Gemstone Halo Lamp - Water - Aquamarine & Selenite

A circle of black metal holds a downward-pointing triangle of pale selenite, with rough pieces of blue aquamarine set around the inside of the ring. Switched on, the light runs through the milky bars and picks out the cool blue-grey of each stone. Set it on a shelf or sideboard and it reads as a small sculpture first and a lamp second.

What you'll notice

The selenite bars glow from within, with soft, fibrous striations visible along their length.

The aquamarine sits as raw, unpolished chunks, each one a slightly different shade of pale blue.

The light is cool and white rather than amber, which suits the water theme.

The black frame and round base keep the outline clean, so the stones stay the focus.

The glow is ambient and decorative, better for a mood in the corner of a room than for reading by.

The symbol at the centre

The downward-pointing triangle is the traditional alchemical symbol for Water. The lamp is built around it, with the selenite forming the three sides and the aquamarine curving around the ring. Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin for 'sea water', and selenite from Selene, the Greek moon goddess, so both stones carry a watery, lunar association in their names. Selenite's soft light has long suited that mood, and here the pairing is deliberate.

Selenite and aquamarine

Selenite is a fibrous form of gypsum. Its translucency is why it glows when lit, and its structure is why you see fine parallel lines running through it. Aquamarine is the pale blue variety of beryl, left here in its rough, natural state. The two stones feel different, too: the aquamarine is hard and glassy, while selenite is very soft, at 2 on the Mohs scale, so a fingernail will mark it.

Living with it

Selenite is water-soluble, so keep this lamp away from damp and humidity. That rules out the bathroom and the kitchen windowsill. Never wash or soak it. Dust it only when dry, using a soft brush or cloth, and handle the bars gently, as they can split along thei…

region of manufacture: China