Engraved Gems

"Engraved Gems" by Maxwell Sommerville is a journey through time that shows the beauty and importance of engraved gems from ancient times to the 1700s. The book looks at the art of glyptics—engraving on stones, cylinders, and seals—and how different cultures used this art form. The book starts with Sommerville's own collection at the University of Pennsylvania, explaining the long history of engraved gems. Sommerville describes how gem engraving changed over time, with periods of great skill and periods of decline. He shows how the quality of the engravings depended on the time period and the country of origin. The author's love for engraved stones is clear from the start, inviting readers to see them as important links to the past. The book promises a historical look at gem engraving, showing its role in both art and science.