Carnelian ~ 6 cm

Carnelian’s Warmth, Traced in Bands

Orange and reddish-brown tones give this carnelian a glowing palette, interrupted by white and cream bands. The tower at the front has prominent grey areas, with fine, wavy lines that draw the eye through the warmer colours. There is something river-like in those curves: pale channels winding between ember-coloured banks.

Smooth, glossy faces catch bright highlights, while straight sides rise towards angular, pointed tops. In the photograph, the glossy black surface beneath the towers carries their reflections, echoing the outlines below.

Carnelian has a long history as a stone for personal seals, which could serve as an official signature. That association offers a gentle way to see its character here: flowing bands held within a sharply defined shape, each line giving the surface its own particular mark.