A rust-brown cross stands out sharply against the pale, milky-white body of this cabochon, its vertical arm brightening to soft amber near the top edge. This piece was cut from rough agate found in the mountains of East Java, where local craftsmen first recognised these unusual nodules and began carving them into religious scripts.
 
Foremost among them is a craftsman who has earned a reputation as the "Godfather" of the Letter Agates. He works from a small, dirt-floored cabin lit only by gas lantern, shaping each piece by hand on a crank-driven grinder. To create this cabochon, the surrounding agate was carefully worked away to expose the natural cross hidden inside. Entirely natural and untreated, a cabochon like this is genuinely rare and brings a note of spirituality to any piece of jewellery or craft work.
 
During a visit to Indonesia, we spent a day alongside Mr "Letterman", watching this true craftsman at work. It is this same ageing artisan, working alone, who produces every one of our Alphabet, Number and religious-figure cabochons, each one genuinely natural and authentic, guaranteed. Full alphabet and number sets carry his signature as proof of authenticity. Spotting the image within the stone — whether cross, letter or number — depends entirely on this craftsman's trained eye, making each result a rare and singular piece of lapidary work.
 
Whether you make jewellery or collect one-of-a-kind pieces, this cross cabochon deserves a place in your collection. Bring natural beauty and religious meaning to your next project with this striking stone. Full alphabet and number sets, along with other religious symbols cut from this same material, can be found among our other listings.
 
You will receive the exact piece pictured on this product page.
 
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Indonesia
DIMENSIONS: 19 (L) x 13 (W) x 8 (H) mm (Approximate)
WEIGHT: 3 grams (Approximate)