Lapidary (from the Latin lapidarius) is the practice of shaping stone, minerals, or gemstones into decorative items such as cabochons, engraved gems (including cameos), and faceted designs. A person who practices lapidary is known as a lapidarist. A lapidarist uses the lapidary techniques of cutting, grinding, and polishing.[1][2][3] Hardstone carving requires specialized carving techniques.[2]
In modern contexts, a gemcutter is a person who specializes in cutting diamonds, but in older contexts the term refers to artists who produced hardstone carvings; engraved gems such as jade carvings, a branch of miniature sculpture or ornament in gemstone.
By extension, the term lapidary has sometimes been applied to collectors of and dealers in gems, or to anyone who is knowledgeable in precious stones.[4]
- ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1860). "Lapidary". The New American Cyclopædia. Vol. X, Jerusalem–MacFerrin. New York: Appleton. pp. 310–311.
- ^ a b Kraus, Pansy D. (1987). "Preface". Introduction To Lapidary. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. ix. ISBN 978-0-8019-7266-9.
- ^ "Oxford Dictionaries: Definition of lapidary in English". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012.
- ^ "lapidary". Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed. Archived from the original on 3 May 2007.