The Elms Family crest carved for sealing onto Lapis Lazuli. Pictured on the left is the smaller of the two identical stones. The other stone is the larger oval. They are both of the finest AAA gem grade of Lapis.

Here is the design of the Elms family crest that was used for the two Lapis carvings.

Leuitenant Geordie Elms is serving as the Canadian defence attache in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The finest Lapis Lazuli in the world is found in the mountains of Afghanistan. Geordie has been kind enough to buy some Lapis from the dealers in Kabul and send it to Portraits in Stone.

Pictured is a piece of the finest AAA gem grade Lapis that has been sourced for Gareth Eckley by Geordie Elms.

You can read more of this commission at Portraits in Stone.

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The Vyne is a stately home in Hampshire, England built by one of Henry VIII courtiers. This lovely house holds a secret, very possibly the ring that inspired Tolkien to write the Lord of the Rings.

This ring placed for years within a glass cabinet in Vyne house was made in the 4th century AD. It is made of solid gold, a ten sided facetted hoop with a top panel engraved with an intaglio of the god Venus. What makes this ring remarkable is that it was found at a temple site near Lydney with a Roman lead tablet bearing an inscription. The inscription described the ring and predicted a curse of woe against anyone who would steal the ring.

Tolkien, at that time an Oxford don was good friends with Mortimer Wheeler an archaeologist who was at work investigating the finds at Lydney. It is almost certain that Mortimer would have told his friend about this engraved gold ring and the curse that was attached to it.

A ring and a curse, sounds very much like the plot for the Lord of the Rings, does it not ?

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This picture shows the original family-crest ring of the Grice family from Perth, Australia.

The ring had been badly designed in that there was not enough metal around the sides of the stone to protect it from damge.

To remake the ring I first had to remove the old broken stone. Then I added gold to build up the gold bezel correctly. I then cut a new Carnelian gemstone to fit. The family crest of a Boar was carved for sealing onto this stone.

The carved stone was then set into the new ring. There is now enough thickness of gold to protect the new stone from damage.

The new stone also sits higher above the finger so it is now displayed more proudly.

You can see more of this ring at Portraits in Stone.

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This recently completed commission was for the Van Hattem family who live near Perth, Australia. The design brief was to create three rings in 18 carat gold. Each ring was to be carved from a differently coloured Layered agate and to have a unique design detail to encircle the family crest.

The ring for the daughter is in a white on red sardonyx. The crest is encircled by a cornflower detail as this is her favourite flower. The oval stone is set in an 18 carat gold ring.

The ring for the younger son is carved on a white and green layered agate. The crest is encircled by a design based on the wattle plant. This plant is on the Australian coat of arms.

The ring for the oldest son is carved on a white and blue layered agate. The design detail around the crest is based on a Tulip flower.

You can view more images from this special commission at Portraits in Stone.

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