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    Etched Carnelian Intaglios PDF

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    Max Berger
    Jack Ogden introduced Gem Discovery Club members to the ancient art of decoratively etching carnelian. He explained that applying heat and an alkali to silica-based materials like quartz or agate causes a chemical reaction that alters the surface. The Romans commonly used this technique for carnelian intaglios and cameos, applying the alkali to create a white etched design against the stone's red background. Ogden illustrated different etching methods and provided examples for examination. The club meets weekly to learn about gemstones, identification, and related topics from guest specialists.

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    Etched Carnelian Intaglios PDF

    Uploaded by

    Max Berger
    106 views1 page
    Jack Ogden introduced Gem Discovery Club members to the ancient art of decoratively etching carnelian. He explained that applying heat and an alkali to silica-based materials like quartz or agate causes a chemical reaction that alters the surface. The Romans commonly used this technique for carnelian intaglios and cameos, applying the alkali to create a white etched design against the stone's red background. Ogden illustrated different etching methods and provided examples for examination. The club meets weekly to learn about gemstones, identification, and related topics from guest specialists.

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    Jack Ogden introduced Gem Discovery Club members to the ancient art of decoratively etching carnelian. He explained that applying heat and an alkali to silica-based materials like quartz or agate causes a chemical reaction that alters the surface. The Romans commonly used this technique for carnelian intaglios and cameos, applying the alkali to create a white etched design against the stone's red background. Ogden illustrated different etching methods and provided examples for examination. The club meets weekly to learn about gemstones, identification, and related topics from guest specialists.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    106 views1 page

    Etched Carnelian Intaglios PDF

    Uploaded by

    Max Berger
    Jack Ogden introduced Gem Discovery Club members to the ancient art of decoratively etching carnelian. He explained that applying heat and an alkali to silica-based materials like quartz or agate causes a chemical reaction that alters the surface. The Romans commonly used this technique for carnelian intaglios and cameos, applying the alkali to create a white etched design against the stone's red background. Ogden illustrated different etching methods and provided examples for examination. The club meets weekly to learn about gemstones, identification, and related topics from guest specialists.

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    Gem Discovery Club

    Etched
    On Tuesday 6 March Jack Ogden fair amount of attention in the literature.
    introduced Gem Discovery Club members However, the use of the technique in
    to the ancient art of decoratively etching Roman times, primarily for intaglios, has
    carnelian. He began by explaining how received far less attention.
    a combination of heat plus an alkali Jack illustrated a selection of
    affected the surface of silica, such as Roman carnelian intaglios where etching
    quartz or agate, and how this was the and engraving had been combined
    basis for the early glazing of quartz and – a combination also encountered with
    other silica-containing materials such as Sassanian Persian seals and ring-stones.
    steatite. It was also possible that heat He explained that there were actually
    plus alkali was used to ‘chemically polish’ several approaches to the production of
    some early Western Asiatic Bronze Age decorative designs in this way, two shown
    rock crystal beads, creating a fused, very in the drawing (1). The stone could be
    high-gloss surface. whitened all over by etching and then
    When an alkali, such as potassium a design engraved through this so as to
    or sodium carbonate, was painted on the show in red against the white field
    surface of carnelian and this then heated, (1, A1–3). Or the stone could be
    a white ‘bleached’ effect was produced. engraved with a design, then whitened
    So-called etched carnelian beads of this all over and then finally the front surface
    type are well documented from Bronze polished to give a reddish field with the
    2. Roman intaglio with ‘chequerboard’ etched
    Age times onwards and have received a engraved design in white (1, B1–4). Other sides. (Private Collection.)

    decorative possibilities included the


    chequerboard design on the sides of some
    Roman intaglios (2).
    In addition to intaglios, the Romans
    used the process for other jewellery
    inlays, including cameo inscriptions.
    A systematic study is still awaited, but
    initial research suggested that in the
    Roman Empire there were two main
    regional groups. One was seemingly in
    Asia Minor, the other in Western Europe.
    The use of whitened surfaces for carnelian
    cameos and intaglios also raised the
    question as to whether some ‘nicolo’
    cameos and intaglios (bluish-black agate
    with a white surface) might also have had
    their white surfaces artificially induced.
    Following his brief presentation, Jack
    provided a selection of Roman and other
    examples of etched carnelian intaglios
    1. Drawing showing two different approaches to the etching of intaglios (drawing by Jack Ogden).
    and beads for participants to examine. q

    Gem Club specialist evenings


    The Gem Discovery Club meets every Tuesday 3 July Jason Williams – Gemstone pricing: How well do you know the
    Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Gem- market?
    A’s London headquarters. Once a month
    Tuesday 7 August Harry Levy – Treated and synthetic diamonds: Update trade vs
    a specialist guest gives a presentation academic approach
    and details of the summer/autumn
    programme follow: Tuesday 2 October Harold Killingback – Asterism in quartz

    18
    16 Gems & Jewellery June 2007

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