"THE SNAIL" FIRE AGATE CARVING (Mexico) – 15.72 ct.

I named this fine Mexican fire agate carving "The Snail" because that's what its form suggests.  It's a fine example of the fire agate cutter’s prime directive: cut to follow the color wherever it goes; it was just coincidence that a snail-like form was revealed. This expressive stone sculpture has flowing symmetry that displays a wide range of very desirable colors: glowing greens, purples, orangy bronze and intermediate hues. It presents edge-to-edge color and shows well in nearly any orientation. It suggests a “pendant” to me but others might have different ideas. Weight is approx. 15.72 ct. and at its widest dimensions it’s about 17.8 x 32 x 5.5 mm. Highly polished with semi-polished flat but slightly curving back. (All uses, N)