Gemstone Carving

Carving commonly refers to the cutting of decorative objects from a larger mass. Stones as hard as 7 on the Mohs’ scale were carved in Ancient Egypt, China, and Babylon. Impure corundum (emery) was used for carving and engraving in India; nowadays a hand-held chisel or turning machine is used. Popular stones for carving include serpentine, malachite, Blue John, rhodonite, azurite, and rhodochrosite.

Carving in China dates back to the Neolithic period. The most prized material was imported nephrite. Decorative models like pagoda are still made there.

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