Hardstone

Information on hardstone boxes including general information on the different types of hardstones.

Antique hardstone boxes can be plain or carved with intricate and delicate designs. Hardstone can also be inlaid into marble and other substances. Hardstone is a term which is used to define semi-precious stones which are often used in jewellery and other decorative arts.
The definition of “hardstone” is not very rigid, but excludes “soft” stones such as soapstone (steatite) and minerals such as alabaster, both widely used for carving. Hard organic minerals such as amber and jet are included, as well as the mineraloid obsidian. Geologically speaking, most of the gemstones carved in the West are varieties of quartz, including: chalcedony, agate, amethyst, sard, onyx, carnelion, heliotrope, jasper and quartz in its uncoloured form, known as rock crystal. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, quartz rates no higher than a 7, less for types with impurities. Stones typically used for buildings and large sculpture are not often used for small objects such as vessels, although this does occur.  Reference: Wikipedia

Antique hardstone boxes are excellent items for collecting and can cater for all budgets and tastes. They take up limited space and have a wide variety of types.