At the Root of It

Tourmaline: the mineral, the myth, the legend.  This design incorporates two of the most important finds in Maine: the first and biggest. In 1820, young fellows (Ezekiel Holmes and Elijah Hamlin) were said to have discovered tourmaline at Mt. Mica in the roots of an overturned tree which is echoed in the design of this pendant.  This began the first discovery of gem-quality tourmaline in North America.

From 1972-1974, the Plumbago Mining Corporation had one of the largest finds of tourmaline at the Dunton Mine in Newry.  This find netted around one ton of tourmaline.  The cabochon in this necklace is from that find.  It measures 8 x 6 mm and weighs 1.35 carats.  

The amethyst version features a 14 x 10 mm cab that weighs 5.45 cts.  Mined at the Deer Hill mine in Stow, ME from 1967-1971 by Jim Mann.

The pendants have been handcrafted by Jesse Mixer of Conway, NH.  She uses very fine saws to hand-cut vignettes out of sterling silver.  Each of her designs is unique; no two are the same.