Homage to Nature, Testament to Man

My Father was a stonemason. He made beautiful fireplaces. I remember gathering granite fieldstones from the farms adjacent to our property.

There was always a mound of stones as a result of preparing land for crops.I would watch as he chiseled and placed each stone in the perfect spot. The hearth would grow out of his many days of hard labour. Remember the satisfaction reflected in my father’s eyes as the first fire warmed up the room. He knew this hearth would be central to a family on many cold Canadian winter nights. Throughout history, humans have displayed craftsmanship in fashioning the resources available to build, among other things, temples of worship, monuments, shelter and personal adornment. I have heard that in some ancient churches in Europe, a man might work a week on just one stone.

This type of dedication is simply impractical in the modern world. Nevertheless, and with my own interests aside, I can comfortably avow that luxury goods collections do a credible job of preserving quality craftsmanship. That little guy in an atelier in Italy, putting together leather heels on Todd shoes is, in fact, the real deal.

Man's relationship with nature is often wonder and worship. Yet he insists on making his own mark. Beautification is the highest form of that worship and speaks to the cry to mark existence, have continuance and add value through aesthetics: I am; I have been here; I have loved. I am also a stone guy but unlike my father, I use a cutting and polishing wheel.  Hope when you see that big jewel in the centre of a gold ring that you will understand it as a homage to nature and a testimony to man ... and perhaps even an act of love.