Generally, a black siliceous stone (usually basanite) related to flint that is used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal. In recent years someother material is sometimes used for the purpose, the requirements being that it is black, harder than the metal to be tested, and finely grained, e.g. unglazed black basaltes made by Wedgwood.
Touchstone
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Explanation on touchstone by Adin antique jewelry
Adin Academy
Touchstone
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Generally, a black siliceous stone (usually basanite) related to flint that is used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal. In recent years someother material is sometimes used for the purpose, the requirements being that it is black, harder than the metal to be tested, and finely grained, e.g. unglazed black basaltes made by Wedgwood.
Also known as:
References
From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson
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