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)
18900	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. Lapis triangles and date-shpaed, 4 tubular; carnelian balls; larger limestone(?) balls; chalcedony flattened date-shaped.
18901	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. 3 large crystal flattened date-shaped; 1 limestone ditto; 1 agate barrel; 3 steatite rings.
18914	35-1-6	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two registers: above, two heroes each fighting with two beasts below, seated and standing figures.
18917	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Mottled lapis lazuli. Two registers: above, hero and fighting animals; below, heroes fighting animals.
18919	35-1-22, 35-1-22	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Green steatite (?) with copper caps. Two standing gods shaking hands: two men killing a kneeling prisoner: two columns of inscription supported by an animal. Good work.
18922	35-1-16	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Black steatite. A god driving a chariot drawn by a winged gryphon(?); between the wings rises a goddess armed with a bow, in front of it is another god. One column of inscription. Inscription: Ur-gis-me-e (C.J.G.)
18928	(none)	(none)	(none)	Stamp seal. Grey hematite. Square, with tubular handle. A seated figure to whom an attendant offers a spouted libation vase. Very curious cutting, especially in the faces.
18929A	(none)	(none)	(none)	(A) Beads: carnelian date-shaped and cylindrical, one of the latter with bleached spiral line and rings: lapis double conoids and paste ditto steatite tubular, chisel pendant, frog amulet, and quartzite flat truncated date-shaped. (B) Two hair-rings of thin gold wire, five spiral coils. Also [C] a copper pin, type 2a. [C] a copper pin, type 2a.
18932	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads: large steatite barrel, carnelian double conoids, date-shaped and balls; agate barrels and date-shaped; crystal date-shaped; carnelian tubular, long steatite, long date-shaped, engraved paste rings. Restrung in original order. [drawing]
18933	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads: lapis lazuli diamonds and cylinder and ring. (a few only)
18942A	(none)	(none)	(none)	[A] Beads. Carnelian tubular and rings; paste date-shaped, steatite fly and frog amulets; fluted balls. Arbitrarily restrung. [B] Also a silver bracelet, 3 coils of plain wire.
18951	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two gazelles and small figures of two men in a boat. Very bad cratchy cutting.
18952	(none)	(none)	(none)	Limestone bowl. Type 16b.
18953	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads; carnelian and lapis date-shaped (large), carnelian double conoid and barrel, and rings, and small lapis cylindrical; one agate date-shaped. Restrung in original order.
18954	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads; small ribbed gold balls; carnelian balls; one flat date-shaped paste.
18960A	(none)	(none)	(none)	(A) Beads: small gold balls, small carnelian balls, lapis diamonds, crystal rings, paste balls, these restrung as far as possible in original order. There were also small silver balls too perised for stringing. (B) Gold earring, small lunate type (the silver part has perished).
18962	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads: small string of lapis diamonds, carnelian rings and tubular (one square in section, one round), steatite cylinder and diamond.
18965A	(none)	(none)	(none)	(A) beads; small gold balls, plain and ribbed, small carnelian balls, 2 carnelian date-shaped, 2 tubular and one flattened cone with belached design; one lapis ball. [drawing] (B) Gold earring, small lunate type.
18974	35-1-9, 35-1-9	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Dark green steatite. One seated and three standing figures: two columns of inscription. Inscription: Lugal-ma (C.J.G.)
18975	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis. Bull carrying a shrine, with worshippers, gods and animals.
18981	35-1-21	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Green stone. 2 heroes fighting lions.
18986	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two registers: above, standing figures; below animals.
18990	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads: one very long carnelian tubular, carnelian date-shaped and rings, lapis balls, chalcedony barrel. crystal ring.
18994	35-1-14	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Two hunters fighting a lion.
18995	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads: large chalcedony date-shaped, chalcedony balls, granite flattened date-shaped, limestone ditto, crystal ditto, crystal, carnelian and chalcedony balls, silver balls.