This polished intarsia contains layers of stone, with the center containing Montana Moss Agate, Del Norte Plume Agate, and Turquoise; completed with a double border frame and black backing. The cabochon is constructed from 12 individual pieces.
The image in this intarsia is created from a scenic piece of Del Norte Plume Agate that has golden plumage over a cool brown and red earth. Above the plumes are translucent bands of agate that add a sense of movement to the piece - perhaps strong gusts of wind passing over the landscape. The bands overlay with the turquoise backing creating a beautiful a blue sky. Over these layers is an exceptionally clear piece of Montana Moss Agate, creating an even polish and dropping three dendrites into the air to act as birds.
Montana Moss Agate
Del Norte Plume Agate
Turquoise
Black Basalt
Border:
Wildhorse Picture Jasper
Black Onyx
45mm x 28mm
Intarsia: The Gem Shop’s founder, Eugene Mueller, has an MFA in painting and has won awards in the Cutting Edge Competition® for his intarsia, and has crafted and/or designed many of the pieces available here. For thousands of years artisans have been using stone, striving to create the most beautiful scene possible. This process is commonly referred to as Intarsia. Intarsia traces its history back to the Italian Renaissance, and was called pietra dura or pietre dure. This is a term for the inlay technique of using thinly cut and polished stones to create images. The stonework is glued stone-by-stone to a substrate after having previously been sliced and cut in different shape sections; and then assembled together so precisely that the contact between each section is practically invisible. Intarsia items are generally crafted on green, white or black base stones. Traditionally Intarsia pieces have a flat polish, but more contemporary pieces are more freeform and have a dome polish, and are often referred to as “composite cabochons.” Intarsia is a high expression of lapidary art requiring a close mastery. Each piece is eccentric and highly collectible – a true work of art.