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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 11155 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Silver Ostrich Shell. Originally decorated on base and round the rim with incrustation in shell, lapis, and red stone. All ornament gone: the Shell much distorted and broken. |
![]() | 11157 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Lapis. A large quantity found loose on the floor of the grave: also, 7 large gold double conoids. |
![]() | 11162E | (none) | (none) | (none) | (A) Gaming-board. Set in silver. Shell plaques engraved with lapis borders engraved with animal scenes, except for 2 in rosettes. Only part of it was found, giving in all: 13 plaques of which 6 were still in their setting and 7 loose: these have been reset, those in original order in the top 2 rows, the rest below, and one rosette piece omitted. Orig. W. 120mm(?); plaques 32 x 40mm; 35mm square. With this must go: (B) Gaming pieces, of white shell, square with engraved scenes, in all 9 and one half piece. (C) Gaming pieces, circular, of balck shale with 5 white dots, diam. 25mm, 3 in all. (D) one white disk with blue spot. (E) Small balls of lapis, 8 in all. (F) 23 small white balls (these are perhaps counters)? (G) 3 lapis dice, of usual solid triangle with inlay dots at 2 points. (H) 6 square men, black and white spots. (NB: Some of the gaming pieces B & C were found in Chamber B.) [I] [Not assigned] (J) [J, L-M] 3 slender rods, square in section, of ivory (?) with engraved patterns on one edge and concentric circles on the other. L. 65mm, W. 4mm (K) in the inside of the board (a box) was a complete set of men, 7 white and 7 black, the former with animal scenes, the latter with 5 white dots. |
![]() | 11162G | (none) | (none) | (none) | (A) Gaming-board. Set in silver. Shell plaques engraved with lapis borders engraved with animal scenes, except for 2 in rosettes. Only part of it was found, giving in all: 13 plaques of which 6 were still in their setting and 7 loose: these have been reset, those in original order in the top 2 rows, the rest below, and one rosette piece omitted. Orig. W. 120mm(?); plaques 32 x 40mm; 35mm square. With this must go: (B) Gaming pieces, of white shell, square with engraved scenes, in all 9 and one half piece. (C) Gaming pieces, circular, of balck shale with 5 white dots, diam. 25mm, 3 in all. (D) one white disk with blue spot. (E) Small balls of lapis, 8 in all. (F) 23 small white balls (these are perhaps counters)? (G) 3 lapis dice, of usual solid triangle with inlay dots at 2 points. (H) 6 square men, black and white spots. (NB: Some of the gaming pieces B & C were found in Chamber B.) [I] [Not assigned] (J) [J, L-M] 3 slender rods, square in section, of ivory (?) with engraved patterns on one edge and concentric circles on the other. L. 65mm, W. 4mm (K) in the inside of the board (a box) was a complete set of men, 7 white and 7 black, the former with animal scenes, the latter with 5 white dots. |
![]() | 11165 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Lapis, very small. Found in thousands on & under the skull in the south corner of the chamber, against the inlaid stela. |
![]() | 11204 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. (7). Large lapis double conoid; oolite? barrel bead; 2 gold ring beads; 2 carnelian ball beads; 1 rock crystal double conoid. |
![]() | 11205 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Necklace. Long carnelian bugle bead. Lapis diamonds. Carnelian & gold rings. For order see Field Note. |
11210 | (none) | (none) | B17487 | Copper Pin. With lapis lazuli ball head. Stem square in section at top and rounded below. Tip missing. Upper portion of stem is perforated for suspension. Type V. [drawing] | |
11211 | (none) | (none) | B17599 | Beads. (7). 1 Flattened steatite double conoid-grey. 1 carnelian double conoid. 1 black steatite bead with incised markings; shaped like a truncated cone. 2 carnelian ring beads. 1 gold ring bead. 1 grey steatite bead square in section - tubular. [drawing 1:1] | |
![]() | 11215 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Necklace. Consisting of 2 strings of beads. 110 carnelian double conoids, 1 rectangular shaped agate bead convex on either side, elliptical in section. 50 carnelian ring and discoid beads. 68 lapis lazuli beads. 47 gold beads (tubular pieces of gold foil) |
![]() | 11223 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. 2 lapis: lentoids, facetted, one broken. Wood (?) lentoid, 2 carnelian rings, also one silver earring. |
![]() | 11230B | (none) | (none) | (none) | Head Ornament. (A) Gold ribbon. (B) Wreath of carnelian & lapis lazuli beads with gold mulberry leaf pendants. (C) [C.1-.2] Pair large lunate gold earrings. (D) Silver head ornament with inlaid rosette finials-gold, silver & shell. (E) [E and K] 2 silver pins with bent heads capped by a lapis ball head. Type VI. (F) Necklace of fluted lapis ball beads. (G) Frontlet of beads in 7 rows, gold, bugle, carnelian ring beads, lapis bugles. (H) Necklace of lapis & gold triangles. (I) Necklace of alternate lapis & silver double conoids. (J) Miniature vase of light drab clay, part of rim missing. |
![]() | 11230E | (none) | (none) | (none) | Head Ornament. (A) Gold ribbon. (B) Wreath of carnelian & lapis lazuli beads with gold mulberry leaf pendants. (C) [C.1-.2] Pair large lunate gold earrings. (D) Silver head ornament with inlaid rosette finials-gold, silver & shell. (E) [E and K] 2 silver pins with bent heads capped by a lapis ball head. Type VI. (F) Necklace of fluted lapis ball beads. (G) Frontlet of beads in 7 rows, gold, bugle, carnelian ring beads, lapis bugles. (H) Necklace of lapis & gold triangles. (I) Necklace of alternate lapis & silver double conoids. (J) Miniature vase of light drab clay, part of rim missing. |
![]() | 11230F | (none) | (none) | (none) | Head Ornament. (A) Gold ribbon. (B) Wreath of carnelian & lapis lazuli beads with gold mulberry leaf pendants. (C) [C.1-.2] Pair large lunate gold earrings. (D) Silver head ornament with inlaid rosette finials-gold, silver & shell. (E) [E and K] 2 silver pins with bent heads capped by a lapis ball head. Type VI. (F) Necklace of fluted lapis ball beads. (G) Frontlet of beads in 7 rows, gold, bugle, carnelian ring beads, lapis bugles. (H) Necklace of lapis & gold triangles. (I) Necklace of alternate lapis & silver double conoids. (J) Miniature vase of light drab clay, part of rim missing. |
![]() | 11230G | (none) | (none) | (none) | Head Ornament. (A) Gold ribbon. (B) Wreath of carnelian & lapis lazuli beads with gold mulberry leaf pendants. (C) [C.1-.2] Pair large lunate gold earrings. (D) Silver head ornament with inlaid rosette finials-gold, silver & shell. (E) [E and K] 2 silver pins with bent heads capped by a lapis ball head. Type VI. (F) Necklace of fluted lapis ball beads. (G) Frontlet of beads in 7 rows, gold, bugle, carnelian ring beads, lapis bugles. (H) Necklace of lapis & gold triangles. (I) Necklace of alternate lapis & silver double conoids. (J) Miniature vase of light drab clay, part of rim missing. |
![]() | 11230H | (none) | (none) | (none) | Head Ornament. (A) Gold ribbon. (B) Wreath of carnelian & lapis lazuli beads with gold mulberry leaf pendants. (C) [C.1-.2] Pair large lunate gold earrings. (D) Silver head ornament with inlaid rosette finials-gold, silver & shell. (E) [E and K] 2 silver pins with bent heads capped by a lapis ball head. Type VI. (F) Necklace of fluted lapis ball beads. (G) Frontlet of beads in 7 rows, gold, bugle, carnelian ring beads, lapis bugles. (H) Necklace of lapis & gold triangles. (I) Necklace of alternate lapis & silver double conoids. (J) Miniature vase of light drab clay, part of rim missing. |
![]() | 11230I | (none) | (none) | (none) | Head Ornament. (A) Gold ribbon. (B) Wreath of carnelian & lapis lazuli beads with gold mulberry leaf pendants. (C) [C.1-.2] Pair large lunate gold earrings. (D) Silver head ornament with inlaid rosette finials-gold, silver & shell. (E) [E and K] 2 silver pins with bent heads capped by a lapis ball head. Type VI. (F) Necklace of fluted lapis ball beads. (G) Frontlet of beads in 7 rows, gold, bugle, carnelian ring beads, lapis bugles. (H) Necklace of lapis & gold triangles. (I) Necklace of alternate lapis & silver double conoids. (J) Miniature vase of light drab clay, part of rim missing. |
![]() | 11402 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder Seal. Lapis lazuli. Subject: A god wearing long dress with transverse folds, standing left holding a club (?) with water falling from his shoulders: on either side of him a group of 2 standing naked figures with horned crowns; each pair has 2 arms raised & crossing. 2 holding between them a staff? Poor thin cutting. |
11411 | 30-12-580 | (none) | (none) | Beads. Gold, carnelian, lapis, agate and paste. For original order see tomb notes. | |
![]() | 11412 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. 3 only. 1-carnelian bugle; 1-long limestone lentoid; 1-red and white breccia (?) found tied round the left upper arm. |
![]() | 11417 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. Re-string in original order. Lapis, carnelian and jasper. |
11418 | 30-12-29 | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Green Jasper. Two men fighting 2 lions, the latter heraldically crossed, and an inscription in 2 lines. Inscription: UrdGIS-BIL-ga-mes dub-sar sumu Urd KA-DI = Ur-Gilgames scribe, son of Ur-KA-DI. HC.1928/9-2. | |
![]() | 11437 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Frog amulet. Lapis. [drawing 1:1] |
![]() | 11438 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Lapis. Presentation: a seated goddess, one attendant behind, and one worshipper standing in front of her. |
![]() | 11444 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Beads. A few small beads of lapis, carnelian and shell, found together but not in order. |
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