| Word |
Description |
| Mabe' |
(Or Mobe'): A Japanese term for cultured pearls which are cultured against the shell so that only half a pearl is formed resembling a half-sphere. |
| Maenad |
Maenads were the female followers of Dionysus, the most significant members of the Thiasus, the retinue of Dionysus. Their name literally translates as "raving ones". Often the maenads were portrayed as inspired by him into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication. In this state, they would lose all self control, begin shouting excitedly, engage in uncontrolled sexual behavior, and ritualistically hunt down and tear animals (and sometimes men and children) to pieces, devouring the raw flesh. During these rites, the maenads would dress in fawn skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped by a pine cone, weave ivy-wreaths around their heads, and often handle or wear snakes. |
| Magnesia |
Also called periclase, magnesia is a light, solid, white earthy mineral composed of magnesium oxide. It is a source of magnesium and is used as a laxative. It takes its name from Magnesia, an ancient city of Asia Minor, and is a mineral ingredient of the philosophers' stone. |
| Magnesium |
A light, silvery-white, moderately hard, malleable, ductile, metallic element which only occurs in nature as a compound with other elements, as found in magnesite, spinel and olivine. In ribbon or powder form magnesium burns with a brilliant white flame, (the so-called magnesium light), which is used in signaling, pyrotechnics, incendiary bombs, or in photography where a strong actinic illuminant is required. |
| Maker's Mark |
The proprietary mark of the individual silversmith. It ensures a responsible party for the standard mark. |
| Malachite |
A hydrous carbonate of copper, malachite is an opaque green stone characterized by bands of light and dark green which have very pronounced contrast and are often concentric. A source of copper. |
| Maltese Cross |
Named for the Knights of Malta, a group of knights who bore this symbol on their tabards during the Crusades. A Maltese cross has four broad arms of equal length with a V shaped notch cut out of the ends. |
| Manganese |
A gray-white or silvery brittle, metallic, element which resembles iron but is not magnetic. It is found abundantly in the ores pyrolusite, manganite, and rhodochrosite and in nodules on the ocean floor. Manganese is alloyed with iron to form ferromanganese, which is used to increase strength, hardness, and wear resistance of steel. |
| Manganite |
Steel-gray or iron-black crystals composed of manganese oxide. Used as a source of manganese. |
| Marble |
A metamorphic rock composed of calcium carbonate, (like aragonite or coral), or carbonate of lime, (limestone or dolomite, a variety of calcite), which is swirled or clouded with color. It is most often used for architectural and ornamental purposes. The most common variety is white, but it can also be yellow, red, or green. |
| Marbled |
A stone, or other object, with two or more colors swirled together. |
| Marcasite |
A mineral with the same composition as pyrite, (fool's gold), and often called "white iron pyrite", but differing in crystal structure. It can be faceted like a gemstone and is often used in sterling silver jewelry. |
| Marina Chain |
A chain composed of small, round, diamond cut links that are designed to lie flat like a curb link chain, but are set very close together. |
| Mariner Link |
A chain link resembling a flat oval with a flat bar in the middle of the ring. A figogucci chain is a variant form. |
| Marquise |
(Mar-KEYS, also called a navette). An oval shape gemstone which tapers to a point at both ends, named for the Marquise de Pompadour, Mistress of King Louis XV. |
| Matinee Length |
A necklace which is 30 to 35 inches long. |
| Matte Jewelry |
Matte: With jewelry which has a matte finish the designer uses either a chemical process or an abrasive material to scratch the top layers of the piece creating a dull and non-reflective surface. Also referred to as having a "brushed finish.". |
| Measure |
A container of standard capacity regulated by government inspectors who verified the capacity and placed verification marks on the measures. Lidded baluster measures of the "Bud" and "Double volute" type were exported to this country from England and marked with American verification marks. It is believed that some of these baluster types were made in America but only a couple have been found with American maker's marks.
The Boardmans of Connecticut made lidless baluster measures in the 19th century. English bulbous measures were made throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th century but were never exported to this country. However thousands have been brought to this country by dealers and collectors since World War II. |
| Melanite |
A common black variety of garnet composed of iron lime. |
| Mica |
A group of minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium which are common in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Mica vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black and characteristically split into very thin leaves. Sheets of mica used in insulation and electrical equipment because of their resistance to electricity. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc. |
| Micromosaic |
Ancient Roman mosaic created by using minute pieces of colored glass or stone called tesserae, up to 1400 per square inch. Micromosaics were used for brooches and pins.
|
| Milgrain |
A raised, beaded edge on a ring done with a special engraver's tool; resembling the edge of a coin. |
| Milgrain Setting |
A milgrain design engraved into the edge of the metal securing a stone in place. |
| Millefiori |
Glass or clay beads with embedded floral designs. Millefiori means "a thousand flowers" in Italian. |
| Mine Cut |
Differs from the modern Brilliant cut only in its girdle shape, which is square instead of round, a higher crown, smaller table, deeper pavilion, and larger culet, but the number and arrangement of the facets are the same. It is lumpier than the form accepted today. This form of cut surfaced in the early 1800's and began to disappear around the turn of the 20th century. |
| Mineral Crystal |
Quartz: The family name for crystals composed of silica or silicon dioxide occurring in hexagonal crystals. The most common variety is colorless and transparent. This is often referred to as Clear Quartz, Rock Crystal or simply Quartz. The crystalline varieties include: amethyst, ametrine, citrine, rose quartz, and smoky quartz. There are a variety of crypto-crystalline varieties including agate (chalcedony), onyx, sardonyx, carnelian, sard, chrysoprase, bloodstone, jasper, and prase. (see individual listings). Quartz is an essential constituent of granite, forms the rocks quartzite and , and makes most of the sand of the seashore. |
| Mint Condition |
A piece having no signs of wear whatsoever, including no discolored stones in jewellery. A piece that is in Mint Condition is in virtually the same condition as it was when it left the manufacturer. Considering that vintage jewelry is usually 50 or more years old, and that it likely has been worn, it is obviously quite rare to find a piece that is truly in Mint Condition. |
| Mohs Scale |
A measure of a mineral's hardness and its resistance to scratching invented by Austrian mineralogist, Friedrich Moh. The scale goes from talc (number 1) being the softest, to diamonds as number 10, being the hardest substance known by man. Most gemstones fall in the 6-8 range |
| Mollusk |
An invertebrate animal usually enclosed in a shell, such as an oyster, mussel or clam. |
| Monoclinic |
A system of crystallization wherein two crystal axes intersect obliquely and are perpendicular to the third. See Amphibole. |
| Moonstone |
A transparent, slightly iridescent, milky white variety of feldspar with white or light blue opalescent spots. Moonstone is considered a good luck stone, especially for lovers. |
| Morganite |
A pink variety of beryl found in California, Brazil, and Madagascar named after J.P. Morgan. |
| Morse |
A clasp used by the clergy for fastening garments, such as a cape, in front. It is usually very large, from 12.5 to 17.5 cm in diameter, of various materials and shapes, and decorated in religious themes. |
| Mosaic |
A design created by pressing pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic tile, (called tesserae), in mortar. See also: micromosaics. |
| Moss Agate |
A type of agate displaying a variety of green splotches with a little white or clear. Not much different than Tree agate. |
| MOT |
(UK) Ministry of Transport test certificate – but not necessarily proof of road worthiness |
| Mother-of-pearl |
The pearlescent material on the inside of mollusk shells like abalone, oysters, and mussels. This material can be scraped off, sliced thin, and used as inlay on a variety of jewelry, furniture, etc. |
| Mothers' Rings |
A kind of "family jewelry", Mother's rings are rings personalized with their children's birthstones or with birthstones and names. |
| Mourning Jewelry |
Jewelry worn to commemorate the death of a loved one, usually in the form of a ring, brooch, or necklace; widely worn during the Victorian era when the death of Prince Albert plunged Queen Victoria into a lifetime of mourning. See Filigree, Jet, and Jabot Pin. |
| MPG |
Miles per gallon |
| Muff Chain |
A long chain with a clasp used to suspend a lady’s fur muff. |
| Mug |
A lidless, handled container of various forms and standard capacities. Frequently used in pubs to serve beer, ale, or spirits. Pub pieces may have a variety of marks to include makers, capacity, verification, and others which suggest provenance. Mugs are usually wider at the bottom than at the top. Silver mugs are often called "Canns". |
| Multi-reed |
A descriptive term for a plate, dish or charger with several decorative rings at the edge of the rim, usually cast but occasionally incised. Popular from 1675 to 1715. Scarce in English pewter; extremely rare in American pewter. |
| Mutchkin |
A Scottish measure that is one quarter of a Scots pint (15 fluid ounces). |
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