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ANTIQUE & VINTAGE COLLECTABLES - JEWELLERY - POCKET WATCHES - VICTORIANA & NIELLO |
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| Turquoise was among the first gems to be mined, and while many historic sites have been depleted, some are still worked to this day. The French conducted archaeological excavations of Egypt from the mid-19th century through the early 20th. These excavations, including that of Tutankhamun's tomb, created great public interest in the western world, subsequently influencing jewellery, architecture, and art of the time. Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglios. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England. It is a widely distributed mineral, but fine, clear specimens that are suitable for cutting as ornamental stones are confined to few localities. |
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