Fossil Pinecone and Sterling Silver Ring

:: Becoming/Unbecoming ::

A highly unusual ring made with an agatized fossil pinecone from the Western Sahara desert of Morocco. This 40-45 million year old talisman is a classic example of the type of element that attracts me: interesting rather than merely pretty (pretty to me is usually pretty boring!). It's something that feels feral, that speak to me of the wild before the rough edges are rubbed off. Raw and uncompromising, it also speaks of the passage of time, about seeds and starts, and about endings that become new beginnings as something else. One thing becomes another, even if it takes millions of years.

What I love best about this fossil is actually the cavities left behind where seeds either fell out or were eaten, a very, very long time ago. People will ask you if it's a honeycomb and then you'll get to tell them the story. The fossil cab came from the lapidary of Gary Wilson.

As always, the setting is handmade sterling silver, done in my very primitive style with all marks and bits of solder left in place to enhance texture. This one features a desert rock-hammered wire embellishment framing the stone. The band underneath is lightly heat textured. All silver was worked and finished entirely by hand using only the simplest tools.

For its size, it's a very lightweight and comfortable ring. I recommend wearing it on the middle finger as it seems most at home there.

For desert spirits and fearless souls...

SIZE: Adjustable ring size is about 7 and can go up or down a half size from there. The stone in its setting is 2 1/8" x 7/8".

CARE: Rinse in cool water to clean. The silver can be gently buffed up with a silver polishing cloth if desired.

PRESENTATION: This ring will arrive giftwrapped just for you in hand decorated earth friendly packaging.