Mountain Treasures by Ray, Oakhurst, CA
Ray McGee is a lapidary, an artisan who designs, cuts and polishes carefully selected gem stone material, creating pieces which he transforms into wearable art for you with his wire wrapping skills.
Lapidary is an ancient art form. Examples of it date back to prehistoric times, exhibited in finely crafted tools and weapons from stone. Items of personal adornment fashioned from not only from stone, but from bone,
amber, antler, shell soon followed. In every culture human beings have held an appreciation of the Lapidary's skill and a reverence for this art form.
Ray selects gem stone quality raw material, studies the patterning of each specimen, then applies his skills to free the unique treasure hidden within its matrix. Much time and attention is devoted to carefully applying the appropriate polishing agents to achieve a soft luster on this stone or a high polish on another. He then designs a setting which will be created with 14 karat GF wire, or Argentium Silver wire of appropriate gauges, so that this special treasure can be worn as a pendant, a broach, a ring or bracelet.
While at times he uses faceted stones -which have a multitude of flat surfaces, or "facets," enhancing the the reflection and refraction of light, a process most frequently used with transparent colored or colorless material- Ray loves the rich variety of gem stone material which translates beautifully into the cabochon form. These pieces will have a flat back, with convex or rounded top, it can appear in round, square, rectangular, oval or free form shapes. Gift yourself or a loved one with one of his treasures.
Ray also has a Degree in Welding T
