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)
12471	30-12-38	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis with gold caps. Presentation scene with seated god and 2 standing figures.
12654	30-12-12	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two registers. Bird headed men - rampant animals.
12674	30-12-4	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Strung in their silver wire ring. Bearded bulls, lions and antelopes all rampant.
12705D	30-12-348	(none)	(none)	Group: [A] (1) Beads. Small lapis tubes carnelian rings and bugles. [B] (2) Copper reticule containing manicure tools. [C] (3) Copper dagger with ivory and silver handle. Type II B. Tip missing. [D] (4) Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli adhering to blade of 3, not photographed. Men and animals poor cutting. [E] (5) Spindles copper with lapis whorl.
12720	30-12-17	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Rampant animals crossed. Poor cutting.
12795A	30-12-18	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Steatite. Squat furniture type. Poor cutting. Stags? In procession and signs of doubtful import.
14041	31-17-17	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. 2 registers: above; bird-headed men sucking drink from a bowl through a tube. Below; spread eagle and a pair of goats.
15043	31-17-19	(none)	(none)	Cylinder Seal. Lapis lazuli. Presentation. Star in crescent. Inscription dNin-gal-nam-nin-kho-ul dumu lu-dingir-ra N. son of L. scribe. HC.103.
15309	31-17-22	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis. Presentation scene. Poor cutting.
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.