Erusal

One doesn’t usually associate beautiful jewelry with the time of the Spanish Inquisition. But in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of gems, there is an exquisite necklace holder stand and a necklace badge holder of diamonds and emeralds.

It is a spectacular double row of diamonds and emeralds finishing in a chandelier of emeralds. There is unfortunately no information about the history of this necklace holders. The big diamonds and Columbian emeralds were most likely carved in India in the 17th century. This would make them one of the earliest examples of cut gemstones in the Smithsonian’s Collection. They are really only stories surrounding this necklace and what type of wall necklace holder display stand were used in this era. They indicate that it was worn at times by Spanish and French high class society. In the early 20th century, it was bought by the Maharajah of Indore, whose son sold the necklace in 1947 to Harry Winston. Winston subsequently sold the necklace to Mrs. Cora Hubbard Williams of Pittsburgh. She bequeathed it to the Smithsonian in 1972.

Emeralds are a form of crystal known as beryls. Beryls are usually clear crystals, but when infused with chromium or vanadium, they attain many gradations of green. The shiniest green are the rarest emeralds and many people actually like an emerald that has a blue-green tint.

Prior to the 16th century, the only known emerald deposits were in Cleopatra’s Egyptian mines. But after emeralds were found in Columbia, those later became the “gold standard” in emeralds. Columbian emeralds have been discovered by archaeologists among artifacts of such tribes as the Inca, Maya, Aztec, Toltec and the almost unknown Chibcha Indians.

Foxhounds were the original canine breeds in Great Britain to come under the domination of scientific breeding. There were hounds of more ancient origin, e.g., the Southern Hound and the Bloodhound; but a different breed was wanted towards the end of the 17th century to hunt the wild deer that had become somewhat scattered after Cromwell’s civil war.

The demand was therefore for a quicker hound than those previously known, and people devoted to the chase began to breed it.

Here are the characteristics of this breed:

Head:-

Somewhat broad, not peaked like the Bloodhound, but long from the apex to the frontal bones, eyebrows very prominent, cheeks cut clean from the eye to the nostril, low set ears and, in their natural condition, thin and shapely, but not large, nose large, level and strong jaw, and small dewlaps, and fierce expression.

Eyes:-

Very bright and deeply set, full of determination, and with a very steady expression. The look of the Foxhound is very remarkable.

Neck:-

Should be perfectly clean, no skin ruffle whatever. The length of neck is important, both for stooping and giving an air of majesty.

Shoulders:-

The blades should be well into the back, and should slant, otherwise be wide and strong, to meet the arms, that should be long and powerful.

Legs and feet:-

The bone should be perfectly straight from the arm downward, and descend in the same degree of size to the ankles. The knee should be almost flat and level; there should be no curve until coming to the toes, which should be very strong, round, cat-shaped, and every toe clean set as it were.

Coat:-

The coat is hard hair, but short and smooth, the texture is as stiff as bristles, but beautifully laid.

Colour:-

Belvoir tan, which is brown and black, perfectly intermixed, with white markings of various shapes and sizes. The white should be very opaque and clear. Black and white, with tan markings on head and stifles. Badger pied a kind of grey and white. Lemon pied, light yellow and white. Hare pied, a darker yellow and white.

Height:-

Dogs from 23-1/2 to 24 inches; bitches from 22 to 22-1/2 inches.

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