The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, the largest Buddha carved from gemstone-quality jade in the world, is the centrepiece of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia. Standing 2.5 metres tall and weighing 4 tonnes, this priceless Buddhist statue toured over 120 cities across 20 countries from 2009 to 2018, inspiring peace in families, schools, and communities worldwide. After attracting an estimated 12 million visitors, it returned to the Great Stupa in May 2018, where it continues to be a potent symbol of peace. This framed certificate, issued by the Vietnamese Gemstones Association and presented to Ian Green on 16 May 2009, affirms the authenticity and exceptional quality of the jade used to carve the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. It serves as both a material validation and a gesture of international recognition.jade buddha, memorabilia, great stupa archive

Local Scene reports by Rosalie Bray include the Diamond Valley Gem Club, Greensborough Secondary College technology night and self defence classes at Yandell Kindergarten.Newspaper clipping, black and white text.greensborough, watsonia

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, the largest Buddha carved from gemstone-quality jade in the world, is the centrepiece of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Australia. Standing 2.5 metres tall and weighing 4 tonnes, this priceless Buddhist statue toured over 120 cities across 20 countries from 2009 to 2018, inspiring peace in families, schools, and communities worldwide. After attracting an estimated 12 million visitors, it returned to the Great Stupa in May 2018, where it continues to be a potent symbol of peace. This framed certificate, issued by the Vietnamese Gemstones Association and presented to Ian Green in 2009, affirms the authenticity and exceptional quality of the jade used to carve the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace. It symbolises both material validation and international recognition of the statue’s spiritual significance.jade buddha, memorabilia, great stupa archive

3 sided dark brown polished gemstone with light brown stripes on face of stonegemstone, tiger eye

The nested cup weights were designed to make the transport of weights, essential items in most commercial transactions, more convenient. This idea goes back to Roman times. In the nested cup form, a series of weights shaped into cups are set one into the other. Each cup fits precisely into the next, larger sized cup which each larger example weighing exactly twice that of the one previous. The Troy weight system was used for precious metals and gemstones.7 x Brass troy measures of various sizes. Fine groove lines near top edge and bottom 2 x Copper sliding weights - domed.1) 32 oz Troy around top .2) 16 oz Troy around top .3) VIII R around top. Maker's mark - lidded pot (coffee/tea?) with date 1826 .4) 8 oz around top .5) 6 oz Troy around top .6) 4 oz Troy .7) 2 oz Troy "WATERS" on top of sliders with "4" on under sidenested cups weights, troy weight, precious metals, gemstones, commercial transactions, sliding weights, domed weights

Metal brooch or pin. Item is an oval shape with a centre piece with a gemstone set into it that is removeable.Object is rusted and the remains of a pin or fastener is on the reverse.bendigo, gold mining, qc binks

Presentation plaque adhered to glass front, bottom centre, gold engraving on black plastic. "Presented to the Bendigo RSL from the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat 1 July 2017"The work depicts the Soldiers Memorial Institute Building (Bendigo Military Museum) using a number of coloured gemstone chips adhered to a support board, list of Gemstone chips listed on the back of frame, original hand made craft. Frame timber with gold paint, 3D look with black fabric mount, glass front and MDF board backing and MDF board stand.Information printed on paper on back of board, "Good/idea/ Ph 704973 o0 - 5005115/ Gem name and colour/ Ruby red/Spinel pink/ Sapphire blue/ Lapis La2uh blue/ Jade green, Tomaline black/ Apatite light green/ Peridot light green"framed accessories, rotary club, smirsl, brsl

This kind of beads was commonly worn by women in the early to mid 20th century. This item is from the Raper Collection donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Mrs. Jean Raper.A long string of mauve faceted beads. Faceted beads have many flattened edges done in such a way as to make them look like a cut gemstone.decorative items, women's jewellery, fashion accessory

3 Brooches - metal. VEMU624.1 - Intertwined letters "A" and "B" in centre VEMU624.2 - Fan-shaped, "Mary" cut out in centre VEMU624.3 - With amber-coloured gemstone in centreemerald, victoria, australia, jewellery

A Collar stud made by Herbert Keith Merriman, under the company name "British Make Gilt". It has a white end piece at the larger end, with a red gemstone set into the detachable smaller end.bendigo, gold mining, qc binks, qc binks

In Australia, precious opal is found in Cretaceous age sandstones and mudstones. These sedimentary rocks were deeply weathered and this weathering released silica into the groundwater.Australia is the only part of the world where opalised animal and plant fossils have been found. Opal artefacts several thousands of years old have been discovered in East Africa. As early as 250 BC the Romans prized opals, thought to have come from mines in Eastern Europe, the ancient world's main source of opals. There are many aboriginal dreamtime stories that feature opal. Australian opals discovered during the late 1800's found little favour with European markets but their commercial value increased in the 1900's and in 1932 Australia took over as the major producer of opals in the world and remains the largest producer to this day. Opal is found around the world (Brazil, Mexico, Honduras and the western US) however Australia produces 95% of the world's precious opal and it is our official national gemstone. Opal was first mined commercially at Listowel Downs in Queensland in 1875 and later at White Cliffs in NSW. Today, Coober Pedy (SA) is the main producer of white opal, though in recent years this field has expanded and all types of opals are found. Other centres in SA include Andamooka and Mintabe. Lightning Ridge (NSW) is renowned for black opal and formerly White Cliffs was a large producer of high quality opal. Boulder opals (opals in concretionary ironstone) are mined in Queensland from numerous localities in a zone extending from the Eulo and Cunnamulla district in the south and northwest for a distance of over 700 km to Kynuna in the north. The towns of Quilpie, Yowah and Winton are the main opal mining and wholesale centres. Opals are considered gemstones and have been used in jewellery for thousands of years.Throughout much of history, opals were actually believed to be good luck. The Romans thought that opals were one of the luckiest gemstones and a symbol of hope. In the Middle Ages, opals were believed to be bestowed with all the positive properties of coloured gemstones due to its rainbow-like play of colour. Finally, there is a superstition that you should not wear an opal unless it is your birthstone otherwise misfortune will befall you. This, of course, is far-fetched, but the notion could have been promoted in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries by diamond traders who were trying to increase sales of diamonds and deter people from buying opals. Possibly related to this is the thought that you should set opal jewellery with diamonds as their powers of good fortune will override any negativity held by the opal. The great majority of opal does not show play of colour and is called common opal or potch however this is not the case with a precious opal. Opal is a precious gemstone, like rubies, emeralds or diamonds. Opal is rare, and it is expensive to prospect and mine for.Silica is one of the most common minerals on the planet, but precious opal is very rare – far more rare than diamonds. Precious opal is rare because the natural processes that create it rarely occur.Most (at least 95%) of the opal found by miners is common opal without gem colour. In Australia we call it potch. It can be white, grey, black or amber coloured. Even when a miner finds gem-coloured opal, most of it can’t be cut into gemstones because it’s too thin, or sandy. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study.It is not known where this opal originated, except that it is probably from Victoria, as it has been recorded from many localities in the State. Common Opal is formed from silica-rich water circulating through rocks near the Earth’s surface. It consists of minute spheres of silica arranged in different ways. In common opal, the spheres are of different sizes and randomly arranged, unlike in precious opal where the spheres are of similar size and uniformly arranged in three dimensions. These differences account for common opal generally being translucent to opaque and without the play of colours, or opalescence, displayed by precious opal. Common opal is found in many localities and different geological environments throughout Australia and the world. Precious opal requires special conditions to form and is much less common. Australia produces most to the world’s precious opal. burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, beechworth museum, geological, geological specimen, precious opal, opal, brazil, mexico, honduras, queensland, coober pedy, gemstones, jewellery, play-of-colour, light blue

A teapot is an essential item in every household, as butter tea is the national beverage in Tibet. Its rich butter content makes it perfect for the harsh climate of the Tibetan plateau. This teapot is richly decorated with turquoise, lapis lazuli and coral–highly valued gemstones in Tibetan culture, believed to have protective and healing properties. The teapot itself is a central part of Tibetan hospitality and social rituals. Ornamental silver teapot inlaid with lapis lazuli, coral and turquoise, with a lid decorated in a similar style. everyday life, silver, gemstones

c1940 Jet gemstone necklace from Mrs W.J. SebireA jet necklace with small beads and two long rectangular ones and two medium sided thicker beads at the bottom. It is threaded with black cotton. necklace, jewellery

Typed notes titled 'The Story of El Dorado' taken from the Mining & Geological Journal, dated January 1938 by D. G. Swift. Notes typed by L. G. Schilling, 13/10/69. Notes mention the disappointments, difficulties with water and the ground and floods, As well as gold they also found large quantities of tin oxide and a large variety of gemstones. A powerful jet of water was used for the mining.document, gold, eldorado, eldorado, the story of el dorado, mining & geological journal january 1938, d g swift, the argus 19/10/1855, kneebone & company, wellington party, mcevoy mine, kneebone mine, tin oxide, gemstones, united eldorado company, mining registrar, ovens gold and tin mining, eldorado extended, perserverance, great extended gold and tin mining, wellington company, mr william dunstan, united ovens gold and tin, the warrior, try again company, mcevoy disaster, cock's pioneer electric gold and tin sluicing company, mr h falsoner, cock's pioneer gold and tin mines n l company, state electricity commission, hydraulic sluicing, gold dredge, cock's eldorado company, l g schilling

Although it is not known where these specimens were collected, Victoria and other regions of Australia were surveyed for sites of potential mineral wealth throughout the 19th Century. The identification of sites containing valuable commodities such as gold, iron ore and gemstones in a locality had the potential to shape the development and history of communities and industries in the area. The discovery of gold in Victoria, for instance, had a significant influence on the development of the area now known as 'the goldfields', including Beechworth; the city of Melbourne and Victoria as a whole. Agate occurs when amygdales (gas pockets) form in the upper levels of basaltic lava flows. If these pockets or bubbles are iniltrated by water bearing silica in solution, the fluid dries and hardens in layers, forming round or egg shaped nodules or geodes within the rocky matrix. Agate is formed of a silica mineral chalcedony similar to quartz. The term carnelian primarily refers to the reddish shading of the stone; whether the stone is termed an agate or chalcedony type is often influenced by the degree of colour banding the specimen shows. The specimens are significant as examples of surveying activity undertaken to assess and direct the development of the mineral resource industries in Victoria and Australia, as well as the movement to expand human knowledge of earth sciences such as mineralogy and geology in the nineteenth century.Three small geological specimens that appear visually consistent with images of rough or unpolished Carnelian Agate or Chalcedony. geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, north-east victoria, gemstones, agate, carnelian

Sally Hearn (1932–2018) was a dedicated button collector and a prominent member of the Victoria Button Collectors Club. Her button collection was featured as a primary display in the 'The Melbourne Story' exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, which opened in mid-2008.The Hearn Collection of locally made and international buttons is historically and aesthetically significant as it illustrates the textile and manufacturing history of button making.This item consists of 12 buttons and a buckle on white card, each object is made out of blue glass, which is also clear. The majority of the buttons have simple detailing, with the other two looking like gemstones. The buckle is in the shape of an elongated octagon. Official Catalogue Entry: "Brought to Australia from U.K. when Ursula migrated."sally hearn, button collections

Troy weight is a system of units of mass used for weighing precious metals and gemstones. The items here have no known provenance or donor.These items have no local significance and are useful for display onlyThese are six troy weights – 4 ounces, 2 ounces, I ounce, ½ ounce, ¼ ounce, ¼ ounce. They are brass and circular in shape and have ridged edges so that they fit one on top of the other. They are all slightly discoloured. The smallest ¼ ounce weight is different in shape and has a small brass knob on top.‘4 oz troy, 2 oz troy, 1 oz troy, ½ oz troy, ¼ oz troy, ¼ troy’ Old cataloguing number etched on all of the weights – ‘1499’ troy weights, warrnambool

Hand drawn design for a piece of jewellery, on cream coloured paper, - a pin. One end has an arrow head, the other a shield shape design. Includes gemstones. The drawing is mounted on dark brown board. Printed in gold lettering in lower LH corner "NAPOLI" BENDIGO Prescott and Dawe Collectionprescott & dawe, jewellers, designs

This specimen was recovered from Philip Island in Victoria. Chalcedony is composed of Quartz and Silicon Dioxide represented as SIO2. It has and is still used as a gemstone for thousands of years. This is an excellent specimen Chalcedony that shows its aesthetic properties. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. Uniquely shaped piece of Chalcedony with opening in the centerburke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen

Tourmaline specimens are members of a crystalline silicate mineral group based on boron but influenced by elements including aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Specimens present a wide variety of colours and forms according to the specific mix of these elements. Tourmalines are semi-precious gemstones with many applications, including commercial jewellery production. The word 'tourmaline' derives from the Sinhalese term for the carnelian or red-shaded specimens, "tōramalli". This specimen has been classified by geologists as 'Black Schoalou/Tourmaline in quartz'. Schoalou may equate to a common black-hued type of Tourmaline associated since around 1400 with mines in Saxony, Germany near a village called Schorl (today's Zchorlau). If this specimen is part of the 'Schorl' species of tourmaline it is a member of the most common group of Tourmalines, a divalent sodium ion influenced group accounting for 95% of specimens. On assessment, it was noted that the crossed lines (XIs) of this tourmaline have been fractured and rehealed by the quartz matrix in which the tourmaline rests. This item is significant as an example of its type of gemstone and the geological processes leading to its formation. A solid medium-sized piece of Black Schoalou/Tourmaline in a cream and peach coloured quartz matrix. Existing label: Black Schoalou / Tourmaline in / quartz. / Tourmalines XIs have / been fractured and / rehealed with / quartz / C. Willman / 15/4/21 /geological specimen, geology, geology collection, burke museum, beechworth, indigo shire, north-east victoria, tourmaline, quartz, boron, crystals, minerals, gemstones, semi-precious, black schoalou, zchorlau, schorl

As Buddhism spread to Tibet in the 7th century, prayer wheels became an essential attribute of Tibetan Buddhist practice. This practice is linked to teachings attributed to Nagarjuna (ca. 150 –250 CE), who emphasised the power of mantra recitation and visualisation. A prayer wheel, used for personal worship, allowed to release the spiritual power contained within the mantras, enabling practitioners, including those who could not read, to generate spiritual merit.Prayer wheels have been used in Tibetan Buddhism for personal worship since the 7th century. Turning the wheel with a pure, compassionate intention is believed to release the mantras into the universe, resulting in purification of negative karma of the practitioner, accumulation of merit, and spreading compassion to all living beings. This solar-powered prayer wheel is based on the traditional Tibetan prayer wheel design. However, it uses solar power to rotate the wheel containing mantras, disseminating the blessings to all. Often placed by Buddhist practitioners on a windowsill or car dashboard.This modern adaptation of the traditional Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel has a mantra-filled drum which rotates automatically using solar power when exposed to light. The ornate gold-coloured frame and prayer wheel in the centre (embellished with small faux gemstones) reflect the aesthetic traditions associated with Tibetan Buddhist sacred objects. The solar panel is concealed in the base. tibetan buddhism, holy objects, worship devices

Malas are used to help focus awareness and concentration during spiritual practice of reciting mantras. Traditionally made from wood, bone, seeds from the Bodhi tree or gemstones. They may include silk or cotton tassels.Malas are used like a Christian rosary, often supporting the counting of mantras and held whilst reciting prayers. A long mala is a set of 108 strung beads, plus a guru bead which serves as a tactile reminder of the conclusion of the current round of chanting mantra. The guru bead represents the relationship between the student and the guru or spiritual teacher. The 108 beads signify the 108 Buddhas and 108 afflictions to be overcome.A long mala, possibly made from angel skin coral with a larger brown guru bead. tibetan buddhism, worship device

Malas are used to help focus awareness and concentration during spiritual practice of reciting mantras. Traditionally made from wood, bone, seeds from the Bodhi tree or gemstones. They may include silk or cotton tassels.Malas are used like a Christian rosary, often supporting the counting of mantras and held whilst reciting prayers. A long mala is a set of 108 strung beads, plus a Guru bead which serves as a tactile reminder of the conclusion of the current round of chanting mantra. The guru bead represents the relationship between the student and the guru or spiritual teacher. The 108 beads signify the 108 afflictions to be overcome and the 108 Buddhas.Long mala with a dorje on a string with ten beads, and a half dorje (bell) on a string with ten beads. After each dorje is a yellow tassel. The guru bead is slightly larger and is followed by knotted thread.worship device, tibetan buddhism

Malas are used to help focus awareness and concentration during spiritual practice of reciting mantras. Traditionally made from wood, bone, seeds from the Bodhi tree or gemstones. They may include silk or cotton tassels.Malas are used like a Christian rosary, often supporting the counting of mantras and held whilst reciting prayers. A long mala is a set of 108 strung beads, plus a guru bead which serves as a tactile reminder of the conclusion of the current round of chanting mantra. The guru bead represents the relationship between the student and the guru or spiritual teacher. The 108 beads signifies the 108 Buddhas and 108 afflictions to be overcome.Long mala with three yellow smaller divider beads and two strands of five beads each after the guru bead.worship device, tibetan buddhism

Malas are used to help focus awareness and concentration during spiritual practice of reciting mantras. Traditionally made from wood, bone, seeds from the Bodhi tree or gemstones. They may include silk or cotton tassels.Malas are used like a Christian rosary, often supporting the counting of mantras and held whilst reciting prayers. A long mala is a set of 108 strung beads, plus a Guru bead which serves as a tactile reminder of the conclusion of the current round of chanting mantra. The guru bead represents the relationship between the student and the guru or spiritual teacher. The 108 beads signify the 108 Buddhas and the 108 afflictions to be overcome.Long mala with a threaded dharma wheel attached from the guru bead. On the end of the wheel there are two strands of five beads each.worship device, tibetan buddhism

Thangkas are cloth scrolls unique to Tibetan Buddhism, depicting deities, venerated spiritual figures, or common religious symbols. Intended for personal meditation or instruction of monastic students, they are invested with the spirit of a deity to whom they are consecrated. A thangka is a composite art form consisting of a picture panel which is painted or embroidered; a brocade mounting; and one or more of the following: a silk cover, leather corners, wooden dowels at the top and bottom and metal or wooden decorative knobs on the bottom dowel. This allows a thangka to be rolled up for portability, reflecting its origins in the nomadic lifestyle of Tibetan monks.The Medicine Buddha (also known as Bhaisajyaguru or Sangyé Menla) is revered as the embodiment of healing and associated with practices helping with mental and physical ailments, as well as purifying negative karma. His iconic imagery, including the medicine bowl and healing plant, represents the union of wisdom and compassion as forces of healing. His teachings, rooted in the "Four Medicine Tantras," emphasize that the root of all diseases lies in negative emotions of greed, hatred, and ignorance.The central figure in this old thangka is Medicine Buddha, seated on a lotus throne and surrounded by other deities and figures. He has a bowl in his left hand, and a flower in his right hand. An interesting feature is that his body is not painted blue, as is customary for the image Medicine Buddha. The paint colours were derived from natural ingredients – grinded coral, turquoise and other gemstones. The 'Om Ah Hum' mantra is printed in Tibetan in red ink on the verso of the thangka.buddhist art, tibetan buddhism, holy objects