Hardstone Archives - Antique Boxes https://antique-boxes.com/information/hardstone/ Information and Price Guide to Antique Boxes Sun, 21 Jun 2020 16:55:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 Moss Agate https://antique-boxes.com/moss-agate/ Sun, 18 Mar 2018 12:44:07 +0000 http://antique-boxes.com/?p=540 Despite it’s name, Moss Agate is actually a form of Chalcedony and not a true agate.  It is recognizable from it’s patterns which resemble moss and landscapes. Moss agate is a translucent…

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]]> Despite it’s name, Moss Agate is actually a form of Chalcedony and not a true agate.  It is recognizable from it’s patterns which resemble moss and landscapes. Moss agate is a translucent to white stone that has green streaks and inclusions; each Moss Agate is unique with many different tones of green and some with more or less inclusions. Reference: AC Silver

A moss agate, diamond and ruby box A Victorian silver snuff box of shaped outline, the lid inset with moss agate, A GEORGE II GOLD-MOUNTED HARDSTONE SNUFF-BOX An Ornate Gold Cagework & Agate Egg-Form Pendant/Box A gold-mounted hardstone snuff box Circular gold box, set with 77 numbered specimens of stone

 

 

 

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]]> 540 Lapis Lazuli https://antique-boxes.com/lapis-lazuli/ Sun, 18 Mar 2018 09:42:22 +0000 http://antique-boxes.com/?p=531 Lapis Lazuli has been highly regarded since neolithic times. It was used to make beads and seals. The ancient Egyptians often used this stone to make amulets and scarabs as…

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]]> Lapis Lazuli has been highly regarded since neolithic times. It was used to make beads and seals. The ancient Egyptians often used this stone to make amulets and scarabs as well as jewellery. It was often mixed with turquoise and gold.

Below are some examples of later lapis lazuli boxes. It was often used alongside precious metals and other gemstones. Considering it’s rich colour, it is not surprising that many imperial pieces used this semi-precious gemstone.

Large Lapis Lazuli Presentation Box A LOUIS XV ENAMELLED VARI-COLOUR GOLD SNUFF-BOX 20TH CENTURY CONTINENTAL SILVER AND LAPIS LAZULI BOX Leaf shaped box with multi-gemstones American silver, gold and lapis lazuli box, Edward F. Caldwell Circular, gold-mounted hardstone bonbonniere

 

 

 

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]]> 531 Jade https://antique-boxes.com/jade/ Sat, 17 Mar 2018 17:42:14 +0000 http://antique-boxes.com/?p=516 Information and images of jade boxes. Jade is an ornamental mineral, mostly known for its green varieties, which feature prominently in ancient Asian art.

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]]> Jade is an ornamental mineral, mostly known for its green varieties, which feature prominently in ancient Asian art. The term jade is applied to two different minerals that are composed of different silicate compounds:

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Nephrite consists of a microcrystalline interlocking fibrous matrix of the calcium, magnesium-iron rich amphibole mineral series tremolite (calcium-magnesium)-ferroactinolite (calcium-magnesium-iron). The middle member of this series with an intermediate composition is called actinolite (the silky fibrous mineral form is one form of asbestos). The higher the iron content, the greener the colour.

Jadeite is a sodium- and aluminium-rich pyroxene. The precious form of jadeite jade is a microcrystalline interlocking growth of jadeite crystals.

Pale green jade box A Chinese pale celadon jade box and cover Open-work jade box with separate close-fitting cover, heart-shaped A WHITE JADE FINGER-CITRON-FORM BOX AND COVER A Faberge-Style 14K Vari-Color Gold, Diamond, Spinach Jade Box Chinese White Jade Covered Box Indian nephrite jade box with gold, silver, and stone inlays A CELADON AND RUSSET JADE BOX AND COVER Box in the shape of a goose with its head resting on its body

 

 

 

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]]> 516 Malachite https://antique-boxes.com/malachite/ Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:04:43 +0000 https://www.antique-boxes.com/?p=467 Malachite has often been used for decorative purposes, such as in the Malachite Room in the Hermitage, which features a huge malachite vase, and the Malachite Room in Castillo de…

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]]> Malachite has often been used for decorative purposes, such as in the Malachite Room in the Hermitage, which features a huge malachite vase, and the Malachite Room in Castillo de Chapultepec in Mexico City. “The Tazza”, a large malachite vase, one of the largest pieces of malachite in North America and a gift from Tsar Nicholas II, stands as the focal point in the center of the room of Linda Hall Library. Reference: Wikipedia

A gilt bronze and hardstone mounted malachite veneered table box A GEORGE IV GOLD AND HARDSTONE SNUFF-BOX Malachite Veneered Onyx Box AN ORMOLU MOUNTED VENEERED MALACHITE BOX A Gold and Numbered Specimen Hardstone Snuff Box, RUSSIAN MALACHITE AND BRONZE BOX

 

 

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