steam during the Renaissance.
Fabulously wealthy merchant families vied for exotic
ways to outfinesse one another in a free-wheeling diplo-
matic system governed by marriage agreements (doweries)
and grandiose displays of wealth and favor.
And then too, the Renaissance mind was busy exploring
and rediscovering the natural wonders and preciosities of
the world. Rare shells, gems, polished stones, carved rhino-
ceros horns, antique relics and bits of statue became the
rage; and "col|ectomania" was born.
To such an extent were these objects prized, princes and
wealthy mercantile patrons put jewelers by the score to
work making proper settings and constructions to show off
P and highlight these fine bibelots.
A good many of these baubles were used to confirm an
alliance or introduce an ambassador to a strange court; and
v as many were used to pay off colossal debts and ransoms.
Needless to say where opulence treads, avarice slinks hun-
grily behind.
Bibelots through the centuries have been stolen, disas-
sembled and reassembled. jewels have disappeared, only to
turn up years later in private collections far afield. Neck-
laces have been unstrung and their gems reworked into new
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