Semi-precious

The term “semi precious” is applied to a subset gemstones, and the term was created to set them apart from what are considered precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds). Things like amber and lapis lazuli, which are not really stones at all are still considered “semi precious” by most people. This distinction reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times, as well as their quality. all are translucent with fine color in their purest forms and very hard. This distinction is not related to their monetary value, i.e. some forms of garnet are more expensive than emeralds.

Objects: Semi-precious Export: JSON - XML - CSV Clay Seals and Sealings

U Number	Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number)	Museum Number (BM Registration Number)	Museum Number (UPM B-number)	Description (Catalog Card)
16117	31-43-66	(none)	(none)	Stamp seal. Mauve chalcedony(?) Concial-suspended by copper wire. Roughly engraved with figure of a man. [drawing]
16122	31-43-50	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Banquet scene, 2 seated figures drinking from a common cup out of tubes. Behind one of them a standing figure. Poor cutting.
16653	31-43-154	(none)	(none)	Flat amethyst seal, and 5 carnelian beads.
16656	31-43-62	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal, carnelian. 2 bird-like beasts and star.
16704	31-43-42	(none)	(none)	Fragment. Cylinder seal. hematite. Presentation scene; Standing god and 2 standing figures approaching. Crescent moon and star.
16709	31-43-44	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Black hematite. Nude female standing; god in long skirt, right foot tree and poised on a low stool, raises hand in greeting to a standing warrior who is clad in a short tunic.
16743	31-43-46	(none)	(none)	Quartz cylinder. Unengraved. Unpierced. cf. U. 16606. [drawing 1:1]
17251	31-43-43	(none)	(none)	Cylinder Seal [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card]
17315	31-43-45	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Hematite. Black. Cut down. Three standing figures, an animal, crescent moon. Two wedge like signs.
17318	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Limestone. Grey. Tree and criss cross decoration.
17715	32-40-322	(none)	(none)	Seal. Persian type. Chalcedone. Pierced for threading, engraved lines on face [drawing 1:1].
17806C	(none)	(none)	(none)	Groups: From one burial. (A) Gold fillet, of narrow thin ribbon, twisted. (B) [B.1-.2] A pair of gold earrings, each consisting of two complete earrings intertwined, of the small hollow lunate type: in each case, one earring is fatter than the other: D.'s 15mm and 13mm respectively. One hoop is broken. (C) Cylinder seal, lapis lazuli, standing, human figures roughly cut. (D) Gold finger ring, hollow tube pressed in along the periphery thus [drawing]. (E) Beads: gold and carnelian, lapis and silver diamonds: gold and carnelian barrels and double conoids; mixed types, large lentoids, bugles, balls and double conoids of carnelian, agate, lapis. For order see field notes.
18155	32-40-327	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Pale amethyst. Warrior in chariot shooting with bow and arrow: a fallen enemy beneath the horse's hooves. Poor cutting.
18218	33-35-171	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Carnelian. Broken and incomplete. [drawing] Conventional design.
18284	33-35-170	(none)	(none)	Stamp seal. Facetted conical: chalcedony. Persian type. Two standing figures worshipping before an altar: crescent above.
18365	33-35-176	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 3 standing figures.
18457	33-35-178	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Milky crystal. Geometrical (?) designs in 2 registers.
18914	35-1-6	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two registers: above, two heroes each fighting with two beasts below, seated and standing figures.
18919	35-1-22, 35-1-22	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Green steatite (?) with copper caps. Two standing gods shaking hands: two men killing a kneeling prisoner: two columns of inscription supported by an animal. Good work.
18922	35-1-16	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Black steatite. A god driving a chariot drawn by a winged gryphon(?); between the wings rises a goddess armed with a bow, in front of it is another god. One column of inscription. Inscription: Ur-gis-me-e (C.J.G.)
18974	35-1-9, 35-1-9	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Dark green steatite. One seated and three standing figures: two columns of inscription. Inscription: Lugal-ma (C.J.G.)
18981	35-1-21	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Green stone. 2 heroes fighting lions.
18994	35-1-14	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two hunters fighting a lion.
19075	35-1-7	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two registers: in each, a row of animals, the rows inverted.
775	(none)	(none)	B15248	Carnelian cylinder seal. Archer in chariot driving rt. shoots at kneeling archer l. Late style with a good deal of drill point work, but not bad. ? 8th century.