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The Genesis of Gem
Cutting in America
By Martin Bell
Historical Context
The roots of gemstone carving may have been a
human practice long before civilization. It all probably started with
the first impulse to bore a hole in a bone or tooth or pretty pebble
to make a bead…or to
shape flint or stone to make a weapon…or to make a talisman. It
may have started by scratching marks on rocks in an idle moment or as
a fervent prayer.
There is evidence of carving gemstones as long as 7000 years ago and
certainly the Hittites and Egyptians were engaged in the practice 5000
years ago. The Assyrians and Persians did work of great sophistication
and the ancient Greeks raised gem carving to a high art. There was a
resurgence of gem carving during the renaissance followed by a slow steady
decline with a brief revival in the carving of figures and cameos by
the Victorians. There are very few gem carvers working today, but some
of the modern artists, working with better tools and an understanding
of the physics of light, are surpassing anything done before in history.
In modern times there are four great traditions of gemstone carving
in the world. Work of sublime beauty is produced in each.
1. The Chinese is the oldest and most culture bound.
2. Jaipur in India flowered under the Mogul emperors
and is enjoying resurgence as a cutting center today.
3. The Italians still carve cameos (often inspired
by classic Greek and Roman designs).
4. The German community of Idar Oberstein has been
a cutting center for many centuries and has set the standard for quality
in fashioning gemstones in modern times.
There are talented artists working in all of these places
and cutting centers have developed in other parts of the world also,
catering primarily to the huge market for commercial stones.
America Emerges
Gemstone carving is a relatively new profession in the United States.
There was no tradition or industry outside of diamond cutting until modern
times and even now the people making a living at it can be counted in
the dozens, primarily due to the very high cost of labor, although there
are thousands of hobbyist rock hounds and faceters.
There has emerged a new and vibrant group of gem carving artists in
America within just the last generation. Because there is no tradition
of gem carving, available mentors were few and far between, and most
of the American artists are self-taught and have developed in relative
isolation. Many have even developed their own equipment and techniques.
As might be expected, their work is as dynamic and creative and as varied
as the American experience itself.
Right now we have a unique window of opportunity.
Most of the “pioneers” of
the new “American School” are still living and are in their
artistic prime with over twenty years experience. Their art and craft
and the techniques they have developed will form the foundation that
the artists of future generations will build upon.
Because Paula Crevoshay has been working with
many of these carvers for the last two decades, she has been privileged
to be a keen observer of this exciting development. She has undertaken
to create a special collection of the best work of a representative
group of these artists on the theme, “Elements”. She knows
that it is important that we make a record at this time, while we still
can.
Modern Techniques
There are two basic categories of cutting with variations and hybrids.
Faceting has moved far beyond the basic efforts to bring just symmetry
and brilliance to the stone and carving is much more than adding a cameo
or crest to a cabochon, although these time honored pursuits are being
practiced with amazing precision and skill. A third, and entirely new
category, is internal carving, which has been made possible by the advent
of tiny diamond burs and power tools.
“The Elements”
The exhibition has been many years in the making. After the gem artists
accepted the challenge to participate in the exhibit they set about seeking
appropriate material to cut their chosen themes among The Elements; Air,
Earth, Water, Fire and Ether (or Spirit). Because the success of this
phase can be determined by luck as much as by anything else, eight months
was allotted. Five months was the target for execution with an allowance
for later submissions of several months. There was also a more time consuming
degree of collaboration between Ms. Crevoshay and some of the cutters
than with others, which sometimes added several months to specific projects.
The design of the jewels, and the acquisition and cutting of the accent
stones, took another six months and overlapped with the actual fabrication
which took almost a year.
The resulting collection shows the incredible range of techniques and
virtuosity of the cutters and the amazingly rich array of gem minerals
that are available today for their expression. We hope that you enjoy
the fruit of this concerted effort.
The Artists
Among the few dozen people making a living exclusively from gem carving
there are others who would also be worthy of inclusion in this exhibit.
That said, there is no question that these artists represent the cream
of the North American gem cutters today.
- Arthur Anderson --- Fredericksburg, VA
- Glenn Lehrer ---. Larkspur, CA
- Thomas McPhee --- Ganges, British Columbia
- Sherris Cotter Shank --- Southfield, Michigan
- Lawrence Stoller --- Bend, OR
- Larry Woods --- Blanco, Texas
- Larry Winn --- Grand Junction, Colorado
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