The vivid green of the serpentine leaves and the agate rabbit combine to shout “spring!” on this hand-knotted necklace.
The pendant is hand-carved (though not by me) from a single agate pebble. The remnants of the original pebble remain visible in the druzy patch on the rabbit’s back and the rough stone on the backside of the pendant, giving the piece a very natural, ethnic feel. The leaves are serpentine, mixed with red winter jasper and sterling silver, and are hand-knotted on green silk. The clasp is sterling silver imported from Bali. The necklace is approximately 19 inches long, including the clasp, and the rabbit pendant is about an inch and half in length.
Disclosure: Please note that the display mannequin in the photo is about half-human scale; the necklace has been draped around the back of the mannequin to simulate how the necklace would hang. Please refer to the other photos for a picture of the entire necklace and an indication of scale. Like all silk knotted necklaces, care should be taken not to get this necklace wet, and it should be stored flat: silk will stretch over time. Like all of my jewelry, this necklace is not intended for use by persons under 13.
About the stones:
Agate is a form of silicon dioxide (quartz) and is usually formed as nodules in volcanic deposits. Its characteristic banding and translucency distinguishes it from related stones in the chalcedony family. Agate is a hard stone, with a Mohs hardness of 7.
In folklore, agates are associated with grace, health and stability. They are said to inspire truthfulness and pleasant dreams and are supposed to make excellent “worry stones.”
Jasper is a close cousin to agate, being likewise comprised of silicon dioxide and is a member of the chalcedony family. Jasper is opaque and fine grained and comes in a rainbow of patterns and colors. It is a hard stone, with a Mohs hardness of 7.
In folklore, jasper can cure blindness and bring rain, and is believed to be a calming, soothing stone that protects against negative forces, particularly those arising from within. Red jasper is supposed to bring courage, especially to fight injustice.
The term serpentine is used to refer to a group of magnesium hydrosilicate minerals, usually green, that are found as masses of tiny crystals. Serpentine is often used as a substitute for, or passed off as, jade.
