corundum, Sri Lanka.12, gems

An annotated translation of the continuation of the Mahavamsa, providing a historical source for the political, religious and material culture of Sri Lanka. Wilhelm Geiger translated the Pali text into German, from which C. Mabel Rickmers prepared the English version. For gemological history, the chronicle contains references to the production, circulation and use of precious stones and pearls, particularly in royal regalia, Buddhist images, reliquaries and religious offerings. Geiger identifies the gem-producing district mentioned in connection with Parakramabahu’s preparations for war with the region of present-day Ratnapura. The account describes the dispatch and sale of precious stones to increase financial resources, linking gems directly with state revenue and military expenditure. Other passages concern pearl-producing coastal districts and the acquisition of pearls during campaigns. Crystal caskets housed sacred relics, while sapphires and other stones embellished religious images. Jewels also functioned as symbols of sovereignty: possession or loss of royal ornaments, including a single-strand pearl necklace, could signify possession or impairment of royal authority. The chronicle repeatedly describes the dedication of gems and pearls to the Tooth Relic and other sacred objects, alongside their seizure during political upheavals. A particularly detailed account concerns the golden Tooth Relic casket completed under Kirti Sri Rajasinha. The translation records a large diamond at its summit, 168 smaller diamonds, 171 stones rendered as topazes, 585 blue sapphires, 4,880 rubies and 778 pearls. These identifications require attention to Geiger’s accompanying linguistic notes: the expressions translated as sapphire and ruby literally designate blue and red gems, while the term rendered as topaz is discussed through its association with flower color. Elsewhere, his commentary considers alternative meanings of gem-related vocabulary, demonstrating the uncertainty involved in assigning modern mineral names to historical terms. Geiger’s introductions and annotations also address chronology, geographical identifications, textual variants and the reliability of the monastic narrative. The work consequently supplies evidence for the economic, ceremonial and symbolic importance of gems in Sri Lankan history, while its terminology and religious perspective require critical interpretation when reconstructing specific materials or events.

gems, ancient texts, Greek, Greece, ancient geography

Aulus Gellius’ Noctes Atticae (Attic Nights), written in the second century AD, is a miscellany of observations and extracts from Greek and Roman authors assembled from notes made during Gellius’ studies and travels. The work preserves information from many ancient writings that are now lost and ranges widely over philosophy, history, law, language, medicine, natural history, mathematics, and antiquarian lore. Vol. 1 of the Loeb edition contains Books 1–5, with the Latin text and English translation on facing pages. Of gemological interest are passages reflecting ancient beliefs about stones and other natural substances and, more broadly, the methods by which Greek and Roman writers described and explained unusual natural phenomena. Gellius frequently quotes or discusses earlier authorities, making the work valuable for tracing the transmission of classical scientific and mineralogical traditions as well as for preserving fragments of otherwise lost authors. This Loeb edition was translated by John C. Rolfe.

corundum, Burma.12, Sri Lanka.12, gems, quality.10, gems

Handsome promotional booklet by a New York gem merchant who achieved considerable fame for his travels into remote places to look for gem rough. Describes his adventures seeking opal in Australia, sapphire in Indo-China and Burma, rubies in Burma, star sapphires and other gemstones in Ceylon, and emerald in Colombia. Remaining material is standard gemological fare. A so-called “second” edition, so identified on the final page of text, was “produced by Gem Creations Pub. Co. 36 West 47th Street New York” and is an identical reprint but bound in dark blue morocco-like cloth and bright yellow panels in the text. It is by far the more commonly encountered version.

gems, early lapidaries, early gemology, early mineralogy

Wellmann reexamines the origins of the Pseudo-Aristotelian De lapidibus, building upon V. Rose’s 1875 study and Julius Ruska’s 1912 publication of the Arabic text of Parisinus 2772. He accepts Ruska’s demonstration that the work originated not in Byzantium but in Syria before the middle of the ninth century, but argues more specifically that the stone book was originally not an independent work but part of a larger natural-scientific compilation concerned with the occult properties of stones, metals, animals, and plants and ultimately rooted in the Alexandrian tradition of sympathy, antipathy, magic, and talismanic lore associated particularly with Bolos Demokritos and later Neopythagorean literature. [79] Wellmann identifies a surviving companion to the stone book in the Syriac Buch der Naturgegenstände (Book of Natural Objects), published in German translation by K. Ahrens in 1892. This work, also attributed pseudonymously to Aristotle, treats animals and was subsequently used by Arabic writers including Bar-Bahlul, al-Damīrī, and Qazwīnī. Wellmann argues from similarities of title, organization, and content that it and De lapidibus originally constituted portions of the same work. [80] Further evidence comes from a pharmacological work associated with Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq, which draws independently upon both the Aristotelian stone book—including passages concerning the eagle-stone, diamond, and Indian stone—and the Buch der Naturgegenstände. [81] Wellmann regards the parallel accounts of pearl formation in the two traditions as decisive evidence for their common origin; the greater elaboration of the surviving De lapidibus is attributed to later additions and interpolations. Since Ḥunayn (d. 873) used an Arabic translation that must postdate the foundation of Baghdad in 763, while the latest source incorporated into the Syriac compilation dates to about 550, Wellmann concludes that the Syriac original from which the Pseudo-Aristotelian stone book ultimately derives was probably composed around 600 AD. [82]

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, Pre-Columbian jade; Costa Rica; Maya; exchange; iconography, lapidary, turquoise

Sinkankas: The most thorough study made on this aspect of lapidary art among the pre-Columbian Indians is by E. Carmichael (1970), although see also the smaller work by the same author. There are several excellent colour plates and high-quality black-and-white photographic plates that show a number of inlaid objects in good detail. The historical data were extracted from early Spanish accounts. The text discusses possible sources of turquoise and describes important objects still preserved in museums around the world. An excellent description of Mexican lapidary work appears on pages 29–39. Very scarce.

gems, corundum, Montana.12, USA.12, pearls, gem dictionary, glossary

An annual review of the United States gem and precious-stone industry for 1917, followed by an extensive glossary of gemological nomenclature. Domestic production was valued at $131,012, a sharp decline from 1916 and, except for 1914, the lowest annual value since 1897. Corundum, quartz, turquoise, and tourmaline together accounted for 83% of production, with Montana leading chiefly through sapphire, followed by Nevada and California. Imports of precious stones excluding pearls were valued at $34.85 million. Most of the paper is devoted to a two-part dictionary of gem names: first identifying the mineral species represented by hundreds of commercial, historical, and local names, and then listing the corresponding names under their correct mineral species. Schaller strongly criticizes misleading trade names such as “Alaska diamond” for quartz and “Arizona ruby” for garnet, emphasizing that such terminology obscures the true mineralogical identity of gemstones. The glossary is particularly valuable as a contemporary record of early twentieth-century gem nomenclature, including numerous obsolete, regional, and deceptive commercial names.

gems, history of gemology, gem prices

Juvenal and Persius, with an English translation by G. G. Ramsay (1918; reprinted 1924), in 499 bookmarked and searchable pdf pages. Loeb Classical Library volume L91N. Wikipedia has entries on both Roman satirists: Juvenal (60-140 A.D.) and Persius (34-62 A.D.). Juvenal's satires, in particular, have his observations of Roman life, sexual mores, women, homosexuality, literary patrons, aristocrats, along with many occasional remarks of historical importance about Rome's endless wars and scandals.

gems, Ceylon, Sri Lanka, Roman Empire, trade, navigation

Schoff examines maritime communication between the Mediterranean, India, Ceylon, Southeast Asia and China during the Roman Empire, arguing that trade expanded greatly between the first and third centuries CE through exploitation of the seasonal monsoon winds. He reconstructs the sea routes from Egypt through the Red Sea to southern India and Ceylon and onward across the Bay of Bengal, comparing Graeco-Roman accounts with Indian literature, coinage and Chinese records. Ceylon appears as an important link in this maritime network, connecting western commerce with routes extending farther east. Of gemological interest, Schoff notes that gold, silver and precious stones came from Yunnan and describes Indian literary evidence for an active jewelry trade in which craftsmen examined pearls, topazes, sapphires, beryls, rubies, lapis lazuli and coral, set rubies in gold, strung pearls and cut lapis lazuli. He concludes that Roman ships regularly reached the Tamil kingdoms and Ceylon, but voyages by Roman vessels into the Bay of Bengal and China Sea were exceptionally rare; much Roman geographical knowledge of the Far East therefore depended on hearsay transmitted through Indian and other Asian mariners.

corundum, Burma.12, gems

Reviews reported production and trade in Burmese fei cui, ruby, sapphire and spinel during 1915, comparing quantities and values with those recorded for 1914. Hayden states that the decline previously observed in the fei cui industry continued and notes discrepancies between production and export returns. He considers export figures more likely to indicate the industry’s true condition. The production table records 3,692.75 hundredweight of fei cui from Myitkyina, valued at £12,678, compared with 3,764.75 hundredweight valued at £13,643 in 1914. Recorded sea exports from Burma nevertheless increased from 2,959 hundredweight valued at £40,092 in 1914 to 5,001 hundredweight valued at £52,070 in 1915. Thus, the tabulated export quantity and value rose despite the author’s assessment of continuing industrial decline, while reported production decreased slightly in quantity and more substantially in value. The distinction between extraction returns and export statistics is therefore important when interpreting the account. For ruby, sapphire and spinel, the report documents a combined reduction of approximately 50,000 carats in the output of the Burma Ruby Mines. The detailed Mogok figures show total production falling from 304,872 carats valued at £43,133 in 1914 to 251,449 carats valued at £36,298 in 1915. Ruby output declined from 193,333 to 167,904 carats, with its reported value falling from £40,781 to £34,881. Sapphire production decreased from 56,709 to 39,718 carats, and its value from £2,052 to £1,276. Spinel output fell from 54,830 to 43,827 carats, while its value decreased from £300 to £141. All three gemstone categories consequently registered lower quantities and lower total values. Ruby remained overwhelmingly dominant in the combined valuation, whereas sapphire and spinel represented substantial quantities but comparatively small monetary contributions. These sections provide a concise statistical account of the gemstone industries within the broader annual review of mineral production, emphasizing year-to-year commercial changes and the limitations of the available returns rather than describing mining methods, geological occurrences or gemological properties.

gems, jade, jadeite, fei cui, Mesoamerica, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mayans, Olmecs, Aztecs, archaeology, history, archaeogemology, Pre-Columbian jade; Costa Rica; Maya; exchange; iconography, lapidary

The study of Maya art, here presented, is based upon a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy submitted May 1, 1909, at Harvard University. While the matter has expanded greatly under further study, the thesis as presented contained an exposition of the chronological sequence of the monuments, which the writer considers the most noteworthy contribution, as well as chapters on the analysis of the designs and the principles of the architecture. It was thought wise to present the portion relating to the historical development of art at Copán before the Congress of Americanists at Mexico City in September 1910; otherwise the subject matter has not been given to the public. The attempt has been made to be precise and exoteric in the discussion of this most involved subject. It is with gratitude that the writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the many persons who have aided and encouraged him in this work. The inception of this research took place in Anthropology 9, a course on Mexican and Central American archaeology offered at Harvard University by Dr. A. M. Tozzer. Its continuance has been largely due to the support and cooperation of the small band of students of Maya culture headed by Mr. C. P. Bowditch. Thanks are also due to Mrs. Zelia Nuttall of Mexico City, to Mr. E. H. Thompson of Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, and to Mrs. W. M. James of Mérida, Yucatán, as well as to many other persons in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. In the revision of the manuscript the writer received valued assistance from Dr. Tozzer. For the revision of the proof he is indebted to Professor Putnam and to Miss Mead, and to the latter also for the preparation of the index. Mr. C. C. Willoughby has given his kind attention to the preparation of the plates and to the making of the blocks for the illustrations in the text. The map of the region covered by the Maya civilization was drawn by Mr. L. M. Hendrick, Jr., according to data compiled from several sources. Since his connection with the American Museum of Natural History, the writer has been greatly indebted to his superiors in the Museum, who have done everything in their power to further his labours in this field.