The contemporary sculptor Oskar III J. W. Hansen visualized and created the likeness of a spirited stallion in this 4½-inch turquoise carving, a gift of George Gilmer.
This world-famed crystal ball, given to the Collection as a memorial to W. R. Warner by his widow, represents another phase of the lapidary art. Cut from a block of Burmese quartz estimated to weigh 1000 pounds, this extremely valuable, flawless, colorless sphere has a diameter of 12⅝ inches and weighs 106¾ pounds.
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GEM SUBSTITUTES
Because of their rarity and relatively high cost, the number of real gems used throughout recorded times must be insignificant compared to the number of gem substitutes used. There are records of glass and ceramic imitations of gems as early as 3000 B.C. Certainly, the world gem markets today are flooded with man-made gems. There even has been developed a laboratory process for growing a coating of synthetic emerald on the surface of a faceted stone of natural colorless beryl. The recut gem looks like a natural emerald, and it has natural inclusions that totally synthetic emeralds lack.
In general, gem substitutes can be classified as imitation stones, assembled stones, reconstructed and altered stones, and synthetic stones.
IMITATION STONES
Any material will serve as an imitation of a natural gem as long as it resembles the real thing under casual examination. Because of the great variety in types and colors available, glass and plastics are the most commonly used materials for making imitation gems. Almost every gem has been simulated effectively. The substitutes offer no difficulty of identification to the expert, but many are deceptive to the layman.
ASSEMBLED STONES
It has been the practice for centuries to build up gemstones by fusing or cementing a shaped piece of natural gemstone to another piece, or other pieces, of inferior or artificial material.