Léxico referido a las piedras preciosas en el Quilatador de la plata, oro y piedras (1572), de Juan de Arfe y Villafañe

Abstract

Quilatador de la plata, oro y piedras (Valladolid, 1572), by Juan de Arfe y Villafañe, is a practical manual for the consultation of assayers and stone appraisers published at a time when the techniques used in the valuation of metals and minerals achieve great precision. The purpose of this work is to present and analyze the voices referring to the precious stones collected in this treatise, which includes both designations of the gems known in this period and technicalities related to their characteristics or carving. The late reception of some of these terms in the dictionaries makes this Renaissance work a valuable source for the historical study of the specialized lexicon.