Obelisk — Afghan lapis lazuli · 5 cm

An intense ultramarine blue studded with golden pyrite, sometimes with veils of white calcite.

An obelisk with even faces, polished along every edge — a form inherited from Egyptian architecture, where it marked the passage of the sun.

What tradition attributes to it. The stone of the pharaohs and of the lapis lazuli of Ur, tradition links it to knowledge and inner truth.

The piece. Afghan lapis lazuli.

Use & care. It sits as well on a bookshelf as on a ritual tray; its verticality alone creates a visual anchor. Dust with a dry cloth. Sharp edges mark if knocked.

• The Afghan deposits have been worked for more than six thousand years; it is the original pigment of ultramarine blue.
• Indicative size: 5 cm
• 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.