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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 7566 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Sard? Two registers. Inscribed Ur-sa(g)-ga; dumu.Ur-GAR-MUG. Portion of one end missing. Below spread eagle; above dragon? |
![]() | 7572 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Necklace. Carnelian, blue crystal, yellow and one lapis lazuli bead. 34 in all. Lentoids, ring beads, bugle beads and double conoids. Restrung in original order. Found with Phonecian black and blue glass bottle U7660 and with clay pot Type XXIX |
![]() | 7581 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Rock crystal. White. 9 fish. c.-3000BC? |
![]() | 7588 | (none) | (none) | (none) | 14 beads. Yellow paste ring beads and one lapis ball bead. |
![]() | 7604 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Weight hematite. Dark green. Lentoid. Type II. |
![]() | 7605 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Weight Conoid. hematite. Dark green. Type IV. |
![]() | 7611 | (none) | 1928,1009.456 | (none) | Weight haematite. Dark green. Conoid. Type IV. |
![]() | 7619 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Necklace. 113 beads. Mostly yellowish frit. 2 double conoid lapis lazuli, 1 double conoid carnelian and 1 carnelian ball bead. |
![]() | 7621 | (none) | (none) | (none) | 7 beads. 6 agate lentoid, 1 carnelian bugle bead. Kassite. |
![]() | 7642 | (none) | 1928,1009.94 | (none) | Necklace. 64 beads. Arbitrarily re-strung. Carnelian, amethyst and lapis lazuli. Carnelian, double conoid, bugle beads and ring beads: Amethyst: double conoid. Lapis: ring beads. |
![]() | 7644 | (none) | 1928,1009.98 | (none) | Necklace. 12 double conoid carnelian beads. 5 double conoid silver beads. 1 dark green lentoid, basic diorite? All charred by fire. |
![]() | 7657 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Blue. 2 registers. Bangquet scene. Above: seated god holding food? in upright left hand. nest a second seated figure holding up left hand to greet a standing attendant. Third seated figure also holding food in upraised left hand, and standing figure also holding food? opposite. All are shaven and shorn and wear sheep skin dresses. Below: A seated figure holding up hand towards door of shrine? Behind him a second seated figure holding up food which has been handed him by standing attendant. Behind this seated god a standing attendant facing the door of the shrine hands upraised. All have heads shaven and shorn and sheep skin dresses like figures on top register. c. 3000BC. |
![]() | 7663 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Flat seal. Sard, pale blue. Winged insect? |
![]() | 7664 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Blue. 2 registers. Top register: scene of worship. Goddess wearing high horned headdress leads votary by the hand towards seated god who wears flat headdress with horns. Botom: 3 swans swimming on water. |
![]() | 7666 | (none) | (none) | (none) | 3 complete carnelian beads. 2 fragments. One small lentoid, the rest large bugle beads slightly convex in the middle. One of the 3 complete beads broken and mended. Neo-Babylonian. |
![]() | 7693 | (none) | (none) | (none) | String of beads. Gold, carnelian and lapis. |
![]() | 7893 | (none) | (none) | (none) | String of beads. Lapis lazuli. Blue. 52 in number. Small ring beads, a few double conoid and 1 large ball bead. |
![]() | 7910 | (none) | 1928,1009.138 | (none) | Frog amulet. Lapis lazuli. [drawing 1:1][CARD MISLABELED U.7940B][Arabic notes on back of card] [CARD MISSING Typed Transcription from British Museum Card] |
![]() | 7918 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Bead. Agate. Lentoid. |
![]() | 7922 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Weight Lentoid. hematite. Type II. |
![]() | 7924 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Bead Crystal Cylindrical with truncated conical top. [drawing 1:1] |
![]() | 7927 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Cylinder seal. Crystal. Slightly concave. Marble? core within roughly 8mm in diameter. Inscribed. Conical copper cap on one end. Bearded hero with protruding hair locks, mounted on dragon and clutching it by the tail. The dragon faces a bull rampant, head upraised, mounted by bearded hero similar to first also holding hismount by the tail. Between a couchant gazelle. |
![]() | 7944 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Necklace 93 lapis lazuli double conoid 11 carnelian ring beads 1 carnelian bugle bead 2 lots of silver ball beads in groups of 4 and 3 |
![]() | 7953 | (none) | 1928,1009.12 | (none) | Cylinder seal. White crystal, with copper caps; carinated. Two Gilgamesh figures each fighting a lion. Large cylinder, well cut. The central hole is filled with white paste having chevron bands of bright red which shows through the crystal. Inscribed. |
![]() | 7954 | (none) | 1928,1009.35 | (none) | Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli, with one gold cap. Damaged, chipped in lower register. Two registers; above, 4 figures approaching a seated deity; below, 3 figures (one broken away) approaching the seated deity behind whom is a crescent moon on a staff. |
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