THE HISTORY OF A TOPAZ.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 November 1867, Page 290

THE HISTORY OF A TOPAZ.

Among- the wonders visible at the Paris Exhibition is an enormous Brazilian topaz, weighing 4 pounds 9 ounces and 206 grains, troy. The history attached to it is curious. It was bought in a rough state by the Neapolitan Government under Ferdinand 1., who concieved the idea of getting the figure of Christ eat upon it. The work was entrusted to three eminent Neapolitan artists, MM. Rega, Guaccherini, and Catenacci. They laboured at it for twelve years, at the end of which time the the cost of cutting had risen to about $2,000, and there was no foreseeing when it would be finished, the difficulty of execution having led to a difference of opinion among the artists entrusted with the work. The topaz was then handed over to M. Andre Carriello, a sculptor, and director of the mint at Naples, and a Commission was appointed to examine the work done. The report of this Commission stated that the whole original plan must be completely changed, whereby the stone would have to be reduced in thickness one-fifth of an inch. The plan was adopted. M. Carriello began the work over again according to a new design proposed by the sculptor, M. Liberti, and modified by M. Carriello himself. Eight years were spent in this new enterprise, for the work of cutting such hard substances can only be effected by very thin wheels and diamond dust. This time, however, the work is finished, and is remarkable both for the beauty oi the execution and the excellence of the design.