Rough stone — Four shapes · Amethyst

A purple quartz whose shade runs from pale mauve to deep violet, often stronger at the tip of the crystal than at its base.

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. The stone of temperance for the Greeks — its name means "not intoxicated" — it has been credited since antiquity with calming the mind and clearing judgment. Crystal healing associates it with the third eye chakra.

The piece. Four shapes · Amethyst.

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.

• Its color comes from traces of iron in the quartz, revealed by the natural radioactivity of the surrounding rock.
• 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.