Tangiwai Pendant

I had a bag of pieces and offcuts of Tangiwai in the wings so I got stuck into it. Most of the smaller pieces and earrings ended up in Monza gallery, Takaka but I kept back the more substantial pieces for here.

Tangiwai is a form of metamorphosed serpentine called Bowenite. The name literally means ‘tear water’ and it is renowned for it’s beautiful translucency.

Because the sources of this stone are now locked up it has become ‘unobtainium’! Which is a shame as it is one of my all time favourite gemstones!

I was lucky enough to get together a wee stash (which I treasure) when it was reasonably available many years back.

This piece is from lovely stone having nice chatoyancy )seen when you rotate the stone), and beautiful translucency.

The yellow inclusions are fairly common in Tangiwai but offhand I am not sure what causes them.

It is 7.4cm long x 3.3cm widest.

The cord has sliding knots to make it adjustable.