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)
8172	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. 7 carnelian, 6 lapis, and gold (4). The gold are seed-pods thus [drawing 1:1]. The carnelian similar but with no central rib, the lapis flat and rectangular and 2 bugles (this last may not belong to this string) : for order of threading see field notes. Found affixed to U.8171. The gold beads have a wooden tube down the middle, 2 leaves of gold being soldered (or cemented) together on either side of this: the string went through the wood.
8177A	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. A: Carnelian lentoids. B: Small lapis balls with the carnelians is one longer with artificial white bands. For stringing see field notes.
8178	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. Three, two of lapis, one of gold. Faceted lentoids of exaggerated size. Found together. [drawing] 1:1
8191	(none)	(none)	B17194	Shell. Cut as a ladle: a piece is left across the opening and this is carved into a bird's head, the eye inlaid with lapis. [drawing]
8201	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. Lapis and silver with a few carnelian and some small glazed frit rings.
8210	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. Large balls of lapis. See field notes: almost certainly strung together with no silver beads between. They seem to be connected with the silver flower ornament (U.8212) and perhaps formed a chaplet round the head from which the flowers rose.
8211	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. A large number of lapis and carnelian beads, now all mixed together, but originally forming a number of separate strings for which see field notes.
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.
8214	(none)	(none)	B16704	Silver suspenders. A plain ring of silver wire from which hangs a spacer for 3 strings of beads: they appeared to hang from the head this way up, but two were found corroded together in opposite directions. [drawing 1:1]
8224.1	(none)	(none)	B16809	[.1-.2] Beads. Lapis and carnelian, mixed small types, ball, lentoid and bugle, and a few ribbed ball beads of gold.
8226A	(none)	(none)	B16730	[A] Silver pin with plain ball head of lapis capped with gold. The shaft is pierced just below the head: [B] the 7 beads found just by it may have been fixed to the pin by this hole. The beads are catalogued with the pin. See field notes. [Type] V
8228	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Gilgamesh between 2 lions and Eabani with a bull.
8229	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. Gold double conoids; lapis and carnelian (lapis double conoids, carnelian mostly rings and 1 big faceted lapis lentoid).
8250	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. Mixed lapis and shell, 29 in all, 28 found together in a basket, 1 biggish lapis ribbed ball formed apart and possibly belonging to the copper pin U.8248.
8264	(none)	(none)	(none)	Necklace. 40 blue glazed ring beads. 1 lentoid carnelian. 1 double conoid gold bead. 1 rock crystal ring bead.
8266	(none)	(none)	(none)	3 beads. 2 carnelian double conoids. 1 _.
8267	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. 49 in all - double conoid lapis and carnelian, 1 small silver ball bead, and a number of minute carnelian ring beads. Also 2 gold double conoids.
8274B	(none)	(none)	B16825	[A-B] Necklace. About 250 beads, mostly small. 1 large faceted lapis lazuli. 18 double conoid lapis. 14 lentoid lapis. 18 bugle and double conoid carnelian. 4 or 5 minute gold beads. The rest small carnelian ring beads and lapis ring and ball beads, a few ribbed barrel lapis beads. Fragment of lapis inlay with incised concentric areas [drawing]. Arbitrarily made up into two strings .
8279	(none)	(none)	(none)	Pin. Silver. Lapis lazuli ball head. Rounded in section. [drawing 1:2] [type] V
8295	(none)	(none)	(none)	2 beads. 1 double conoid lapis lazuli. 1 double conoid silver.
8310	(none)	(none)	(none)	Beads. One carnelian, a few lapis, and a number of very small shell rings.
8325	(none)	(none)	B16802	Figurine of bull in lapis lazuli wearing a false beard. [drawing] 1:1 Style of the 1st Dynasty of Ur.
8339	(none)	(none)	(none)	Cylinder seal. Lapis. decorative design. [drawing]
8354	(none)	(none)	(none)	Copper pin with plain ball head of lapis lazuli. The stone cracked and in bad condition. Stem broken. [Type] V.
8355	(none)	(none)	(none)	Copper pin with ball head of lapis(?) capped with silver. The whole in very bad condition, split open in every direction by decay, and broken. [Type] V