Description
Chrysoprase earrings (chrysoprase – amethyst – gold 18 kt) designed and handmade by Pestelli Creazioni.
Height: 3 cm.
Chrysoprase has been an highly sought after stone since ancient times. Exalted by Pliny, who associated it with the goddess Venus, and by the mystic Hildegard von Bingen, Chrysoprase was made famous by Frederick II of Prussia who had it used in creating precious objects of all kinds. It is a variety of chalcedony with surprising qualities. The best known quality is that chrisoprase changes color turning pale when exposed to light or heat, and returns to its natural color when put back to a damp environment. This happens due to the dehydration of the nickel silicate which gives it the beautiful green color. In the past, magical properties have been associated to this stone: it was believed that it helped to understand one’s spiritual dimensions, instill confidence and safety and free from bad thoughts and nightmares. In crystaltherapy, Chrysoprase is believed to detoxify and purify the body by fighting infections, helping the liver and the sexual sphere.
Amethyst is one of the most beautiful stones in the group of crystalline Quartz. Legend has it that it was created by the god of wine: Dionysus for the ancient Greeks and Bacchus for the ancient Romans. Dionysus, pursued the maiden Amethyst, so Artemis, to save her from him turned her into transparent crystal. Dionysus got angry and threw his glass of red wine on the crystal, coloring it and creating this way the stone we know. Some supernatural powers are attributed to the amethyst, including the power to heal ailments. Leonardo da Vinci wrote that the Amethyst was able to drive away negative thoughts and sharpen intelligence, while Pliny the Elder claimed it was an amulet against witchcraft and a talisman for the supplicants. Long before the Roman emperors adopted the vivid purple, called “toga picta”, it was Pharaohs, Queens and Kings who made Amethyst a powerful symbol of sovereignty. From Cleopatra’s seal to Queen Charlotte’s Amethyst necklace, the Amethyst has always been tied to power. It is therefore not surprising that this gem was also very popular in the Middle Ages amongst the Catholic clergy. Believing that it favored celibacy, it immediately became known as the “papal stone” and even today the bishops wear Amethyst rings.
Handmade in Florence, Italy
