Certain shades of medium brown hair are often dismissed as “mousy,” as if there was something wrong with that! This necklace plays with mousy colors, showcasing their subtle beauty, and tops it off with a hand-carved pendant made out of a single agate pebble, featuring a mouse (or at least a small cute mammal).
The pendant is hand-carved from a single pebble of natural agate, and features elaborate brown swirls on the “mouse” and classic grey agate banding on the back of the pendant. (I purchased the pendant, I did not carve it). The beads are turtle shell agate and Botswana agate, accented with sterling silver from Bali. This one of a kind necklace is hand-knotted on tan silk and has a sterling silver Bali clasp. The pendant is about an inch and three-quarters, while the necklace is about 18 inches, including the clasp.
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. There is a slight crack in the pendant that does not threaten the integrity of the stone and is invisible except on close inspection, however, in the name of full disclosure, it is there. 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.” Botswana agate is supposed to relieve grief and depression and aid in managing change.
