Laguna Agate Scent Bottle by Thomas Harth Ames


Arvada, Colorado This beautiful and functional perfume bottle is carved from a large piece of highly sought-after Laguna agate from Mexico. It is distinguished by striking patterns, the concentric banding and "eyes" within the agate and, when held to the light, there are visible patches of translucency. Laguna agates are beloved for their subtle lavender, heather, plum and reddish-brown hues. This particular piece is reflective of Ames' work in that it is free-form and gives a "windblown" appearance. The finial is removable and has a Montana agate dipper which is inserted into the body of the scent bottle. Height 5 1/2in (14cm)
|Provenance: Purchased from Bonhams & Butterfields, Los Angeles, Natural History, December 10, 2012, Sale 20082, Lot 1245. Thomas Harth AmesPart of the vanguard of the new, creative gem carvers Thomas Harth Ames is a completely self-taught sculptor who creates images in gemstones, glass, lead crystal and other transparent media. A former tool and die maker for NASA, Ames is noted for his precision workmanship, his successful use of new techniques, his originality, and his artistic use of light, shadow, hue and intensity in transparent materials. He builds his own machines for his lapidary work, and introduced sandblasting as a lapidary tool. Most of his work is now done on commission and clients usually rely upon Ames to select the material. Articles about Ames's work have appeared in the Lapidary Journal, Jewelers Circular Keystone, Colored Stone, Modern Jeweler, and Professional Jeweler. He has completed commissions for the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and prominent individuals such as actor/director Kevin Costner, Colorado Governor Roy Romer, Senator Ben Knighthorse-Campbell, Congressional Representative Patricia Shroeder, Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Ames has won the prestigious American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Cutting Edge Competition, winning First Place in Carving and Best of Show in 2000, First Place in the Objects of Art category in 1999, First Place in the Objects of Art category and Best of Show in 1998, and Third Place in Objects of Art in 1996. Thomas has been juried into several prominent local, national and international fine art shows and has been the featured artist at many one-man shows. He is a member of the National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame.