Description & Provenance

Garnets express a wide variety of colors, but red garnets are the most popular and well-known of the species. In fact, the word, “garnet” comes from the 14th century Middle English word, “gernet,” meaning “dark red,” and is derived from the Latin word “granatus,” which means “grain or seed.” This is believed to be a reference to pomegranate seeds, which are encapsulated by vivid, red arils (seed covers that contain its famously bright-red juice).

This is a beautiful example with a sumptuous, deep, black-cherry color. Its faces express a dramatic hoppered (stepped) habit, giving it an unusual texture composed of sharp, geometric patterns. Many say this piece reminds them of the staircases of ancient ruins. Its luster further accentuates its many faces and sharp forms. The garnet has formed upon a starkly contrasting, white matrix, heightening its rich tone all the more. It’s not hard to see why garnets have been an object of fascination and desire throughout the ages, accruing a wealth of history, lore, and symbolism that goes as far back as the Bronze Age.

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