, as these lead men to the verge of death. This short text heavily depends upon a series of mediaeval traditions assembled by Albert the Great that mix the graeco-roman information on stones present in Pliny the Elder, as summarized by Solinus and Isidore, with prejudices on their medical and magical effects. These can be traced back to alexandrine Greek tradition (Evax), as made available to latin-speaking medieval Europe by Marbode's poem on stones, and after some contamination with Arab traditions (e.g., Avicenna). Little original matter can be credited to Vasolo, but his strong feelings against medicines prepared by physicians and full belief on the medical properties of stone. Thus, his short treaty is more a literary piece of work than a scientific one. As such, it should be considered to belong to the tradition of Lithotherapy viz. Crystallotherapy, a pseudo-scientific subject, rather than contributing to Gemmology i.e., entering the main scientific stream of research activity that ultimately led to modern Mineralogy.

The article is devoted to the 37th book of the «Natural History» of
Pliny the Elder, On Gems. Various approaches to the interpretation and
translation of Pliny’s names of gems and concepts associated with them are considered with references to works in geology and gemology, as well as to the first experience of academic translation of the last five books of «Natural History» (33–37) by academician V. M. Severgin (1819). Pliny's distribution of gems in groups is analyzed, a hypothesis is proposed about the meaning of the Latin adjective candidus in the gemmae candidae group of colored gems, as referring not to their color, but to some special optical properties known in modern gemology (asterism, irisation, opalescence, etc.). The influence of the 37th book of «Natural History» on the practices of collecting gems, including those preserved in modern mineralogical museums, is considered.

Novgorodova D. D. «In Pliny... chrysoprasus is not chrysoprase, nor is topazus topaz or sapphirus sapphire». In INDO-EUROPEAN LINGUISTICS AND CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY – XXIII ((Joseph M. Tronsky memorial Conference). Proceedings of the International Conference, St. Petersburg, 24–26 June, 2019 / edited by Nikolai N. Kazansky. Part II (pp. 635–1208). St. Petersburg: Nauka, 2019 . P. 796-822.

Новгородова Д.Д. «У Плиния и хризопраз не хризопраз, и топаз не топаз, и сапфир не сапфир» // Индоевропейское языкознание и классическая филология – XXIII (чтения памяти И.М. Тронского). Материалы Международной конференции, проходившей 24-26 июня 2019 г. / Отв. редактор Н.Н. Казанский. Второй полутом (сс. 635-1208). СПб.: Наука, 2019. С. 796-822.

The Ukrainian jaspilites, occurring within Proterozoic
sediments of the Krivoy Rog Basin, are an important raw material
used in the national metallurgical industry. Some exhibit signifi cant
diversity of texture and colour and are suitable as decorative
rocks. In a few, the refl ective optical effects described as ‘tiger’seye’
and ‘falcon’s-eye’ are present. Quartz and iron-ore minerals
(hematite, magnetite, goethite) are the main rock-forming minerals
of the jaspilites, and carbonates (siderite, ankerite), amphiboles
(cummingtonite, grünerite), feldspars and apatite are subordinate
phases. In Ukraine, the decorative types of jaspilite are valuable for
making fancy goods such as vases and clocks, artistic jewellery, and
for the production of facing stone used especially for indoor design.

Macedonian ruby, a unique local raspberry-pink variety of this beautiful gemstone is arriving to be steadily exploited in Macedonia as well. The Republic of Macedonia is actually the only country in mainland Europe to have naturally occurring rubies. Macedonian rubies have a unique pale-raspberry color, characteristically pink and red colored corundum crystals. Prismatic crystals of the blue colored variety are rarely found in Macedonia.

The natural glass stone has a unique formation and appears translucent or transparent with the swirls and bubbles. It was formed about 15 million years ago near the Czech river. It is not classified as minerals but as natural glass. They encourage strong communication, increase one's intuition, and use a talisman to bring good fortune. They are true to your heart chakra and helps you to navigate obstacles, and improves relationships beyond your romantic ones. It could be a prime pick for astral travel meditation. Rananjay exports are the best manufacture of Moldavite.

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The origins and identities of the gem minerals known in antiquity have been construed primarily from ancient literary sources.  Some of the most important texts are not preserved in the translation of original manuscripts but are versions produced later, often several centuries later. They may survive only as fragmentary works or paraphrased in the works of other writers. Sometimes they survive in successive editions which bear accumulated errors and defects iterated over centuries. Some of the most significant works and problems of their handling in translation have been discussed. Attention has been devoted especially to lexical problems associated with trying to reconcile ancient and modern mineral taxonomies, inconsistent usage of gem terms, some of which are deprecated, and contemporary bias of translators.
Examination of approximately 1,100 objects representing the range of lapidary materials known to ancient gem cutters provided objective reference to consider some of the most troublesome gemstone identities and presumed gemstone origins that have come to be generally accepted as true. Empirical observations of the gems examined, archaeology, and the discovery of new gem sources in recent decades suggest that updated translations of some important treatises are needed, especially Books 36-37 of Pliny the Elder’s »Natural History«, which was published more than 50 years ago.
Most of the gems examined came from private or museum collections whose provenience dates between the 17th and 20th centuries. Lacking known archaeological context in most instances hinders tracing the mechanism of transmission or the path traveled between a raw lapidary material’s origin and its eventual deposition as a fashioned object in its date- and place-specific cultural setting.

We, as human beings, receive vital rays – subtle cosmic radiation from planets that influence our attitudes, behaviour, and environment. This planetary radiation has a definite impact on our ever-changing psychological dispositions.
Stones and gems, coming into direct contact with the skin, exercise an electromagnetic influence over our cells.
This article by a Vedic astrologer, Uma Shankar Shukla, explores the ways in which our lives can be affected by the subtle power of stones.

This work concerns the role of finger rings in longobardic society between VI and VII century. The research is based on twenty-eight italian necropolis catalogues, from the famous Castel Trosino and Cividale del Friuli to Senise and the Crypta Balbi in Rome. The four pattern found are signet rings, rings with Roman gems, rings with double diamod dash bezel and rings with glass paste or semiprecious stones.

The 1964 published magic gem is re-read to refer to the "Cross-beam of the Redeeming Son" in a probable Christian baptismal invocation containing pre-orthodox terminology, 'magic' ciphers, and iambic metrical verses.  The formula probably stems from a late 2nd century heterodox Christian group using an early depiction of Jesus not based specifically on the canonical gospels.  The inscription of the gem on the reverse is the work of a secondary hand better informed by the standard magical literature.

Pepper from Cochin, cinnamon from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and cloves from the Moluccas were not the only treasures the Portuguese sought in Asia. Precious gems and jewellery captivated the minds of these adventurers from the moment they disembarked from their carracks. The «great Oriental adventure», whether undertaken by traders, merchants, priests, explorers or the military, was driven by the lure of Oriental luxury goods and by the 'love of money and a lust for gems', as Fernão Mendes Pinto so aptly underscored. A 'frantic thirst' for precious gems that fitted the voyager’s pocket, whether officer, expert or occasional trader, each one confident of lucrative returns from trafficking that fell outside the scope of the scope of the crown’s control. In contrast, the pepper trade was reserved as an exclusive royal monopoly.

Asian gems were soon accurately depicted in paintings by artists of the Lisbon court. Apart from territorial expansion and conquest, this Portuguese adventure was also one of missionary work, carried out far from Europe, and which required the creation of doctrinal instruments for religious instruction and new liturgical implements for the newly converted to marvel at. This «empire of objects», worked in silver and gold, emerged out of the confluence of many different artistic worlds, unknown to one another, which in Asia acquired its own particular features to produce variations on the European models brought by the nobility and the missionaries. This circulation of models extended from Hormuz to Goa and onwards to Malabar, from Cochin to Bengal along the Coromandel coast taking in the Taprobane (Ceylon) as well as out into the - fittingly coined - 'Mediterranean' of the China Sea, from the straits of Malacca to the seas of Java and into the rivers of Asia. A voyage of styles and forms that accompanied the growing geographic knowledge about Asia which was hitherto unknown to the Europeans.

Such is the current itinerary for our 'Jewels from the India Run', showcasing the treasures of this 'promised land', created from gems, gold and silver from an Asia transformed by the Portuguese, and featuring an impressive group of two hundred works of art, many never previously exhibited, exquisitely crafted in gold and silver, some studded with precious gems, and others embellished with vivid enamels. Rare and unique objects presented within the cultural context and historical framework of their artistic periods of creation. An awe-inspiring range of works that, just like Mendes Pinto, lead us to exclaim: 'that in all my days I have never seen such a wondrous thing.'

The symbolism of precious stones in the Divine Comedy

L’articolo di Erik Schoonhoven è dedicato allo studio del simbolismo delle pietre preziose nella “Divina Commedia”. L’autore intende dimostrare come i significati delle gemme nominate da Dante nel suo capolavoro siano da collegarsi a quei valori teologici che in epoca medievale venivano ad esse attribuiti. Infatti, contro tutta una corrente critica che ha creduto di poter spiegare l’uso dantesco delle gemme ricorrendo a fonti di carattere storico-naturale e magico-medicinale, ossia ai lapidari e ai trattati di mineralogia, cui il poeta stesso si sarebbe ispirato nella rappresentazione delle pietre preziose, Schoohoven fornisce un’interpretazione basata piuttosto su quella vasta tradizione della letteratura medievale tendente a conferire alle gemme significati religiosi e allegorici. Questa tradizione deriva dall’esegesi scritturale delle pietre preziose nominate nella Bibbia e viene trasmessa, fino a tutto l’alto Medioevo, in particolare attraverso l’Apocalisse di Giovanni, i commenti scritti su di essa e altri resoconti di rivelazioni divine. Sono queste, per Schoonhoven, le vere fonti tenute presenti da Dante-autore, il quale affida alle gemme significati teologici, esprimendo e sublimando così, attraverso il linguaggio simbolico delle pietre preziose, il percorso salvifico compiuto da Dante-personaggio.

Der Katalog erschien anlässlich der Sonderausstellung »Kunst in Miniatur – Antike Gemmen aus Bayern«, die in Kooperation zwischen der Archäologischen Staatssammlung München und dem kelten römer museum vom 24. Juli 2021 bis zum 6. Februar 2022 in Manching präsentiert wurde. +++ Der Kernbestand zu den bayerischen Fundgemmen war zuvor bereits in der Münchner Residenz und in der Burg Grünwald zu sehen. Für den Standort Manching wurde die Ausstellung aber nicht einfach übernommen, sondern vom Team des kelten römer museums noch bedeutend ausgeweitet, insbesondere um eine gänzlich neue Abteilung zum reichen Nachleben der antiken Steinschneidekunst im mittelalterlichen und neuzeitlichen Bayern. Mit dem vorliegenden Band legt das kelten römer museum nun eine umfangreiche Dokumentation der Manchinger Ausstellungserweiterung vor. +++ Zu entdecken sind beeindruckende Beispiele zur Nutzung und Herstellung antiker Gemmen, zu ihrer Wiederverwendung im kirchlichen Kontext, zum Einsatz der Glyptik für repräsentative Zwecke, zur Erforschung der Quellengattung, zur Sammelleidenschaft von Adel, Klerus und Bürgertum sowie – als »Brückenschlag« in unsere Gegenwart – faszinierende Werke eines modernen Gemmenschneiders aus Passau. Einleitend findet sich zudem ein Überblick zu den antiken Gemmen aus Bayern im Bestand der Archäologischen Staatssammlung. Für diese Objekte ist hervorzuheben, dass jeweils ihr bayerischer Fundort und zumeist sogar ihr archäologischer Kontext belegt sind. +++ Mit Beiträgen von Tobias Esch, Markus Strathaus, Harald Schulze und Aaltje Hidding · 96 Seiten · 90 Abbildungen · Softcover · ISBN 978-3-9821509-1-8 +++ Der Katalog ist im Shop des kelten römer museums zu erwerben sowie per Anfrage an [email protected] postalisch zu beziehen (Vorkasse). +++ Rezension von David Biedermann in den Geldgeschichtlichen Nachrichten 57, 2022, 240–241: https://www.academia.edu/83968954/Tobias_Esch_Hg_Die_Ideen_der_Alten_Zum_Nachleben_antiker_Steinschneidekunst_in_Bayern_Ergänzender_Katalog_zur_Sonderausstellung_Kunst_in_Miniatur_Antike_Gemmen_aus_Bayern_24_07_2021_06_02_2022

In the most important early medieval churches, gemstones were employed to decorate a number of objects. Some contexts of use (chalices, patens, crosses, reliquaries, hanging crowns, etc.), are well known; others, on the contrary, have been scarcely examined: gemstones were also used to decorate icons, textiles and stone church furnishings (such as altars and ciboria): the material evidence for these types of objects, however, is scarce and scattered, and small pieces of evidence had to be put together in order to reconstruct the overview presented in this paper. 

Material, written and iconographic sources agree in indicating that stones of blue and green colour were highly regarded, almost always combined with pearls. These items generally had a very long life: throughout the centuries they could be damaged and might need renewals, often involving the replacement of gems. In bigger cities, the repairs were almost certainly carried out locally, whereas in some other cases – as the Testament of Patriarch Fortunatus indicates – it was necessary, or preferable, to send the objects away, in order to have the work done by specialised craftsmen not available nearby. The same source – the Testament of Fortunatus – includes a small mystery concerning diamonds, for which a possible solution has been proposed.

The contemporary interpretation of the gems that decorate the church items that survive to this day is frequently based upon their symbolic meanings, related to the religious sphere and expressed in a number of written sources, from the Bible itself up to the medieval ecclesiastical texts. The interpretation of real objects according to these written sources, however, can be very problematic, as the same gemstone could have many disparate symbolic meanings, at times in the very same text. Moreover, interpreting the presence of a given gemstone on a real object with reference only to religious texts leaves out a number of relevant aspects. The production and the use of a church item involved many actors: the donor, the financers, the craftsmen and the »public«, i. e. the clergymen and the believers in the ecclesiastical building; many of these persons had no knowledge of the scholarly world of the ecclesiastical books containing the Christian symbolic meanings of the gems. The Church’s use of precious stones and metals was also related to its own self-promotion in the eyes of the faithful, being a clear indicator of its economic and political power: if unaware of the religious symbolic meanings, the believers could surely appreciate the elaborate craftsmanship of jewelled church items and decorations, which no doubt contributed to the creation of a mystical atmosphere in the church. Finally, the choice of specific types of gems was also influenced, simply, by the taste and the fashion of the period.

ÖZET Balıkesir-Dursunbey-Gügü köyü (Batı Anadolu, Türkiye) kuzeyinde yer alan dasidik, riyodasidik Neojen yaşlı volkanik kayaçların boşluklarındaki ametist oluşukları, mikroprob, IR (kızılötesi) spektrum yöntemi kullanılarak incelenmiş, ayrıca gemolojik özellikleri saptanmaya çalışılmıştır. Ametist kristalleri, ana kayacın soğuma çatlak ve boşluklarında, bakışımlı veya bakışımsız damar ve boşluk dolgusu (jeod) şeklinde, faylanmayla oluşmuş breşik zonlarda ise küresel veya yarı küresel veya kenet biçimli yer almaktadır. Açık leylak, mor ve koyu mor renkli ametist minerali yüzeyde küçük, daha derinde ise iri kristaller halindedir. Kristal boyutları 1 mm. 'den 7 cm. 'ye kadar değişmektedir. Saydam kristallere rastlanmakla birlikte, çoğunlukla bulutumsu safsızlıklar içermektedir. Al, Ca, K, Cl elementlerinin yanı sıra, iz olarak Fe, Li, Mg, Mn ve Sb elementleri bulunmaktadır. Ametist mineralinin renklenmesinde; yalnız Fe elementinin değil, Sb ve düşük radyasyonun rol oynadığı, Kalsedon ve diğer kuvars oluşumlarıyla geçişli biraradalıkları gözlenen ametist kristallerinin düşük ve orta hidrotermal koşullarda ve değişik zamanlarda oluştuğu sonucuna varılmıştır. IR spektrum ölçüm sonuçlarına göre; karakteristik pikler 455 ve 780 cm-1 , kuvvetli Si-O-Si büklüm pikleri 455 ve/veya 500 cm-1 , Si-Si gerilim pikleri 600, 710 ve 780 cm-1 , geniş Si-O gerilim piki 825 cm-1 ve geniş O-H bandı 3150 , zayıf olarak da 3650 cm-1 dalga değerlerinde bulunmaktadır. Saydam ametist kristallerinden, takıda kullanılacak özellikte faset veya kaboşon kesim yapılması; jeod ve diğer biçimli olanların ise koleksiyon minerali olarak değerlendirilmesi düşünülmelidir. ABSTRACT Where crystals of amethyst occur is studied by using the microprobe and IR(infrared) spectrum methods. They were filled in dasidic and rhyodasidic volcanic rocks Neogene aged (Gügü village-Dursunbey-Balıkesir) and their gemological features are tried to be defined at the same time. Crystals of amethyst occur as symmetric or asymmetric filling in vein and geode , hemisphere or semi-hemisphere and clamp form in the brachia zone in which they developed by faulting. Amethyst crystals, which were obtained in upper zone, are pale lilac in colour due to sunlight but purple and the darker purple in colour and the larger crystal size in the deeper zone. The crystal size of amethyst varies from 1 to 70 mm. in size. Usually it includes some cloudy inclusions .It contains as trace elements; Fe, Li, Mg, Mn and Sb besides Al, Ca, K, Cl elements. Not only Fe but also Sb element and low radiation are valid in colouring Gügü's amethyst. It is observed that amethyst with or without chalcedony and other quartz occurrences several times and hypo or mesothermal stages of hydrothermal conditions. In the IR spectrum amethyst has diagnostic peaks at 455 and 780 cm-1 , also intense Si-O-Si bending peaks are observed at 455 and/or 500 cm-1 , Si-Si streching peaks at 600, 710 and 780 cm-1 , broad Si-O stretching peak at 825 cm-1 , broad OH-band is seen at 3150 and weak band at 3650 cm-1. Transparent crystals of amethyst should be cut facet or cabochon in form for jewelry, geode or other form of amethyst should be utilized as collection mineral.

Infrared and Raman spectroscopy have become mainstream techniques in mineralogy and inorganic chemistry. These vibrational spectroscopic techniques allow the identification of different materials based on band positions in the low wavenumber region, but also the anionic groups. Recently these methods have entered the field of gemology, where it is not only used to identify gemstones, but also to obtain information about e.g. synthetic vs. natural minerals (e.g. diamond - cubic zirconia, synthetic/natural turquoise), origin, etc. Mineral pigments in paintings and old manuscripts can also be non-destructively identified by IR and Raman microscopy, fiber-optics and Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) IR spectroscopy.

Greco-Roman culture classified a great variety of gems. Authors such as
Theophrastus, Plutarch and Pliny the Elder dealt with the subject. To now which gems were most highly valued in ancient Rome, it is essential to consult book 37 of Pliny the Elder. Book 37 of Pliny’s Natural History is one of the few accounts on precious stones, gems and amber that collects information from various sources of antiquity, which in many cases have survived only thanks to Pliny’s transcription. He catalogued the most prestigious gems, and discussed their origin, their exploitation techniques, their properties and their etymology. This corpus collects a total of 240 different variants of gems, of which, in 93 cases, its place of origin is known. In order to know to what extent the words of Pliny reflect the reality of the Roman market, we have analyzed as examples ten catalogs of modern collections of gems from various places and compared them with Pliny’s comments. This analysis confirms the fact that the urban Roman elites valued precious stones extracted from the territories beyond the Roman Empire, especially those of the East. The ten catalogues contain more than 4000 different gems and glasses. It compares the information in Pliny’s book on gems with ten current catalogs of various museums, adding more than 4000 analyzed copies. Both of these sources similar results and therefore confirms the interest of the Romans for these productions.

it is unfortunate that many Filipinos have become victims to swindlers who made them believe in the "power" of live bullets....although, traditionally, only the metal canister of these bullets are being used as amulet...still, faith in God is the undisputed most powerful "charm".