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
Object | U Number | Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number) | Museum Number (BM Registration Number) | Museum Number (UPM B-number) | Description (Catalog Card) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 11798 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Head. A god or hero with human face & bulls ears and horns. The eyes originally inlaid with lapis & shell: the right eye gone altogether, of the left the lapis preserved. |
![]() | 11799C.1 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Frontlet. [A-B] 2 gold chains; [C.1-.2] 2 carnelian bugles; [C.3] 1 gold bugle; [C.4-5] 2 lapis ball beads. |
![]() | 11799C.2 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Frontlet. [A-B] 2 gold chains; [C.1-.2] 2 carnelian bugles; [C.3] 1 gold bugle; [C.4-5] 2 lapis ball beads. |
![]() | 11799C.4 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Frontlet. [A-B] 2 gold chains; [C.1-.2] 2 carnelian bugles; [C.3] 1 gold bugle; [C.4-5] 2 lapis ball beads. |
![]() | 11799C.5 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Frontlet. [A-B] 2 gold chains; [C.1-.2] 2 carnelian bugles; [C.3] 1 gold bugle; [C.4-5] 2 lapis ball beads. |
![]() | 11806C | (none) | (none) | (none) | [A-C] Gold Ornaments. 3 disks, 2 of open-work, with central rosette & rayed border, one with concentric circles of gold & lapis & red cloisonne. This formed the centre, and from their position they would seem to have been attached to the bead chain U.11807 q.v. |
![]() | 11807 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Long lentoids of gold, lapis & carnelian in sets of 4 (see Field Notes). |
![]() | 11809A | (none) | 1929,1017.12 | (none) | [A-D] 4 Gold Frontlets. Each with 2 lengths of gold chain, 2 lapis & 1 gold lentoid beads, 2 carnelian rings. |
11809B | 30-12-618 | (none) | (none) | [A-D] 4 Gold Frontlets. Each with 2 lengths of gold chain, 2 lapis & 1 gold lentoid beads, 2 carnelian rings. | |
11809C | 30-12-619 | (none) | (none) | [A-D] 4 Gold Frontlets. Each with 2 lengths of gold chain, 2 lapis & 1 gold lentoid beads, 2 carnelian rings. | |
11809D | 30-12-756 | (none) | (none) | [A-D] 4 Gold Frontlets. Each with 2 lengths of gold chain, 2 lapis & 1 gold lentoid beads, 2 carnelian rings. | |
11824 | 30-12-440 | (none) | (none) | Remains of Scepter (?) Shell knob inlaid with gold & color, wooden staff also decorated with very thin gold leaf & minute mosaic in lapis & red. Very bad condition. | |
11825 | 30-12-1 | (none) | (none) | Cylinder Seal. Lapis Lazuli. Gazelle attacked by bull, & gazelle attacked by 2 bulls. Inscription: Su-sikil(?) DINGER-SES-AB lugal-ni Kalam-dug-dam. We expect dam-Kalam-dug and perhaps this is possible. ni is written between lines 2 &3, and dam between lines 3 & 4, but both at the end (right). Provisional translation: -Pure Hand (=Handmaid ?) of Nannar (new ideogram.) her King. Kalam-dug-dam (or Dam-Kalam-dug =Wife of the good land). | |
11828 | 30-12-5 | (none) | (none) | Cylinder Seal. Lapis. 2 registers: above, banquet; below, 2 gazelles. (rough & early work). | |
![]() | 11835 | (none) | (none) | (none) | [A] Silver Pin. With plain lapis ball head and [B, C] a pair of hair-rings, spiral coils of silver wire, each hair-ring, 2 spirals interlaced. |
![]() | 11836 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Mostly lapis, some silver & 2 carnelian, with lapis spacer in form of 2 birds (or beetles)? |
![]() | 11839A | (none) | 1929,1017.310 | (none) | [A-C based on museum divisions] Beads Lapis. Lentoids and bugles = probably both belonging to a wreath of silver beech leaves (which were all decayed). [D-E] With these, 2 hair-rings, spiral coils of silver wire, and [F] a large lunate earring of the Queen Shub-ad type, but in silver: a long silver wire may belong to this. |
![]() | 11839B | (none) | 1929,1017.312 | (none) | [A-C based on museum divisions] Beads Lapis. Lentoids and bugles = probably both belonging to a wreath of silver beech leaves (which were all decayed). [D-E] With these, 2 hair-rings, spiral coils of silver wire, and [F] a large lunate earring of the Queen Shub-ad type, but in silver: a long silver wire may belong to this. |
![]() | 11839C | (none) | 1929,1017.315 | (none) | [A-C based on museum divisions] Beads Lapis. Lentoids and bugles = probably both belonging to a wreath of silver beech leaves (which were all decayed). [D-E] With these, 2 hair-rings, spiral coils of silver wire, and [F] a large lunate earring of the Queen Shub-ad type, but in silver: a long silver wire may belong to this. |
![]() | 11844 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. 1, very long carnelian bugle; a few smaller beads, carnelian, lapis & silver. (see Field Notes). |
![]() | 11855 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Barrels & lentoids of gold, lapis & carnelian, with flat carnelian pendant. (for order see Field Notes). |
![]() | 11856 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Double conoids of gold & lapis (strung in sets: see Field Notes). |
![]() | 11868 | (none) | 1929,1017.372 | (none) | Cylinder Seal. Lapis. 2 registers of ibixes walking. |
![]() | 11871 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder Seal. Lapis. 2 seated deities with attendants. |
![]() | 11873 | (none) | (none) | (none) | 3 Beads. 1 very long carnelian bugle. 1 equally long of wood & 1 (facetted) of lapis. |
Related Terms
Apatite - Aragonite - Calcite Group - Chlorite - Dolomite - Feldspar - Gypsum - Magnesite - Pigment - Serpentine
Child Terms
Amber - Chalcedony - Chrysoberyl - Hematite - Iron Pyrite - Jadeite - Lapis Lazuli - Malachite - Quartz - Turquoise
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Parent Terms
Inorganic Remains > Stones and Minerals > Mineral > Semi-precious