Antique 4ct Hematite Ancient Neolithic Paleolithic Ochre Warrior Body Face Paint

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Seller: Top-Rated Seller ancientgifts ✉️ (5,440) 100%, Location: Lummi Island, Washington, US, Ships to: WORLDWIDE, Item: 381868071117 Antique 4ct Hematite Ancient Neolithic Paleolithic Ochre Warrior Body Face Paint.

Two Genuine, Natural, Richly Textured Black/Gray Variegated Hematite Semi-Precious Gemstones on 14kt Gold Fill Kidney Wire Earrings.

Two antique hand crafted gemstones, each about 7mm diameter and about 2 carats, mounted onto high quality 14kt gold fill kidney wires (not cheap gold electroplate). Accented with four 2mm white chalcedony semi-precious gemstone beads. Total gemstone weight about 4 carats.

NOTE: 14kt solid gold settings and other setting styles (studs, lever backs, euro clicks, French hooks, ball/stud dangles, etc., are available upon request, as are sterling silver settings.

NOTE: If you would like only the gemstones, and not the settings, we can dismount the gemstones and offer you the gemstones without the settings. Just let us know, and yes, we’ll discount the price by the cost of the settings.

DETAIL: Yemen, the land of the Biblical Queen of Sheba, was one of the traditional sources of hematite for Mediterranean Europe and the Near East from the Middle Ages backward in time into the pre-historic Stone Age. Red Ochre is a form of hematite which was used by many primitive cultures as a face and body paint tracing at least 100,000 years backward into human pre-history. Hematite has been used for ornamental purposes since the earliest days of recorded human civilization. The ancient Egyptians used hematite in the creation of their magical amulets such as the carpenter stone, head rest amulets, and heart amulets. Some of these amulets were treatments for madness and inflammation. In several royal tombs hematite signet rings have been found once belonging to the interned Pharaoh. Hematite's use as a healing stone reaches back not only to ancient Egypt, but as well to ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient healing traditions for hematite were originally described using the name “bloodstone”. It was used to stop the flow of blood from wounds and drawing poisons from the body.

Subject of intense scientific interest on Mars by America’s Mars rovers, here are two richly textured black and gray variegated hematite “acorn” cut spherical gemstones of earthly origin. These very handsome semi-precious gemstones originated in Yemen, the land of the Biblical Queen of Sheba, one of the traditional sources of Neolithic Levant and European obsidian and hematite predating recorded history. The gemstones have been cut to resemble little raspberries – or perhaps acorns. In any event, a textured surface strongly reminiscent of a raspberry or blackberry. The gemstones were handcrafted in the 1950’s in Bombay, India into these beautiful little spheres and then hand drilled. These antique gemstones have been mounted onto high quality contemporary 14kt gold fill kidney wires. These are not cheap, gold electroplated earrings. They are genuine solid 14kt gold fill , designed to last a lifetime. It's a first-class piece of jewelry throughout. Though the gemstones are antique, hand crafted and hand matched, the settings are contemporary. If you prefer, the gemstones could be remounted onto French hooks, lever backs, euroclicks, or ball studs if you would prefer; or remounted onto 14kt solid gold or sterling silver.

Under magnification the gemstones show the unmistakable characteristics of having been hand crafted. The coarseness of the handcrafted finish is considered appealing to most gemstone collectors, and is not considered a detriment, or to detract from the value of a gemstone. These characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, most serious collectors consider such gemstones more desirable, possessed of greater character and uniqueness when compared to today's cookie-cutter mass-produced machine-cut and finished gemstones. Unlike today’s computer controlled machine produced gemstones that approach flawlessness in a perfect finish, the cut and finish of a handcrafted gemstone such as these are the cultural legacy passed onwards by artisans who lived centuries ago. Such hand-crafted gemstones possess much greater character and appeal than today's mass-produced machined gemstones.

These gemstones have great luster and character, but that is not to imply that they are absolutely flawless. True, the blemishes they possess are virtually invisible to the naked eye, and to the view of the casual admirer the gemstones are indeed seemingly without blemish. However in the accompanying photo enlargements you might be able to discern a few minute blemishes as well as occasional irregularities in the cut and finish. Of course the same may said about almost any natural gemstone. An absolutely flawless gemstone simply is not the rule in nature. Most absolutely flawless gemstones will upon close examination be revealed to be synthetic. Furthermore these characteristics are not only expected of hand-finished gemstones, you must also consider that two centuries ago the mining techniques even possible then, let alone in practice, did not allow the ultra deep mining operations which are so commonplace today.

Keep in mind two centuries ago mankind was more or less limited to surface deposits or near surface deposits of gemstones. Higher quality gemstones which today are routinely mined from beneath hundreds of meters, even kilometers beneath the earth's surface, were simply inaccessible then. For these reasons antique gemstone must be appreciated as antiques first, gemstones second. The relatively superlative quality of contemporary gemstones mined from deep beneath the earth's surface were simply not accessible two centuries ago, or at least, only rarely so. But for most, the unique nature and character of these antique gemstones more than makes up for the blemishes found within the gemstones, as well as the cutting and finishing irregularities common to handcrafted gemstones, all of which are by and large are only visible under magnification.

Domestic shipping (insured first class mail) is included in the price shown. Domestic shipping also includes USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site ). Canadian shipments are an extra $14.99 for Insured Air Mail; International shipments are an extra $18.99 for Air Mail (and generally are NOT tracked; trackable shipments are EXTRA). ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per item so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers.

We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. If you intend to pay via PayPal, please be aware that PayPal Protection Policies REQUIRE insured, trackable shipments, which is INCLUDED in our price. International tracking is at additional cost. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with. If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price (less our original shipping costs).

We travel to Russia each year seeking antique gemstones and jewelry from one of the globe’s most prolific gemstone producing and cutting centers, the area between Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, Russia. From all corners of Siberia, as well as from India, Ceylon, Burma and Siam, gemstones have for centuries gone to Yekaterinburg where they have been cut and incorporated into the fabulous jewelry for which the Czars and the royal families of Europe were famous for. My wife grew up and received a university education in the Southern Urals of Russia, just a few hours away from the mountains of Siberia, where alexandrite, diamond, emerald, sapphire, chrysoberyl, topaz, demantoid garnet, and many other rare and precious gemstones are produced. Though perhaps difficult to find in the USA, antique gemstones are commonly unmounted from old, broken settings – the gold reused – the gemstones recut and reset.

Before these gorgeous antique gemstones are recut, we try to acquire the best of them in their original, antique, hand-finished state – most of them centuries old. We believe that the work created by these long-gone master artisans is worth protecting and preserving rather than destroying this heritage of antique gemstones by recutting the original work out of existence. That by preserving their work, in a sense, we are preserving their lives and the legacy they left for modern times. Far better to appreciate their craft than to destroy it with modern cutting. Not everyone agrees – fully 95% or more of the antique gemstones which come into these marketplaces are recut, and the heritage of the past lost. But if you agree with us that the past is worth protecting, and that past lives and the produce of those lives still matters today, consider buying an antique, hand cut, natural gemstone rather than one of the mass-produced machine cut (often synthetic or “lab produced”) gemstones which dominate the market today.

Our interest in the fabulous history of Russian gemstones and the fabulous jewelry of the Czar’s led to further education and contacts in India, Ceylon, and Siam, other ancient centers of gemstone production and finishing. We have a number of “helpers” (family members, friends, and colleagues) in Russia and in India who act as eyes and ears for us year-round, and in reciprocity we donate a portion of our revenues to support educational institutions in Russia and India. Occasionally while in Russia, India, Siam, and Ceylon we will also find such good buys on unique contemporary gemstones and jewelry that we will purchase a few pieces to offer to our customers here in America. These are always offered clearly labeled as contemporary, and not antiques – just to avoid confusion. We can set most any antique gemstone you purchase from us in your choice of styles and metals ranging from rings to pendants to earrings and bracelets; in sterling silver, 14kt solid gold, and 14kt gold fill. When you purchase from us, you can count on quick shipping and careful, secure packaging. We would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from me. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."

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  • Material: Gemstone
  • Gemstone: Carved Hematite
  • Jewelry: Earrings

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