Derbyshire Blue John

Description

A translucent bluish-purple fluorspar with white clouds and dark purple, brown and yellow veins. Bluejohn is quarried in Derbyshire, England. In the 18th century, it was popularly carved into decorative objects, such as vases, table tops, boxes, and cosmetic jars. These were usually exported to France. Bluejohn is a fragile stone and was often bonded with adhesives to make it easier to work.

Synonyms and Related Terms

bluejohn; Derbyshire spar; bleu-jaune (Fr.)

Authority

• Jack Odgen, Jewellery of the Ancient World, Rizzoli International Publications Inc., New York City, 1982

• Frank A. Lent, Trade names and Descriptions of Marbles, Limestones, Sandstones, Granites and Other Building Stones Quarried in the United States Canada and other Countries., Stone Publishing Co, New York, 1925

• R.F.Symmes, T.T.Harding, Paul Taylor, Rocks, Fossils and Gems, DK Publishing, Inc., New York City, 1997

• Tom Rowland, Noel Riley, A-Z Guide to Cleaning, Conserving and Repairing Antiques, Constable and Co., Ltd., London, 1981