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)
2563	(none)	1927,1003.256	(none)	Fragment of lapis-lazuli. From inlay: representing man's curled beard. Pierced at back for fixing. [drawing 1:1]
2752	(none)	1927,1003.258	(none)	Fragment of inlay. Lapis-lazuli, with incised lines representing hair or water. [drawing 1:1]
2550	(none)	(none)	(none)	Fragment of inlay. Lapis-Lazuli, pierced for wiring and engraved to represent flower petal (?) [drawing 1:1]
12050	(none)	1929,1017.224	(none)	Flowers. 3 of gold thus [drawing 1;1], and petals of white shell, lapis & gold of 3 more. As far as could be seen the latter belonged to a comb & had silver backs: the gold flowers were on the head and may have belonged to the comb or have been attached to the hair ribbon. [drawing 1:1]
8212	(none)	(none)	B16790	Flower head ornament in silver, lapis and gold. The whole flower is silver, a flat truncated plate of thin metal on a fairly solid stem: on the end of each of the five petals is a ball of lapis capped with gold. Two lapis beads are corroded on to the end of the stem and may belong there (see U.8210). There was certainly a second similar flower on the other side of the head (this one rose from the right ear) but it was all broken up.
7663	(none)	(none)	(none)	Flat seal. Sard, pale blue. Winged insect?
16167	(none)	(none)	(none)	Flat seal. Oval quartz. Engraved with design of winged dragon.
14436A	(none)	(none)	(none)	Flat seal. Chalcedony. Mauve. Faceted and suspended by a copper hook. Typical Persian period stamp seal. Engraved with design of a bearded deity wearing a cap and a long coat hand raised over a horse on the back of which is a pedestal supporting a crescent in a hole attribute and star.
12796	(none)	(none)	(none)	Flat seal. Carnelian. Crescent moon and great bead (?). Persian period. [drawing 1:1]
16653	31-43-154	(none)	(none)	Flat amethyst seal, and 5 carnelian beads.
10945	(none)	1928,1010.89	(none)	Fish Amulet. Lapis. Found with U.10943, 10944. [drawing 1:1]
9778	(none)	(none)	(none)	Finger Ring Gold Cloisonne work set with lapis; bent and partly broken, and some of the inlay missing [drawing]
8368	(none)	(none)	(none)	Figurine of bull. Lapis lazuli. The bull seated, head L, the body in profile, the head turned to the spectator and seen full face: a formally-curled square beard is tied under the bull's chin by a cord passing across its nose.
8325	(none)	(none)	B16802	Figurine of bull in lapis lazuli wearing a false beard. [drawing] 1:1 Style of the 1st Dynasty of Ur.
2920	(none)	1927,1003.240	(none)	Eye from figurine. Shell with pupil of lapis lazuli. [drawing 1:1]
11576A	(none)	1929,1017.40	(none)	Earring. Copper & gold. [A] A large coil of copper with lunate ends, inside which was a smaller [B] similar one of gold: this probably hung from the former. (with this are 3 largish facetted lentoid beads, 2 of lapis, one of silver, from the same grave).
11576B	(none)	1929,1017.40	(none)	Earring. Copper & gold. [A] A large coil of copper with lunate ends, inside which was a smaller [B] similar one of gold: this probably hung from the former. (with this are 3 largish facetted lentoid beads, 2 of lapis, one of silver, from the same grave).
10316	(none)	(none)	(none)	Earring Lapis lazuli with gold hoop. The pendant is shaped like a saddle, smooth on one side, decorated with oblique incisions on the other. The incised side has a raised ridge running down its axis; the ridge is perforated in 3 places and gold links remain in case of two of the holes. The body of the earring is further perforated 4 times probably to admit gold suspenders. The gold hoop was attached to it on the one side by a hole through which the wire was passed and then wound about itself. On the other side the hoop end was inserted through the hole and then bent against the lapis suspender so as to be made fast.
17978	(none)	(none)	(none)	Ear stud. Jasper. [drawing 1:1]
16130	31-43-199	(none)	(none)	Ear stud. Dark green jasper? [drawing]
16603	(none)	(none)	(none)	Ear stud. Dark green hematite. [drawing 1:1]
6542	(none)	(none)	(none)	Duck weight. Stone. Gray. Type VI. E.
13518	(none)	(none)	(none)	Duck weight. Hematite. Type VI. [drawing 1:1]
13504	(none)	(none)	(none)	Duck weight. Hematite. Plain, without head. Black. Type VI.
18584	(none)	(none)	(none)	Duck weight. Hematite.