A MAGNIFICENT 'RETICULATED' STERLING SILVER AND LAPIS LAZULI GEMSTONE BROOCH. THE BROOCH MEASURES 1.5 INCHES. HAND CRAFTED ON VANCOUVER ISLAND. The name Lapis Lazuli comes from the Persian word lazhward meaning blue, in allusion to its color. In ancient times, lapis lazuli was known as sapphirus, which is the name that we use today for the blue corundum variety sapphire. Lapis Lazuli has been highly valued for many thousands of years. The most famous locality for fine quality lapis lazuli is the same ancient deposit high in the mountains of Afganistan where it was originally mined at least 6000 years ago. Lapis lazuli was often made into jewelry, carvings, amulets and talismans which were believed to have occult powers. It was used by the ancient Egyptians in many religious ceremonies, and was often used as an inscription stone for various passages from the Book of the Dead. Lapis lazuli was one of the stones in the 'Breastplate of Judgement' of Aaron, described in the Bible (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30). Lapis lazuli was said to dispell melancholy and depression, and to cure recurring fevers. It was also said to impart ancient knowledge, and the wisdom to use it. Up until the nineteenth century, lapis lazuli was ground up and mixed with oil to produce the deep blue-green pigment known as ultramarine which meant literally beyond the sea, as the lapis lazuli was brought from far away by ship. Since 1828, this pigment has been produced synthetically from a roasted mixture of kaolin clay, sodium sulfate and charcoal. Lapis lazuli today is still a very popular lapidary material. It is made into a variety of hand-crafted objects such as carvings, spheres, beads, cabochons and other jewelry items. The astrological sign of lapis lazuli Sagittarius. See more at http://www.sidestreetstudio.com/
