The Magic of Jewels and Charms

About this book

A ring is worn for protection, an engraved stone promises good fortune, and a precious gem becomes the centre of a story passed down for centuries. George Frederick Kunz follows the long human habit of giving objects more than their material value.

The book explores talismans, charms, religious gems and jewellery associated with particular powers and traditions. Kunz brings his knowledge of stones to a wealth of historical anecdotes, showing how different societies interpreted their colours, shapes and supposed influences. Its pages belong to the history of belief as much as to the history of jewellery.