Montana Agate Grotto Earrings

Unique tongue-shaped Montana agates hang from openwork yellow bronze caps. One drop is pale and translucent, scattered with dark dendritic spots; the other is banded in amber, honey, and deep brown. The carved bronze caps read like the inside of a cave. Chambers and hollows meet and fuse, as flowstone gathers into pillars and draperies over time.

The caps are hand-carved in wax, then cast in yellow bronze using the lost-wax method. The carving is deliberately asymmetric, each cap worked to its own logic, so the pair holds two distinct personalities rather than a mirror image. The openwork frames the stone below, light passing through the hollows of the metal.

Montana agate is a patterned cryptocrystalline quartz, translucent in body, marked by dendritic inclusions of black, brown, orange, and red. Those branching patterns come from iron and manganese oxides deposited along cracks and growth lines as the stone formed. The agates are found only along the Yellowstone River between Billings and Sidney. They erode from ancient volcanic flows, tumbled smooth by glacial floods and river currents. Each is a small volcanic time capsule from the heart of the Yellowstone hotspot.

Details
· Material: Montana agate; Grotto earrings in yellow bronze
· Posts: Sterling silver posts and backs
· Length: 2"
· A one-of-a-kind pair; the two stones are intentionally mismatched

FAQ
Why are the two earrings different?
They are intentionally asymmetric. Each stone and carved cap is unique, so the pair holds two related but distinct forms of the same length.

How should I care for agate earrings?
Wipe with a soft cloth after wear. Store separately. Stones can chip or break if dropped or knocked against a hard surface, so handle this natural stone with care. Avoid water, chemicals, abrasives, and ultrasonic cleaners.

Can you make a custom pair with different stones?
Yes. A related pair can be composed in another stone from the studio collection. Please reach out to create one together.

We offer COMPLIMENTARY SHIPPING via USPS Priority Mail which delivers within three business days or less. More remote locations may take an extra day. Need it sooner? You can purchase Express Mail shipping for $35.00. The package will usually arrive by the next business day after shipment.

Alaska and Hawaii orders will ship 2nd day only, at a charge of $35.00.

International shipping is charged $50.00 - if you would like something shipped by a specific carrier or expedited, please contact me for a quote.

All items are insured at their full retail value. All deliveries are made to a physical business or home address only. We cannot ship to P.O. Box addresses.