Gems, in Ecclesiastical Art
Gems, in Ecclesiastical Art
Precious stones were employed in very early times for a great variety of ecclesiastical purposes, some articles, such as chalices, etc., being made wholly of stones more or less precious, and others, such as altars, etc., being decorated therewith The most artistic purpose, however, was their use for seals, especially by engraving emblems of a religious: character, chiefly taken from Scripture, particularly the fish, the dove, the lamb, a ship, or some other emblematic device. Occasionally a historical subject is attempted. The monogram of Christ almost always appears on them.