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MOSS AGATE
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hornblende, manganese, or other iron-based minerals, which take on shapes akin to lattices of moss, vines or branches, creating with their intricate designs the unique quality and rarity of this kind of gem. The green chromite confers the tonality, which can vary from brown-green to a grey-green to a paler and light green. The historical and cultural context reveals the strong presence of moss agate since antiquity, where it was used primarily for its properties considered healing and protective, then worn in the form of amulet or talisman to ward off negative energy and attract positive energy. During medieval times, in Europe the gemstone was used in agriculture to encourage prosperity, through its placement in the fields and gardens, to stimulate fruitful growth of plants and promote bountiful harvests. In native American cultures moss agate was venerated for its connection with nature and the earth and used in rituals and in ceremonies to communicate with the spirits. Moss agate is used in multiple occasions: in the creation of all kinds of jewellery, traditional and contemporary, enhanced and embellished with
In alto: due bottiglie di tabacco da fiuto in agata muschiata, dinastia Qing, XVIII-XIX secolo. (Ph. Sotheby’s). Sopra, da sinistra: anello con agata muschiata al centro, dotata di lunetta protettiva, (Ph. www.gemsociety.org by CustomMade - www.custommade.com); agata muschiata a forma di farfalla (Ph. www.gemrockauctions.com).
Top: two snuff bottles in moss agate, Qing dynasty, 18th-19th century (Ph. Sotheby’s). Above, from left: ring with moss agate at the centre, with protective bezel (Ph. www.gemsociety.org by CustomMade - www.custommade.com); moss agate in the shape of a butterfly (Ph. www.gemrockauctions.com).