Persian turquoise was brought to Europe via Turkey, around the 13th century. The gemstone was sold in Turkish markets and purchased by Venice merchants that brought the stone to Europe. The French recipients of the gemstone called it "pierre turquoise" or "Turkish stone".
The first known use of turquoise dates 5000 B.C. in Iraq, where beads have been found. Turquoise is Iran's national gemstone. It has been used to decorate thrones, daggers, bowls, cups, horse tack, ornamental objects and clothing decorations for high officials. Turquoise was very significant to Tibetans. The ancient Greeks and Romans engraved turquoise for ring stones, pendants and carved it into beads. Turquoise became more important during the Middles Ages for decorating covers of manuscripts. Turquoise became very popular during the Renaissance, when turquoise was frequently used in men's rings. The Incas carved turquoise beads, statues and made turquoise inlays.
The Aztecs used turquoise for inlaid pendants and rings. In the US, the Zuni, Hopi, Pueblo and the Navajo all made necklaces, earrings and rings. In Northern New Mexico, turquoise beads and pendants have been found in burial sites.
Turquoise is considered to be the first stone mined. Turquoise was the first stone that appears to have been duplicated. Soapstone was found colored with a blue and green glaze from 3100 B.C. Egyptian turquoise beads have been dated back to 4000 B.C.
In Iran, it was believed that if one could see the reflection of a new moon on a turquoise that the person was certain to have good luck and be protected from evil. The Hindus believed that if an individual looked at a new moon, and then looked at turquoise they would be rewarded with great wealth to follow. The Navajos believed that a throwing a piece of turquoise in the river, while praying to rain gods, that rain would bless them. The Apache believed that attaching turquoise to a weapon would improve their accuracy. In the thirteenth century, the belief that turquoise would protect its owner from falling was recorded.
Opal
The Aborigines (native people of Australia) believe that ancestors to mark their presence left behind the opal. Some groups feel that Opals brought them fire. One local legend suggests that Muda, in the form of a pelican created Cooper's creek. He died where the opals are found and the fish in his pouch turned into opals.
Emerald
Emeralds were considered to be healing in the distant past. Legend has it that in the 3rd century, emeralds were used to rest the eyes and to make snakes go blind. In Arabia, it was thought that emeralds would melt the dissolve a snake's eyes. Other uses of emeralds were to cure dysentery, stomach troubles and even diabetes.
It was thought that the Holy Grail was carved from an emerald that fell from Satan's crown. The Incas and Aztecs thought the emerald was a holy stone. It has even been suggested that emeralds would provide royal ancestry to commoners.
Sugilite
Sugilite is a beautiful purple gemstone that is used in quality Jewelry and for its metaphysical powers.
Sugilite was named after the Japanese geologist, Ken-ichi Sugi, who found the first specimens of this gemstone in 1944. Sugilite runs from a light bright purple to a deep dark purple and often contains reddish brown or yellowish blotches and it runs in manganese which is a hard black material. Sugilite measures between 5.5 to 7 on the Mohs Scale.
The Wessels mine in northern Cape Province of South Africa has produced the largest deposits of Sugilite, Sugilite has become hard to find and it is desirable by collectors as well as holistic minded people for its metaphysical powers. Gem grade (Gel) Sugilite is beautifully translucent and is the most valuable.
Sugilite is a fairly new gemstone that is rare! It is found in large deposits which lends itself well to the Jewelry industry. Southwestern Jewelers like to set it with other types of gemstones such as Turquoise, Malachite, Spiny Oyster and various Corals which creates very dynamic Jewelry that is exceptionally beautiful.
Metaphysical Powers of Sugilite
Sugilite enhances spiritual awareness, promotes channeling ability and teaches to believe in our sixth sense, or intuition. Sugilite encourages positive thoughts and it alleviates sorrow, grief and fear.
Sugilite is a powerful stone to have around you. It opens the heart chakras and brings them into alignment with the flow of love. It naturally facilitates physical and emotional healing. It is known for creating harmony and opening spiritual energy and growth within. Sugilite is associated with the third eye and crown chakras. it strengthens spirituality, psychic ability and channeling. It lowers hostility, anger, jealousy and prejudice and gives a sense of freedom. Psychically, it is excellent for all kinds of psychic and spiritual protection.
The combination of Sugilite and manganese is excellent for ridding a headache, lay it on your brow and visualize the headache being drained out.
Rough diamond
For example, Pliny devoted 5 entire volumes of his work Naturalis Historia (77 AD) to the classification of "earths, metals, stones, and gems". He not only describes many minerals not known to Theophrastus, but discusses their applications and properties. He is the first to correctly recognise the origin of amber for example, as the fossilized remnant of tree resin from the observation of insects trapped in some samples.
He laid the basis of crystallography by discussing crystal habit, especially the octahedral shape of diamond. His discussion of mining methods is unrivalled in the ancient world, and includes, for example, an eye-witness account of gold mining in northern Spain, an account which is fully confirmed by modern research.
However, before the more definitive foundational works on mineralogy in the 16th century, the ancients recognized no more than roughly 350 minerals to list and describe.
René Lalique - Ornamental Corset "Scarabées" laying in the middle
and pending reproductions of beetles, and, at the extremes, two women-insect with wings instead of arms.
In gold, enamel, diamond and chrysoprase - Paris, 1889.
Tiffany - Ornamental corset shaped iris in full size.
In the flower are set 139 Montana sapphires, garnets Demantoid,
topaz and diamonds.
Presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900,
purchased by tycoon and collector Henry Walters. - Baltimore
------------------------------- © 2010, Красимир Куртев - Алеф автор, All rights reserved!
