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

U Number	Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number)	Museum Number (BM Registration Number)	Museum Number (UPM B-number)	Description (Catalog Card)
6782	(none)	(none)	B16228	Head of Ningal? Alabaster. White. Eyes inlaid in lapis lazuli. E. [illegible, possibly resinous] cast in BM 118564.
499	(none)	(none)	B16199	Carnelian seal-stone, shaped as U.486. Subject, couchant sphinx. Strung up on U.500 E [drawing]
1507	(none)	(none)	B15731	Stone weight. Mottled black stone. Like U.1506 (more elongated). Type II. P. [Philadelphia]
(none)	(none)	(none)	B15583	(none)
1054	(none)	(none)	B15276	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Very small.
500B	(none)	(none)	B15268	A quantity of beads in different varieties of stone and of different shapes, all found together and in confusion (see notes) with U.456 and other metal objects now restrung and composed into the following strins:- (1260 beads in all) - (A) 44 carnelian beads [drawing], 10 malachite beads, ball or scaraboid, and plain machite cylinder. (B) 36 beads, lentoids of banded agate, banded agate discoids, and small cat's eyes. (C) 60 carnelian [drawing], 8 banded agate lentoids, 4 large ovoids, flat, of chalcedony, amethystine quartz and agate. (D) 90 carnelian spheroids, 12 banded agate lentoids, discoids and lentoids of amethystine quartz and malachite, large, 6 in all. (E) 24 carnelian bugles or barrels, 30 carnelian [drawing], 2 ditto discoids, flat, 2 oblong agate plaques, and U.499 strung on as centerpiece. (F) 72 carnelian speroids and two double cat's eyes, strung as a double bracelet. (G) Amethyst, 24 [drawing], and 2 cylinders. (H) Carnelian: 44 lentoids, 1 bugle with separate caps, 1 bugle with acid whitened pattern and 2 pendants. (J) Carnelian: 12 scaraboids, 12 lentoids and 48 small spheroids (K) Bone pendant, jasper cone-topped ovoid, spacers of chalcedony, carnelian, sardonyx, cat's eye, jadeite, lapis and banded agate and paste, 22 in all, 6 carnelian bugles and small carnelians, in all 206. (L) 38 carnelian spheroids of [drawing], 8 lentoids of banded agate, 1 ditto cylinder, 1 sardonyx cylinder, 8 ovoids flattened of chalcedony and agate and one imitation cat's eye in chalcedony and carnelian. (M) 108 spacers of carnelian [drawing], 35 agate lentoids, 1 large ball carnelian. (N) 90 carnelian spacers [drawing] or spheroid, 15 barrel or lentoids of banded agate or sardonyx, 2 agate cone-topped flat ovoids and 1 cat's eye disk (O) 20 lentoids or barrels of banded agate, 13 ditto ball beads and 2 humped-back ditto. (P) 67 carnelian beads [drawing] and 66 lapis lazuli beads of varying types.
907A	(none)	(none)	B15267	Beads, (A) string of made up from odd beads collected in the course of the dig. 48 carnelian and agate (B) 23 mixed large stone beads.
500A	(none)	(none)	B15266	A quantity of beads in different varieties of stone and of different shapes, all found together and in confusion (see notes) with U.456 and other metal objects now restrung and composed into the following strins:- (1260 beads in all) - (A) 44 carnelian beads [drawing], 10 malachite beads, ball or scaraboid, and plain machite cylinder. (B) 36 beads, lentoids of banded agate, banded agate discoids, and small cat's eyes. (C) 60 carnelian [drawing], 8 banded agate lentoids, 4 large ovoids, flat, of chalcedony, amethystine quartz and agate. (D) 90 carnelian spheroids, 12 banded agate lentoids, discoids and lentoids of amethystine quartz and malachite, large, 6 in all. (E) 24 carnelian bugles or barrels, 30 carnelian [drawing], 2 ditto discoids, flat, 2 oblong agate plaques, and U.499 strung on as centerpiece. (F) 72 carnelian speroids and two double cat's eyes, strung as a double bracelet. (G) Amethyst, 24 [drawing], and 2 cylinders. (H) Carnelian: 44 lentoids, 1 bugle with separate caps, 1 bugle with acid whitened pattern and 2 pendants. (J) Carnelian: 12 scaraboids, 12 lentoids and 48 small spheroids (K) Bone pendant, jasper cone-topped ovoid, spacers of chalcedony, carnelian, sardonyx, cat's eye, jadeite, lapis and banded agate and paste, 22 in all, 6 carnelian bugles and small carnelians, in all 206. (L) 38 carnelian spheroids of [drawing], 8 lentoids of banded agate, 1 ditto cylinder, 1 sardonyx cylinder, 8 ovoids flattened of chalcedony and agate and one imitation cat's eye in chalcedony and carnelian. (M) 108 spacers of carnelian [drawing], 35 agate lentoids, 1 large ball carnelian. (N) 90 carnelian spacers [drawing] or spheroid, 15 barrel or lentoids of banded agate or sardonyx, 2 agate cone-topped flat ovoids and 1 cat's eye disk (O) 20 lentoids or barrels of banded agate, 13 ditto ball beads and 2 humped-back ditto. (P) 67 carnelian beads [drawing] and 66 lapis lazuli beads of varying types.
500M	(none)	(none)	B15263	A quantity of beads in different varieties of stone and of different shapes, all found together and in confusion (see notes) with U.456 and other metal objects now restrung and composed into the following strins:- (1260 beads in all) - (A) 44 carnelian beads [drawing], 10 malachite beads, ball or scaraboid, and plain machite cylinder. (B) 36 beads, lentoids of banded agate, banded agate discoids, and small cat's eyes. (C) 60 carnelian [drawing], 8 banded agate lentoids, 4 large ovoids, flat, of chalcedony, amethystine quartz and agate. (D) 90 carnelian spheroids, 12 banded agate lentoids, discoids and lentoids of amethystine quartz and malachite, large, 6 in all. (E) 24 carnelian bugles or barrels, 30 carnelian [drawing], 2 ditto discoids, flat, 2 oblong agate plaques, and U.499 strung on as centerpiece. (F) 72 carnelian speroids and two double cat's eyes, strung as a double bracelet. (G) Amethyst, 24 [drawing], and 2 cylinders. (H) Carnelian: 44 lentoids, 1 bugle with separate caps, 1 bugle with acid whitened pattern and 2 pendants. (J) Carnelian: 12 scaraboids, 12 lentoids and 48 small spheroids (K) Bone pendant, jasper cone-topped ovoid, spacers of chalcedony, carnelian, sardonyx, cat's eye, jadeite, lapis and banded agate and paste, 22 in all, 6 carnelian bugles and small carnelians, in all 206. (L) 38 carnelian spheroids of [drawing], 8 lentoids of banded agate, 1 ditto cylinder, 1 sardonyx cylinder, 8 ovoids flattened of chalcedony and agate and one imitation cat's eye in chalcedony and carnelian. (M) 108 spacers of carnelian [drawing], 35 agate lentoids, 1 large ball carnelian. (N) 90 carnelian spacers [drawing] or spheroid, 15 barrel or lentoids of banded agate or sardonyx, 2 agate cone-topped flat ovoids and 1 cat's eye disk (O) 20 lentoids or barrels of banded agate, 13 ditto ball beads and 2 humped-back ditto. (P) 67 carnelian beads [drawing] and 66 lapis lazuli beads of varying types.
500J	(none)	(none)	B15262	A quantity of beads in different varieties of stone and of different shapes, all found together and in confusion (see notes) with U.456 and other metal objects now restrung and composed into the following strins:- (1260 beads in all) - (A) 44 carnelian beads [drawing], 10 malachite beads, ball or scaraboid, and plain machite cylinder. (B) 36 beads, lentoids of banded agate, banded agate discoids, and small cat's eyes. (C) 60 carnelian [drawing], 8 banded agate lentoids, 4 large ovoids, flat, of chalcedony, amethystine quartz and agate. (D) 90 carnelian spheroids, 12 banded agate lentoids, discoids and lentoids of amethystine quartz and malachite, large, 6 in all. (E) 24 carnelian bugles or barrels, 30 carnelian [drawing], 2 ditto discoids, flat, 2 oblong agate plaques, and U.499 strung on as centerpiece. (F) 72 carnelian speroids and two double cat's eyes, strung as a double bracelet. (G) Amethyst, 24 [drawing], and 2 cylinders. (H) Carnelian: 44 lentoids, 1 bugle with separate caps, 1 bugle with acid whitened pattern and 2 pendants. (J) Carnelian: 12 scaraboids, 12 lentoids and 48 small spheroids (K) Bone pendant, jasper cone-topped ovoid, spacers of chalcedony, carnelian, sardonyx, cat's eye, jadeite, lapis and banded agate and paste, 22 in all, 6 carnelian bugles and small carnelians, in all 206. (L) 38 carnelian spheroids of [drawing], 8 lentoids of banded agate, 1 ditto cylinder, 1 sardonyx cylinder, 8 ovoids flattened of chalcedony and agate and one imitation cat's eye in chalcedony and carnelian. (M) 108 spacers of carnelian [drawing], 35 agate lentoids, 1 large ball carnelian. (N) 90 carnelian spacers [drawing] or spheroid, 15 barrel or lentoids of banded agate or sardonyx, 2 agate cone-topped flat ovoids and 1 cat's eye disk (O) 20 lentoids or barrels of banded agate, 13 ditto ball beads and 2 humped-back ditto. (P) 67 carnelian beads [drawing] and 66 lapis lazuli beads of varying types.
672E	(none)	(none)	B15261	[underlined] Beads. A large collection, re-strung on such evidence as could be obtained from the burial. See field notes A. Carnelian ball beads, 41 in all. B. Lentoids and carnelian, agate, lapis, hematite + glass paste, 42 in all. C. Small beads, ball, discoid, etc., in carnelian, crystal, lapis, amethystine quartz, black stone + paste. D. Very large lentoid + barrel beads in stone + paste, 1 paste cylinder seal roughly engraved with a man left shooting at a winged griffon. (in regular Deri Huzuh style), a cylinder seal of black steatite sketchily engraved but defaced, another with seated divine figure right and standing adorant left and one column inscription, also very poor work: also shell disk beads: large beads etc... in all 33, shell disks, 167. E. Small carnelian spacers, with small beads of various shapes in glass paste, frit, pebble, stone, etc. F. Mixed lot of beads in stone and paste.
663A	(none)	(none)	B15260	Beads. Carnelian, with a few bugles +other shaped of paste, crystal, + lapis strung up in 2 strings. A Carnelian. B Mixed.
498	(none)	(none)	B15257	Carnelian head of Puzu. Looking very sick.
487	(none)	(none)	B15256	Chalcedony seal. Same shape as U.486. Subject [referencing drawin] [drawing]
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.
34B	(none)	(none)	B15246	Beads in gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian: found loose and restrung as follows (A) Gold ram: small figurine in thin metal, hollow, pierced for threading. Fine work. Photo no. 39 length 0.016 (B) String of lapis and gold beads thus [refers to drawing], graded in size, 43 gold and 45 lapis, and a circular rosette pendant of open work gold. [drawing] Photo no. _ length 085 (C) String of carnelian beads, 40 in all, 2 gold ring terminals, 4 gold pear pendants, 2 carnelian pear pendants on gold, one plate pendant of carnelian with white design on gold. Photo no. 39 length 008 (D) String of 10 gold and 20 lapis nasturtium-seed beads with six lapis pear pendants on gold and one lapis fly amulet. photo no. _ length 0155 (E) String of small lapis beads strung in 2 rows with lapis spacers at ends of 8 gold mulberry(?)-leaf pendants, a triangular gold spacer, one lapis beads bound with gold wire and a triple gold beads (these 2 as a pendant) Photo. No. 39. length 0.165
34D	(none)	(none)	B15246	Beads in gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian: found loose and restrung as follows (A) Gold ram: small figurine in thin metal, hollow, pierced for threading. Fine work. Photo no. 39 length 0.016 (B) String of lapis and gold beads thus [refers to drawing], graded in size, 43 gold and 45 lapis, and a circular rosette pendant of open work gold. [drawing] Photo no. _ length 085 (C) String of carnelian beads, 40 in all, 2 gold ring terminals, 4 gold pear pendants, 2 carnelian pear pendants on gold, one plate pendant of carnelian with white design on gold. Photo no. 39 length 008 (D) String of 10 gold and 20 lapis nasturtium-seed beads with six lapis pear pendants on gold and one lapis fly amulet. photo no. _ length 0155 (E) String of small lapis beads strung in 2 rows with lapis spacers at ends of 8 gold mulberry(?)-leaf pendants, a triangular gold spacer, one lapis beads bound with gold wire and a triple gold beads (these 2 as a pendant) Photo. No. 39. length 0.165
459A	(none)	(none)	B15243	[A-D] Four brooches of gold and stone. Hollow circular setting of thin gold, the back plain except for a beaded edging, the front with a beading between 2 plain lines: inset in front, a large cat's eye. A ring for suspension above and two below, let into rim: projecting from the rim and fixed into it by gold-capped bronze pins, carnelians, six on each side. (two of these are in position: the remaining ones found loose, one of the cat's eyes was found in position: the others had fallen out). [drawing 1:1] 1 only A Phil. 2 sent to Baghdad (C and D)
11147.1	(none)	(none)	B 17633	Beads. Lapis bugles and carnelian rings being the remains of a headdress (the rest had been plundered).
18582	(none)	(none)	B 16723	Beads. Carnelian rings, lapis cylindrical and 2 white steatite beads.
34C	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads in gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian: found loose and restrung as follows (A) Gold ram: small figurine in thin metal, hollow, pierced for threading. Fine work. Photo no. 39 length 0.016 (B) String of lapis and gold beads thus [refers to drawing], graded in size, 43 gold and 45 lapis, and a circular rosette pendant of open work gold. [drawing] Photo no. _ length 085 (C) String of carnelian beads, 40 in all, 2 gold ring terminals, 4 gold pear pendants, 2 carnelian pear pendants on gold, one plate pendant of carnelian with white design on gold. Photo no. 39 length 008 (D) String of 10 gold and 20 lapis nasturtium-seed beads with six lapis pear pendants on gold and one lapis fly amulet. photo no. _ length 0155 (E) String of small lapis beads strung in 2 rows with lapis spacers at ends of 8 gold mulberry(?)-leaf pendants, a triangular gold spacer, one lapis beads bound with gold wire and a triple gold beads (these 2 as a pendant) Photo. No. 39. length 0.165
34E	(none)	1928,1010.107	(none)	Beads in gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian: found loose and restrung as follows (A) Gold ram: small figurine in thin metal, hollow, pierced for threading. Fine work. Photo no. 39 length 0.016 (B) String of lapis and gold beads thus [refers to drawing], graded in size, 43 gold and 45 lapis, and a circular rosette pendant of open work gold. [drawing] Photo no. _ length 085 (C) String of carnelian beads, 40 in all, 2 gold ring terminals, 4 gold pear pendants, 2 carnelian pear pendants on gold, one plate pendant of carnelian with white design on gold. Photo no. 39 length 008 (D) String of 10 gold and 20 lapis nasturtium-seed beads with six lapis pear pendants on gold and one lapis fly amulet. photo no. _ length 0155 (E) String of small lapis beads strung in 2 rows with lapis spacers at ends of 8 gold mulberry(?)-leaf pendants, a triangular gold spacer, one lapis beads bound with gold wire and a triple gold beads (these 2 as a pendant) Photo. No. 39. length 0.165
51	(none)	(none)	(none)	Necklace. Consisting of agate lunar pendant, 13 gold beads (some decayed), 12 carnelian and 18 lapis beads (including one barrel 0.047 long) = from this beads through the center 13 are restrung in the original order. and 7 gold beads unstrung.
54	(none)	1923,1110.190	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Engraved with scene of worshipper being introduced to a god standing in front of a gate.
55	(none)	1923,1110.191	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Broken in half and chipped down one side. Scene: 3 figures in a row advancing l[eft]. Found with beads round neck of body in larnax burial.