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Pitt Rivers Museum

1971.15.1388.3

A faceted tear drop shaped, synthetic ruby made by Verneuil process. Perforated through the top [SM 04/11/2010]


1971.15.1388.3

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
A faceted tear drop shaped, synthetic ruby made by Verneuil process. Perforated through the top [SM 04/11/2010]
Person
Field collector Anthony John Arkell
PRM source Anthony John Arkell
Date / Period
Date made: After 1910
Date collected
By 1948
Acquisition information
Donated: 26/10/1971
Materials and processes
Material Bead, Material Synthetic, Process Perforated, Process Faceted, Process Ground
Dimensions
Width: max 9 mm, Length: max 13 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1971.15.1388.3
Research and responses

The Verneuil process is a method of producing synthetic rubies and sapphires developed by the chemist Auguste Vernenuil in 1902. The process involves melting a finely powdered Alumina with an oxyhydron torch and crystallising the melted droplets into a boule. The boule has the same physical and chemical characteristics as corundum. Before 1940 all synthetic corundum was made in Switzerland, Germany and France.. Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition "Verneuil process". [SM 04/11/2010]

Search terms: Ornament, Bead, Trade