The Mystic

Subject

A serene human face emerges from a piece of moss agate, carved directly into the stone in substantial three-dimensional relief.

Rather than hiding the natural inclusions of the material, Grzegorz incorporated them into the composition: dark mineral markings move across the otherwise pale stone, emphasising its organic origin and individuality.

Directly beneath the portrait sits a triangular faceted amethyst whose vivid purple colour contrasts sharply against the pale agate and cool silver, its geometry set deliberately against the organic contours of the face.

The whole composition is surrounded by an unusual open-form silver design with richly textured surfaces — sweeping side elements rise along both sides of the carving, forming a sculptural frame rather than a simple mount.

Handcrafted by the Artist

This cameo was carved individually by Grzegorz Kiernicki and mounted by hand in his own workshop. Nothing about it is repeated: the material dictated the composition, and the setting was formed around the finished carving.

• —The face is carved directly into the moss agate in substantial three-dimensional relief — not a shallow engraved portrait.
• —Defined forehead and brow, recessed eyes, sculpted nose, defined lips, rounded cheeks and a modelled chin and jaw.
• —Significant projection of the face from the underlying stone, clearest in the low-angle photograph.
• —Natural dark mineral inclusions retained deliberately within the composition.
• —A triangular faceted amethyst hand-set directly beneath the portrait as the strongest colour accent in the piece.
• —Broad sculptural silver side elements rising around the carving, with open negative spaces between the inner and outer forms.
• —Heavily textured metal surfaces left unsmoothed, so the hand tool marks remain part of the artistic character.
• —Large handcrafted bail formed as part of the same fabrication — carving, gemstone setting and silverwork all made by the artist as one unified artwork.

Material & Silverwork Details

• —Carving material: moss agate, with pale translucent areas and dark natural mineral inclusions running through the stone.
• —Gemstone: triangular faceted amethyst, saturated purple, bezel-set beneath the carved portrait.
• —Metal: silver — broad sculptural side forms, an inner frame surrounding the agate, an integrated gemstone setting and a large handmade bail.
• —Surface: the metal is intentionally textured throughout; tool marks and irregularities have not been smoothed or digitally removed.
• —Reverse: shows the natural stone, the construction of the mount and the handcrafted character of the silverwork.
• —Disciplines represented: gemstone carving, figurative sculpture, jewellery design, stone selection, gemstone setting, hand fabrication, surface texturing and sculptural silverwork.
• —Provenance: from the lifetime collection of Grzegorz Kiernicki — jeweller, painter, sculptor and artist. He personally designed the composition, carved the portrait and created the silver setting, so the carved moss agate, amethyst and mounting are presented as a single original artwork rather than separate components.
• —No creation date, geographic origin of the agate, amethyst carat weight, gemstone treatment or silver purity is claimed pending independent confirmation.