Polished Lapis Lazuli Stone
A magnificent lapis lazuli polished stone from the Sar-i Sang mines, Afghanistan. These mines, which are high up in the Hindu Kush mountains, are some of the oldest mines in the world.
This rich blue-coloured lapis stone is lightly included with golden specs of pyrite. Some white calcite can also be seen.
The front has been shaped, whilst the back is flat. This piece was carved by a local craftsman in Afghanistan.
The use of lapis lazuli as a decorative stone dates back thousands of years. At least one mine still being worked today supplied lapis lazuli to the ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
Egyptian burial sites dated prior to 3000 BC contained huge amounts of lapis lazuli jewellery and carvings.
