Tiger Labradorite Carving
Labradorite is a member ofthe feldspar group, a cousin of stones like moonstone, sunstone, and amazonite. A mixture of related but chemically different minerals separated out as it formed, producing parallel layers inside it. Light bounces off and between them, producing a play of colors known as schiller. The word derives from the Old High German scilihen (“to blink, wink, or squint”) because the effect appears and disappears, depending on the orientation of the stone. This metallic looking flash is typically blue, green, or yellow or more rarely orange, red, and purple. The name labradorite comes from the Labrador Peninsula, in northeastern Canada, where the mineral was first documented scientifically in the late eighteenth century.
Labradorite is associated metaphysically with intuition, spiritual protection, and aligning the chakra system. To read more about labradorite, check out Stacie’s blogs here and here.
This is a detailed sculpture of a roaring tiger, standing upon a rock like base. It has a wide range of colors in its flash, primarily gold, peach, and greenish blue. While the right side of the animal is almost entirely flash, the left only has a few patches, which is typical of labradorite. The base has a high polish while many of the other elements were carved with more texture, to look like striped fur.
Tigers represent personal power, confidence, and connection to our inner wild nature. In Chinese thought, tigers are also symbols of the wealth god Cashien.
The carving weighs ~2.87 lbs. It is ~5 1/4" tall, 7 1/2" across, and 2" deep. Labradorite typically has a crazed appearance, with natural fractures, and inclusions of other darker minerals. Although most of the sculpture is opaque, some areas are translucent.
The sculpture comes with a gift box for storage.
