File:Antique gems and rings (1872) (14755731216).jpg

Identifier: antiquegemsrings02king (find matches)
Title: Antique gems and rings
Year: 1872 (1870s)
Authors: King, C. W. (Charles William), 1818-1888
Subjects: Gems Rings Classical antiquities Art, Ancient
Publisher: London, Bell and Daldy
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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*IJ8AR^(9l^a\£) APPENDIX.
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ESTIMATION OF CAMEI IN THE JIIDDLE AGES. Although antique camei were held in higher value during the wliolc courseof the Middle Ages than at any other period of their existence, theirestimation was based ou reasons the belief in which it is hardly possible atthe present day to realise. The value set upon them had no reference totheir merit as works of art, and not much to the precious nature of theirmaterial: it was entirely dependent upon the medicinal power which every-body firmly believed to be inherent in them. This power was derived fromtheir origin, of which two different accounts (but each equally satisfactory)were then current. The first made them to be the works of the Children ofIsrael in the Wilderness (whence their popular name, Fierres dTsrael ) ;the other, spontaneous productions of Nature, who had denoted their purposeby the figures traced upon them by her own finger, in accordance with theuniversally received Doctrine of Signatures. But this curious subjectcannot be be

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