The Magic of Jewels and Charms

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About this book

A polished gem, an oddly shaped pebble, and a stone fallen from the sky can all become objects of belief. George Frederick Kunz gathers the stories attached to such objects in this illustrated study of jewels, charms, and amulets. His chapters range from meteorites and stones associated with healing to religious uses of minerals and the customs surrounding protective ornaments. The preface links their appeal to beauty, hope, fear, and the wish for protection.

Legend and investigation meet in the discussion of snake-stones. Kunz recounts a tale of a grateful serpent bringing a ruler a stone that restores his sight, then describes tests of a different object credited with drawing out venom. Those tests found no curative effect. Readers interested in folklore and the history of beliefs will find accounts of how ordinary materials acquired extraordinary meanings, alongside descriptions of their physical properties.

About the author

George Frederick Kunz

George Frederick Kunz was an American mineralogist, gem specialist, collector, and prolific writer on precious stones. He worked for Tiffany & Co. and also served as a special agent for the United States Geological Survey, roles that joined commercial expertise with scientific and historical study. Shakespeare and Precious Stones, published by J. B.