Chalcedony lit orange by iron. The old stone for nerve and getting started.
The aesthetic
Carnelian is a translucent chalcedony coloured by iron oxide, running from pale apricot through burnt orange to a deep red-brown. Held to the light it glows rather than shines. It was one of the most widely used stones of the ancient world, carved into seals and signet rings because hot wax does not stick to it, and much of the banded material sold today has been gently heated to deepen the colour.
The dynamic
Carnelian has long been associated with courage, drive and creative momentum, and is the stone traditionally reached for at the start of something rather than partway through.
Some variations
- natural carnelian
- banded carnelian
- sard
- carnelian agate