Shaping stone, mineral or gemstone material into decorative pieces, most often by tumbling rough stone smooth, cutting a rounded cabochon, or faceting a gem to precise angles, practiced either professionally or, for most hobbyists, purely as a pastime. Home lapidary work typically uses motorized equipment, a diamond-impregnated saw to cut the stone, then abrasive wheels and polishing compounds to shape and finish it, and requires real knowledge of a given mineral's hardness to choose the right cutting approach; hobby lapidary clubs commonly share equipment that would otherwise be too costly for an individual to own alone.
Facts
OriginLapidary work traces to the Stone Age, with roots in stone drilling roughly one million years ago; early Egyptians developed methods for cutting and fashioning lapis lazuli, turquoise, and amethyst, and lapidary trade linked Africa and India by the 1st millennium CE. 1 Partially Attested
Established When (Circa)Marks the ancient origin of stone-shaping generally; the source gives no specific date for when lapidary became an organized hobby pursuit with clubs. Connections
Associated With
Rockhounds who collect gem-quality material commonly cut and polish it themselves, making lapidary work a natural extension of rockhounding.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Lapidary - Wikipedia
Lead paragraph
the practice of shaping stone, minerals, or gemstones into decorative items such as cabochons, engraved gems (including cameos), and faceted designs
History section, opening sentence
The earliest known lapidary work likely occurred during the Stone Age.
History section, Egyptian methods sentence
The early Egyptians developed cutting and jewelry fashioning methods for lapis lazuli, turquoise, and amethyst.
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