A small, red 12 mm ball of carnelian, set in a handmade sterling silver fitting with masterfully crafted silver granulation and filigree work.
History The original Viking age find that inspired this piece of jewelry were found on Gotland, an island off the east coast of Sweden. On the island they found over twenty lenses and a couple of spheres made of rock crystal (clear quartz). It’s a very hard material that requires a lot of effort to cut. There are theories that they have been high status symbols, as well as tools for magnifying or fire making.
The durability and bright red color of carnelian made it popular in Viking age jewelry. It’s often found in the form of beads.
Crystal meaning Carnelian is a reddish version of the mineral chalcedony. It stands for vitality, creativity and confidence.
