The science of gems, jewels, coins, and medals, ancient and modern

the long version

Beginning with the works of ancient Greece, Billing discusses the use of engraved gems, putting cameos and intaglios in the context of contemporary monumental sculpture, and tracing the history of carving in miniature back to the seal-stones of the Egyptians and Assyrians. He also considers the types and qualities of mineral used in making jewellery, from semi-precious pebbles through to diamonds, and he describes the techniques of cutting precious stones. The work concludes with a translation, by Mrs Billing. of the partial autobiography of the Italian engraver Benedetto Pistrucci (1784-1855), who became chief medallist at the Royal Mint. Pistrucci's biography is then completed [by Billing?].