Carys Murphy Edinburgh

Lunan Bay Pebble Earrings

Walking on a windswept Scottish beach, picking up pebbles from along the wrack line; it can bring clarity, peace, reflection. The process of designing these earrings was an exercise in recreating these feelings; parring down each element until the precious metal and the stone sit harmoniously. The pebble, sliced lengthwise to create a matching pair rests gracefully on a simple hand-forged silver pin, allowing it to move freely.

Citrine Slab Ring

Hand carved from reclaimed citrine and inlaid with recycled fine silver, this architectural ring is a showcase of the beauty of 'included' stone. Traditionally, precious stones are valued on a basis of clarity, with natural inclusions such as internal fractures, traces of other minerals or tiny voids seen as flaws. The inclusions in this stone dance and play in the changing light making it an enigmatic and eye-catching piece.

Pebble Rings

From the remote beaches of the Small Isles on the west coast to the wilds of Durness in the far north to the sunny sands along the coast of East Lothian; the pebble rings are little tokens from some of the most special places in Scotland. Each stone is carefully carved into a ring and inlaid with fine silver, leaving the original shape and finish of the pebble untouched and celebrated. <br>

18ct Old Gold Pebble

Taking a small beach pebble, I create a mould of it's shape using sand. Next a client's old sentimental or unworn gold jewellery is carefully melted down and the molten metal poured into the mould. This creates a prefect copy of the pebble in beautiful precious metal. Finishing off the golden pebble on a simple cotton cord, this creates a tactile, fresh and elegant piece of every-day jewellery.

Scottish Agate Earrings

At the height of the fashion for Scottish agate jewellery in the late 19th century, jewellers collaborated with stone collectors and lapidarists to create ever more exceptional pieces that were highly coveted. In keeping with this tradition, these earrings have been made with agate collected and shaped on the east coast by a skilled craftsman. The simple setting shows off the coffee tones of the agate and is accented by a silver disc that glints in the light. The simplicity of the forms is enhanced by the complexity of the patterned stone and the discs with their textured finish.

Agate Signet Rings

Scottish agate has been a source of fascination for collectors for centuries. A variety of the mineral chalcedony, it's formed mainly within the volcanic rocks of Scotland's deep past. The rough rocks rarely hint at the rich forms and layers that lie beneath. Through a process of slow, gradual carving, the swirls, speckles and bands begin to reveal themselves. It is this process that dictates the final shape of the signet ring, with the top face chosen to display the agate in its most pleasing form.

Cramond Candlesticks

Cramond is thought to have been inhabited by humans since around 8500BC making it one of the oldest settlements in Scotland. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of Mesolithic, Bronze age and Roman activity. These candlesticks are made from sea-worn conglomerates (large rocks that hold many tiny rocks in a finer cement-like matrix forming an intriguing terrazzo effect) collected from the shore. I only make a dozen or so of these each year so as not to affect the natural dynamics of the landscape. Each stone is carefully selected and carved so that the natural shape of the rock is unchanged.

Offcuts Studs

The lapidary process is an exercise in reduction. In the initial stages of shaping a stone, fragments are slowly cut away to reveal the final rough shape ready to begin the carving and polishing steps. These studs are made from these fragments. Each tiny off-cut of rock is then carefully sawn in half creating a matching pair and backed with recycled silver ear posts.