Искусства и ремесла Средневековья

Je,velry and Precious Stones

55

,vell. Marco Polo tells of а unique rosary worn Ьу the Кing of Malabar; one hundred and four large pearls, ,vith occasional rubles of great price, composed the string. Магсо Polo adds: " Не has to say one hundred and four prayers to his idols every morning and eveniпg." In the possession of the Shal1 of Persia is а gold casket studded with emeralds, ,vhich is said to have the rnagic po,ver of l'eвdeгing the owneг invisiЫe as long as he remains celibate. I fancy that this is а safe claim, for tl1e tradition is not likely to Ье put to the proof in the case of а Shah ! РrоЬаЫу there has never been an opportunity of testing tl1e шiraculous powers of the stones. The iвventory of Lord Lisle contains шаву inteгesting side lights on the jewelry of the peгiod: " а hawthorne of gold, with twenty diamonds; " "а little tower of gold," and " а pair of beads of gold, with tassels." Filigree or chain work was termed "perry." In old papers such as inventories, registers, and the like, t.heгe а1·е frequeпt шentions of buttons of " gold and репу; " in 1372 Aline Gerbuge received " one little circle of gold and perry, cшeralds and balasses)' Clasps апd brooches were used шuch in the foнrteenth century. They were often called "ouches," and were usually of jewelled gold. One, an image of St. George, was given Ьу the Вlack Prince to John of Gaunt. The Ducl1ess of Bretagne had among other brooches one with а white griffin, а balas гuЬу on its shoulder, six sapphires