Music boxes with gemstones!
To me, sawn trunk parts of fallen city trees are like rough gemstones that only reveal their beauty as a jewel after many processes.
I was honestly surprised that it was only last year that I came up with the idea of combining real gemstones and semi-precious stones with wood. It really is a beautiful combination that I myself have become very enthusiastic about! Take for example the two boxes below made of walnut with the beautiful and mysterious Labradorite!
My rediscovery of the mineral kingdom was caused by the crystal shop (Ananda) two doors down. People are sometimes surprised that I can tell all those types of wood apart, but Ni, Maria and Lian can tell almost 200 stones apart!
I carefully select gemstones for the boxes. I only buy the most beautiful ones! In English they call that 'Handpicked'. In the meantime I have also been introduced to Brazilian Curiosa, a wonderful wholesaler in Baarn with an unprecedented amount of stones. With sparkling eyes Ed and Sagaro confided to me that they can distinguish 400 stones from each other... I will try them as soon as I get there again!
Shop window in Utrecht
Lapis Lazuli, Rock Crystal, Ammonite, Labradorite, Agate, Apophyllite, Fluorite and other beautiful stones I have processed in music boxes in recent months! After having experimented endlessly how to attach them to the wood! And it worked.
Lapis Lazuli in a box of a 100 year old birch (Renova estate in Bilthoven). And Fluorite in a box of a plane tree from 1930 (Vredenburgplein in Utrecht).
I made these five boxes (Alder, Walnut, Cherry, Oak and Yew) to order and they were given as gifts during Christmas 2024. Later I received this lovely message from the donor.
"It became a festive moment. Story told about all the symbols that come together in this gift. No life without wood. Water and light together work in a tree into oxygen, one of the conditions for life. A tree also symbolizes what we have to do, not flee, not fight, but be where you are.
According to Dubussy, sound is the only direct means of communication of the soul. And then there is the symbol of opening up. An important question to man, to dare to open up so that the inner light (the agate stones) may shine…”
Music jewelry boxes with Agate/Rock Crystal in Walnut Wood and Maple Wood from Utrecht with Ammonite. An ancient fossil of over 65 million years old. I gave the box as a gift during a wedding on the Nile in Egypt.
Peach moonstone in Maple, Agate (colored) in Maple and Apophyllite in Walnut from Zeeland.
Music Boxes with Ammonite and Agates
Below Labradorite in Walnut and Agate in Cherry Wood
