Conical Petrified Wood Pendant

by Lexi Erickson

Designing with a circular stone.

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Anthropologically speaking (bear with me as the old archaeology professor surfaces for a minute), circles are symbolic of so much.

At a recent gem show I attended, a group of jewelry artists and I were sitting around discussing — of all things — our recently purchased treasures. As we discussed shapes, colors, and favorite materials, one woman spoke of her distaste for round and oval stones.

Some designers feel ovals and circles are overdone and trite. I disagree. Circles are magic. Think of the life giving force of the sun, and the mystical feminine power of the moon. The ancient ouroborus, a mythical snake chasing its tail, is found in many cultures, and could be a symbol of today’s lifestyle. The spiritual kivas of the Southwest are
circular. E arly human homes were circles, and in some places they still are. The center of the home, the hearth, was and is a circle. Tea is served in circular cups, to your circle of friends. My yellow tabby curls into a cozy circle to sleep.

Let’s face it: square Oreos would be just plain wrong! The stone I’ve used here is not only circular but conical and was cut from petrified wood.

Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON; Project Photos: MARK ERICKSON