Local Lapidary Creations

Posted On January 16, 2012

A few weeks back I stopped in at the Fort Fairfield Public Library to deliver the latest edition of the Blackfly Gazette. (They have a subscription!)
 
A local artisan, Bryce Easter, had a display of his lapidary work on display. The polished stones and jewelry were absolutely stunning.
 
Sure, they may say that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” but I personally prefer the look and feel of beautiful semi-precious stones set in silver. Not that I have anything against diamonds, mind you!
 
I found these stones and pendants so attractive I immediately contacted Bryce to find out more about him and his art.
 

Bryce has lived in Northern Maine since 2003 when he moved there with his family, drawn by the beautiful countryside.
 
He has been working in the Lapidary Arts since the mid 1960’s, when he was introduced and taught by his father, and he has been working at it ever since.
 
A Lapidary is an artisan who works with stones other than diamonds, cutting and polishing the work.
Bryce cuts and polishes cabochons from the many interesting stones that he finds such as Jasper, Condor Agates, Mossy Agates, Pink Quartz, Chrysophase, Conglomerates, Breccias and many more.
 
A cabochon is one of the oldest ways of cutting and polishing semi-precious and precious gemstones. It creates a rounded rather than a faceted surface, so the shape will be a highly polished rounded dome with a flat backside.
 
He cuts the stones with diamond table saws of various sizes, and polishes the minerals with a multi-wheel diamond grinding unit.
His partner Janet then takes the finished cabochons and uses them to create fabulous pendants with beaded bezels and necklaces.
 

Bryce and Janet roam Northern Maine, the Saint John Valley, Northern New Brunswick, the South shores of Gaspe on the Bay du Chaleur as well as canoeing the Saint John River as they seek interesting stones to cut and polish.
 

Many people like to pick up pretty and interesting stones as they hike or visit other places on vacations. Bryce and Janet can take your keepsake rock and turn it into a wearable work of art…. If it’s not, like, you know, the size of a boulder!
 
Or, if you want to see what your pretty stone really looks like inside you could have a slice cut off and the surface polished to fully enjoy the inner beauty of your rock.
 
I like my own ever growing rock collection so well I even moved them up here with me when I came from Colorado! And I am not talking about a little box of pebbles, either. My sister thought I was nuts!
 
Rocks all have personalities, and all stones and gems are said to be imbued with their own particular spirit and power.
 
Many people carry or wear stones as talismans for the special properties they have been said to possess since the days of the Ancients.
 
For instance, carry or wear agate for grounding, amethyst for healing, Apache Tear for good luck, green adventurine to attract money. Bloodstone is said to be a warrior stone that will help you overcome obstacles, carnelian will help to ward off evil thoughts, garnet repels negativity, carry black onyx for protection and rose quartz to attract love!

Stephanie Kelley