Why Lapis Lazuli Was Once More Precious Than Gold

About this episode

For more than 6,000 years, lapis lazuli has been prized as a stone, a pigment and a symbol of deep blue beauty. In this episode of Gem Pursuit, Matthew and Fenia look at lapis lazuli from every angle: the name, the colour, the mineral make-up, the ancient trade routes, the use of lapis in burial objects, the creation of ultramarine pigment and the way antique jewellers judge it today. Matthew also shares practical buying and handling advice, from the meaning of "Afghan blue" to spotting scuffed stones, modern carved lapis made to look old, surface treatment, imitation stones and why ultrasonic cleaners are a bad idea for lapis. Chapters: 00:00 Opening hook 00:25 Courtville bake-off and the colour blue 01:04 Lapis in signets, museums and Art Deco 01:27 Matthew's lost lapis ring story 04:19 What "lapis lazuli" means 05:47 Is lapis a stone or a rock? 06:29 Lazurite, pyrite, calcite and colour 07:19 Mohs hardness and why lapis can be carved 08:35 How lapis forms and why it is used for objects 09:21 Lapis vessels at the Louvre 09:41 Cultural meanings of lapis 10:42 Burial sites, Queen Puabi and Tutankhamun 13:53 Lapis demand and ultramarine pigment 14:50 Vermeer and Girl with a Pearl Earring 15:23 Synthetic ultramarine changes the market 16:30 How dealers judge lapis 17:45 "Afghan blue" as a colour term 18:32 Pyrite, calcite and collector preference 20:00 Art Deco lapis and value beyond materials 21:36 Modern carved lapis made to look old 22:39 Scuffed lapis and repair risks 24:30 Treatment, acetone and buying cautions 25:33 Care, cleaning and natural light checks 26:03 Imitation lapis and sodalite 26:51 Gem Trivial Pursuit: Lapis Lazuli edition 33:00 Outro and credits Visit Courtville: www.courtville.ie Gem Pursuit: www.gempursuit.com Get social with Courtville, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok Instagram: @gempursuitpod Instagram: @courtvilleantiques TikTok: @matthew.weldon Email: info@gempursuit.com This podcast was produced for Courtville by Tape Deck