Seven-piece black agate geometry set

A deep matte black, sometimes crossed by a paler gray band, polished to a greasy luster.

The stone as the earth formed it, simply freed from its matrix and cleaned. Sharp edges, irregular faces, a matte or glassy luster depending on the vein.

What tradition attributes to it. A protective stone in most Mediterranean traditions, it is credited with steadying and bringing you back to calm.

Use & upkeep. Set it on a tray, in a bowl, next to a candle. Rough pieces sit well beside polished ones, by contrast. Rinse under clear water and dry; some soft materials cannot take water, check first.

• Agate is a banded chalcedony: its bands mark the successive deposits of silica in a volcanic cavity.
• A natural piece: shade, veining and dimensions vary from one example to the next

A decorative object for personal practice. It is no substitute for medical advice or treatment.