Black onyx is a form of agate, and is viewed today as a semi-precious stone. However, in the eighteenth century it was extremely rare. In fact, it was sometimes referred to as the king of stones. August the Strong’s comprehensive collection of gems included no less than two hundred and eleven partly-cut onyxes.
Johann Melchior Dinglinger acquired this for the king. As you see, it is regular-shaped and has been polished almost flat. At the time, it was considered to be the largest onyx in the world, and Dinglinger paid an astronomical price for it. He crowned this king of stones with three smaller oval-shaped onyx panels, and added a delicate little onyx below. He then gave them a splendid setting of emeralds, pearls and diamonds. Hanging in the jewel room of the Green Vault, this piece must have been quite an eye-catcher!
- Ort & Datierung
- Dresden, vor 1727
- Material & Technik
- Onyx, Silber, vergoldet, Smaragde, Diamanten, Perlen
- Abmessungen
- H 49 cm, B 22,3 cm, T 1,9 cm; Dm untere Perle 1,25 cm; Gewicht: 818 g
- Museum
- Grünes Gewölbe
- Inventarnummer
- VIII 205