Findings in Olduvai Gorge (one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world located in Tanzania) and on the Serengeti Plains of Africa demonstrate that humankind worked with stones at least 500,000 years ago.
Furthermore, finding statuettes of fertility goddesses from the Aurignacian period, which lasted from 40,000 to 15,000 B.C., of Stone Age prove that humankind did creditable carvings on stones (gemstones).
The most famous of these finding is “Venus of Willendorf” found in Austria carved from a hard limestone. It should be noted that these findings may be anywhere from 42,000 to 17,000 years old, however the level of the proficiency that have put in these finding show that their creators were not novices therefore the art of stone carving is way older in the humankind’s history.
About 3,000 B. C., Sumerians and Hittite carvers showed very phenomenal skill of gemstone carving. Their main products were incised seals. These gemstone cylinders, made from soapstone, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and aventurine.
Ancient Egyptians were very skilled in gem carving and cutting. Their most common products were the scarabs–oval shaped cabochon-like carvings– which were connected with the cult of the dead. Their rounded back showed a stylized beetle shape.
Ancient Egyptians also created other gemstone objects of great beauty, testifying their incredible skill. Very regular and well-polished beads in all sized and shapes were produced by Egyptians. It was the scarab through which, being easily portable, spread the influence of Egyptian lapidaries into Greece and Italy.
| Greece did not have any lapidary industry until about the 6th century B. C. when an interest in the gemstone carving and lapidary reawakened. At first, the gem carver’s work was mostly in the form of stamp seals showing a strong influence of Egyptians style. By the 4th century B. C. Greek style changed from intaglio to cameo work. Cameo cutting thereafter was centered in Rome where it flourished during the first centuries before and after Christ. This is the period when, gemstones, gemstone carving and vessels made of gemstone were used lavishly. China has an unbroken lapidary history for 4,000 years. It concentrates heavily on jade. The jade worked in China until about 200 years ago came from Turkestan in the form of nephrite. After discovery of nephrite in Wyoming (US), much of it was exported to China and re-entered to the United States as finished carvings. Due to the contacts with the carvers from china, a wholly independent branch of the lapidary art flourished in the Americas. Again the emphasis was on Jade. Coming to more modern times –the 18th and 19th centuries- we find a decided decline in the work done in Europe. A lot of very showy and ambitious gemstone projects were still being created for the Indian princes, the Shahs of Iran, and the Sultans of Turkey. This brings us to today. Looking about us, we see a plethora of fine work being done. Cabochons and faceted gemstones, cut to very high standards are found all over the world. With all the commercial tools available today, gemstone carving is very popular among the amateurs. However, it is very difficult to say what caused this popularity. A good guess is that they are probably motivated by the same urge to create as their ancestors. |
China and re-entered to the United States as finished carvings. Due to the contacts with the carvers from china, a wholly independent branch of the lapidary art flourished in the Americas.
Again the emphasis was on Jade.
Coming to more modern times –the 18th and 19th centuries- we find a decided decline in the work done in Europe. A lot of very showy and ambitious gemstone projects were still being created for the Indian princes, the Shahs of Iran, and the Sultans of Turkey.
This brings us to today. Looking about us, we see a plethora of fine work being done. Cabochons and faceted gemstones, cut to very high standards are found all over the world.
With all the commercial tools available today, gemstone carving is very popular among the amateurs. However, it is very difficult to say what caused this popularity. A good guess is that they are probably motivated by the same urge to create as their ancestors.
Gemstone carving procedures
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There are nine steps through which most carvings are taken Steps 1 & 2– Procuring Materials and Making a Clay Model These first two steps are interchangeable. Making the clay model is strongly recommended specially for beginners with no experience in creating 3-D objects. The clay that can be used in creating the 3-D model should benon-hardening such as Plasticine, Plastelena, and many others. Step 3–Forming a Gemstone Blank Blank should be large enough (depending on your design). Furthermore the sides of the blank should be at right angles and parallel to each other Step 4–Sawing a perform The blank is then marked by superimposing on it the model so that as much surplus material may be removed from it by sawing as can be managed. Step 5–Initial Shaping A limited amount of carving can be done by just the five steps mentioned so far. Step 6–Detail Carving To create more elaborate carvings, the novice will need small tools and equipment to use for this purpose Step 7–Drilling While not used in every project, drilling is of utmost importance in others. Many of the tools and machines used for detail carvings are also employed in drilling. Step 8–Sanding Sanding for the first few projects can be accomplished on the regular equipment used for cabochon cutting. For more complicated carving, it will have to be done with small tools run on the flexible shaft, the point carver, the combination drill carver, or a regular carving setup. Step 9–Polishing What has been said about sanding also applies to polishing. While sanding is necessary in all operations, polishing may be omitted occasionally. |