The working of rough materials into useful tools, weapons, and ornaments
dates back to time immemorial. It is known that man lived in the stone
age for thousands of years, when the only useful tools and weapons
available were those which could be fashioned from the minerals and
rocks provided by Nature. At least one hundred thousand years ago
primitive man first learned the art of working an edge or point on some
hard mineral, to be used as a tool or weapon. Later came the development
of the lapidary art for the production of ornaments, and, ever since,
precious stones have been an important part of human culture. Contained
within this fascinating book is an interesting and informative treatise
on gem-cutting, detailing its history, development, and modern
application. A perfect book for anyone interested in the subject, this
book will also make a great addition to any collection of gemmological
literature. The sections of this book are: Cabochon Cutting, Facet
Cutting, and Gemmology, each containing detailed subchapters within. We
are proud to republish this scarce antiquarian book complete with a new
introduction to the subject.