Lapis lazuli, easily the most historically significant gemstone! used since before antiquity, this famous deep blue and golden speckled stone has been used in everything from mummy tomb detailing, to being crushed into exquisite pigments!
Vermeer used to get scolded by his friends for buying paint that is pigmented with ground lapis (natural ultramarine) when he was barely able to pay the bills. Other painters would use it sparingly, but Vermeer used LOTS. To this day Vermeer's blues are vibrant, while paintings that used cheaper blues (smalt blue in particular) have discolored or faded.
I went to a conference in Chile (in the before time) and brought back a big chunk of lapis lazuli for my wife. Easily her favorite gift from my work travels.
Any-Mouse-1992 on October 28th, 2020 at 18:08 UTC »
You can get this stone real cheap in Afghanistan
crypticthree on October 28th, 2020 at 18:30 UTC »
Vermeer used to get scolded by his friends for buying paint that is pigmented with ground lapis (natural ultramarine) when he was barely able to pay the bills. Other painters would use it sparingly, but Vermeer used LOTS. To this day Vermeer's blues are vibrant, while paintings that used cheaper blues (smalt blue in particular) have discolored or faded.
bravehamster on October 28th, 2020 at 18:35 UTC »
I went to a conference in Chile (in the before time) and brought back a big chunk of lapis lazuli for my wife. Easily her favorite gift from my work travels.