Peonies and a Pair of Birds Labradorite Carving with Wooden Stand
Labradorite is a member of the feldspar group, a cousin of stones like moonstone, sunstone, and amazonite. A mixture of related but chemically different minerals separated out as it formed, producing parallel layers inside it. Light bounces off and between them, producing a play of colors known as schiller. The word derives from the Old High German scilihen (“to blink, wink, or squint”) because the effect appears and disappears, depending on the orientation of the stone. This metallic looking flash is typically blue, green, or yellow or more rarely orange, red, and purple. The name labradorite comes from the Labrador Peninsula, in northeastern Canada, where the mineral was first documented scientifically in the late eighteenth century.
Labradorite is associated metaphysically with intuition, spiritual protection, and aligning the chakra system. To read more about labradorite, check out Stacie’s blogs here and here.
This is a detailed sculpture of two birds, beak to beak, standing upon the branches of a blooming peony tree. It has a wide range of colors in its flash, primarily gold, light green, and greenish blue. While the front side of the animal is almost entirely flash, the back only has a few patches, which is typical of labradorite. Some elements have has a high polish, like the flower petals, while others were carved with more texture, like the bark and feathers.
Birds and flowers are a traditional combination in Chinese art. Pairs of equally sized birds are symbols of a happy couple traditionally and peonies are a symbol of spring, new beginnings, and wealth.
The carving, including its wooden stand, weighs ~3.24 lbs. The base alone is ~3" tall, ~5 1/2" across, and ~3 1/4" deep. The carving alone is ~4 3/4" tall, 7 1/4" across, and 1 3/4" deep. The figure stands ~6 1/2" tall when inside the wooden stand. Labradorite typically has a crazed appearance, with natural fractures, and inclusions of other darker minerals. The wooden base has some minor issues, like a few chips missing on the prongs and the feet.
The sculpture comes with a gift box for storage.
