Ruspoli Sapphire
Encyclopedia
The Ruspoli Sapphire, also known as the Wooden Spoon-Seller's Sapphire and the Great Sapphire of Louis XIV, is a 135.8 carat (27.16 g) blue sapphire
nearly without flaw. It possesses only six facets and is known for its distinctive lozenge
shape.
The legend of the sapphire's origins begins with its discovery by a wooden spoon-seller in Bengal
. It then came into the hands of Italian
Prince Francesco Maria Ruspoli in the 17th century. By 1691, King Louis XIV possessed the gemstone and placed it in the French Crown Jewels
. It was confiscated by the revolutionary government during the French Revolution
. Today the sapphire resides in the Paris Museum of Natural History.
Sapphire
Sapphire is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide , when it is a color other than red or dark pink; in which case the gem would instead be called a ruby, considered to be a different gemstone. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give...
nearly without flaw. It possesses only six facets and is known for its distinctive lozenge
Lozenge
A lozenge , often referred to as a diamond, is a form of rhombus. The definition of lozenge is not strictly fixed, and it is sometimes used simply as a synonym for rhombus. Most often, though, lozenge refers to a thin rhombus—a rhombus with acute angles of 45°...
shape.
The legend of the sapphire's origins begins with its discovery by a wooden spoon-seller in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. It then came into the hands of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Prince Francesco Maria Ruspoli in the 17th century. By 1691, King Louis XIV possessed the gemstone and placed it in the French Crown Jewels
French Crown Jewels
The French Crown Jewels were the crowns, orb, sceptres, diadems and jewels that were the symbol of royalty and which were worn by many Kings and Queens of France. The set was finally broken up, with most of it sold off in 1885 by the Third French Republic...
. It was confiscated by the revolutionary government during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Today the sapphire resides in the Paris Museum of Natural History.