
Konovalenko: Gem Carvings of Russian Folklife
This exhibit at The Denver Museum of Nature & Science needed its own post!

If you have not seen my post on The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, it was such an awesome time! While I was there, I came across this amazing art exhibit – Konovalenko: Gem Carvings of Russian Folklife.
These beautiful characters and scenes are tiny sculptures made of colorful gems. Although I am only sharing a few of my favorites, I spent a decent amount of time taking in these little carvings and the stories they hold. Which do you like best?
Spring

Fellow
Shoes: gold plated silver, cacholong
Pants: zebra jasper
Shirt: jasper
Jacket: shungite
Hat: cacholong, tiger eye
Face & Hands: Beloretsk quartz
Hair: tiger eye
Eyes: sapphire
Balalaika: gold plated silver, enamel
Base
Seat: amethyst, agate
The Mower

Mower
Pants: agate
Undershirt: quartz
Shirt: beryl
Belt: ruby
Buckle: silver
Face, Hands & Feet: Beloretsk quartz
Hair, Eyebrows & Moustaches: rutile quartz
Eyes: sapphire, gold
Cap: black jasper
Base
Ground: rutile quartz, gold plated silver
Rye: rutile quartz
Scythe: gold, silver, gold plate
In the Sultry Afternoon II

Woman
Body: Beloretsk quartz
Bathing suit: lapis
Hair: quartz rutile
Eyes: sapphire
Base
Pool: agate, gold plated silver
Table: petrified wood
Umbrella: gold plated silver, enamel
Samovar: gold plated silver
Cup: cacholong
Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.
Leviticus 2:13
Bread and Salt

Man
Hat: jasper
Face: Beloretsk quartz
Hands: Beloretsk quartz
Eyes: sapphire
Hair, beard & mustache: gray quartz
Shirt: jade
Buttons: opal
Pants: banded jasper
Socks: white quartz
Shoes: gold plated silver
Base
Ground: pyrite
Tray: enamel
Bread: calcite
Bowl: banded onyx
Towel: white quartz
Salt: white quartz
Bowl: metal