History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c17.s2.t4.5

v1.c17.s2.t4.5

Marshall’s view (1975: Chapter 37, p. 739) is “that the real purpose of glazing was to give to quartz the appearance of beryl or aquamarine, both of which were very rare and very much prized. Pale blue would give to quartz an appearance like that of beryl or aquamarine, and this no doubt is why one of these beads from Sirkap was cut to the shape of a hexagonal cylinder, which is the natural form of beryl”.