ENGRAVED GEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 22, 18 April 1927, Page 5

ENGRAVED GEMS

THEIR ODD MEANINGS AND LEGENDS The art of engraving designs on precious stones belongs to antiquity. What is not so generally known is that each such design had a definite purpose, and a hidden meaning attached to it. Men and women did not burden their necks and wrists with amulets for nothing; they firmly believed in their efficacy. Women liked to have a female head engraved on amethyst among their gems; it ensured the fidelity of their loved one, whilst the same design, cut in sapphire made for the success of vengeance, provided the cause was right. Merchants’ wives often gave engraved turquoises to their husbands. The design was immaterial, but the stone itself was an augury of improved trade. Really quaint meanings were attached to some intaglios; an emerald, engraved with a serpent, guarded the wearer “from the wiles of foolish (sic?) men,” obviously by conferring wisdom on the owner. Any gem, engraved with a bird’s feather, drove away the influence of evil thoughts and the running hare was good for the same purpose. Centuries ago, sailors chose stones, engraved with a fish as “a sure and infallible protection against drowning,” and when, as frequently happened, the amulet did not prevent shipwreck, it was assumed that the stone “had not been cut by pure hands.” In olden times men who went forth travelling never failed to take some ruby trinket with them on the journey. They held that “the stone of glory” contained the virtues of 12 stones and, therefore, it guarded the wayfarer from any untoward hostility he might come across in his roamings. Great honour was extended to the wearer of that gem and he was always assured of cordial welcome wherever he went. And the stone itself was to be treated “with equal honour” and gold was its only setting. A ruby, mounted in silver, brought shame to the wearer and death to his house. Otherwise it meant life and light. “When put in a dark room, its splendour is like that of candle and equally bright is its inner virtue,”

The favourite trinket of ambassadors and special envoys to foreign courts was a large-sized ruby, with a curious design, representing a man with an apple in his hand. The amulet was supposed to win the wearer the favour of kings and princes. At the time when torrential plagues swept over Europe, wise heads recommended wearing an emerald with a lion’s paw cut on it. The charm was efficacious when “worn round the neck and out of sight.” It then brought “blissful” immunity from all “strange” diseases. Some amulets can be easily understood in our day. Thus, an olive branch, no matter on what stone it was engraved, gave peaceful thoughts to the wearer and such an intaglio, when given to a friend “barred all way to future quarrels.” The story goes that a Venetian lady of the XVth. Century, spoiling for a fight with a rival at Genoa, gave her such an amulet, but engraved so that the olive branch appeared broken in two. A violent quarrel ensued, not between the ladies, but between their respective husbands! A simple but effective cure for palpitation is to take a pinch of salt in a glass of cold water. * * * Food adhering to the sides or lid of tinned goods should never be scraped off to be eaten. Therein lies danger of ptomaine poisoning. An ordinary wire pot-mitt is excellent for getting into grooves wnich you cannot clean with a scrubbingbrush. With a little sand-soap rubbed on it, the mitt makes an efficient cleanser. Seeds may be removed from grapefruit much more quickly with a fork than with a knife. Turn the prongs of the fork toward the middle of the grape-fruit, and very few motions wifi be necessary to get every seed out. * * * When scaling fish, hold the head towards you, and you will not be troubled with the scales flying in your face. When boiling eggs, if the shells are wet thoroughly in cold water before being dropped in the boiling water they will be less likely to crack.