Precious Stones: Their History and Mystery

Nine chapters on what people have believed about jewels — the charms and the poisons, the chaplet of pearls, the ecclesiastical treasuries, and the great robberies they invited.

Decorations

33 pages in this part of History and Mystery of Precious Stones.

Decorations

THE wearing of jewels, and their adaptation to various articles of costume, dates from the most ancient times. I can but briefly allude to…

Decorations: Richard

Chains and collars were evidently favourite decorations in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries, in our own country. At the…

Decorations: George

In former times the GARTERS of the sovereign's order of knighthood were usually enriched with jewels. This is confirmed by the will of the…

Decorations: Charles

Among the jewels of King Charles I. which were sold were, "a George, containing 161 diamonds, pound 71 2s.; a George cut in onyx, with 41…

Decorations: Ear-rings

No custom is more ancient or more universal than that of wearing EAR-RINGS. Among the Hebrews their use appears to have been confined to…

Decorations: Roman

The extravagance of the Greek and Roman ladies for ear-rings almost exceeds belief. Pliny says, "They seek for pearls at the bottom of the…

Decorations: Saxon

Brooches, ring-shaped, were worn from times of remote antiquity, and are found among Etruscan and Roman remains; also in Saxon places of…

Decorations: Chaucer

Chaucer, in "Troilus and Creseida," says:-- "A broche of gold and azure, In which a ruby set was like an herte, Creseide him gave, and…

Decorations: Henry

GLOVES do not appear to have been worn by either sex before the eleventh century. Jewelled gloves formed part of the regal habit of the…

Decorations: James

In a curious letter in the British Museum from James I. to his son and favourite Buckingham, when at Madrid in 1623, there is an allusion…

Decorations: Pope

The Duke de Valentinois, son of Pope Alexander VI., visited, in 1498, Louis XII. of France. Brantome informs us that the duke's robe of red…

Decorations: Elizabeth

The shoes of Charlemagne, preserved in the Imperial Treasury of Vienna, are richly ornamented, and studded with pearls and precious stones…

Decorations: French

Shoulder-Knots were bunches of ribbon or lace, first worn in the time of Charles II. They were frequently enriched with precious stones…

Decorations: China

The practice of carrying fans in official processions, as insignia of honour and power in China, is of great antiquity, and in early ages…

Decorations: Amadis

Edward the Confessor is described as wearing a mantle or cloak of velvet, embroidered in gold, ornamented with precious stones, and lined…

Decorations: Siam

A portrait of Mary Queen of Scots, in the possession of the Baroness Braye, represents her palfrey as trapped with purple velvet, and cut…

Decorations: Burmese

An account of the jewel-decorated carriage of a Burmese sovereign, captured by the English in 1825 at Tavoy, a seaport in the Burmese…

Decorations: Jewels

Jewels were among the principal objects introduced into Egypt from Arabia and India. The mines of their own desert did, indeed, supply…

Decorations: Zenobia

The chief fame and historical interest of this city of the desert, are derived from the genius and heroism of Zenobia, whose dominions…

Decorations: Precious

Seldom are toys and jewels mentioned by Homer, but with this additional circumstance, that they were either of Sidonian workmanship, or…

Decorations: Alfred

Asser tells us that King Alfred sent rich presents to the inhabitants of the Indian peninsula, and received from them jewels of…

Decorations: Crusades

The Crusades had a great influence on art and luxury by the introduction from the East of many precious objects. The Roman style of…

Decorations: Paris

In the thirteenth century the commerce of precious stones was almost exclusively in the hands of the Jews, but it was difficult to prevent…

Decorations: Philip

In the fifteenth century, the Dukes of Burgundy were conspicuous for their sumptuous state. The court of Philip the Good exceeded in riches…

Decorations: Swiss

Charles the Rash, the last Duke of Burgundy of his race, was also prodigal in the display of his enormous wealth, but, restless and…

Decorations: Jeanne

The body of the duke, crushed and disfigured, was recognized after the battle, by his ring, which bore a precious stone of great richness…

Decorations: Navarre

When, about twenty years later, she occupied, as Queen of Navarre, with her husband, Antoine de Navarre, the Castle of Pau, we are told of…

Decorations: John

The jewels of an English lady in the sixteenth century are shown in an "Inventory of the Money and Jewels of Anne, Dutches of Somerset…

Decorations: Esterhazy

The famous Esterhazy jewels which remained in that princely house for three-quarters of a century, were among the wonders of the age. It…

Decorations: Algiers

Mr. St. John, consul to the last Dey of Algiers, describes a visit he paid to the treasury of this potentate, just before the taking of…

Decorations: Star

In Rousselet's "India, and its Native Princes," we find a description of the ex-Guicowar of Baroda. He was mounted on a superb elephant…

Decorations: India

During the visit of the Prince of Wales to India the display of jewel decorations by the native princes was extraordinary. Sir Jung…

Decorations: Shah

Notwithstanding these jewelled riches of Turkey, however, they are surpassed by the splendour of the Shah of Persia's treasury, the…

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