Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c22.s2.9

v1.c22.s2.9

Marshall's view (1975: chapter 37, p. 739) is “that the real purpose of glazing was to give the quartz the appearance of beryl or aquamarine, both of which were very rare and very much prized. Pale blue would give the 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”.