We make one-of-a-kind pieces from materials with a past.
Rough Cut Lapidary brings together hands-on craftsmanship and a background in geology. That combination shapes the way we choose, cut, finish, and describe each material.
The material usually tells us where to start.
Every slab, scale, tooth, and piece of fossil bone is different. Before cutting, we look at its pattern, thickness, fractures, and stability. That helps us decide which part will work best and which direction will show the material most clearly.
Our background in geology helps us understand the structure and history of the materials we use. We share that information when it adds something useful, but the finished piece remains the focus.
We work with dinosaur gembone, mammoth tooth and ivory, meteorite, stone, metal, leather, and other complementary materials. Each behaves differently under a saw, grinder, or polishing wheel, so every project has to be approached on its own.
Most of our work is one of a kind. Each finished item is photographed and listed separately. Available pieces stay in the shop, while sold work remains in the gallery as a record of what we have made.
Knowing the material helps us work with it.
Fossil bone, mammoth tooth, meteorite, and stone each have their own structure. Understanding that structure helps us choose the cut, avoid weak areas, and bring out the pattern without forcing the material into a design that does not suit it.
It also gives us something worth sharing. A knife or buckle can be useful and beautiful while still giving its owner a real connection to the geology and natural history behind it.
See what is available and learn more about the materials.
The shop contains current pieces. The gallery shows sold work. The materials page explains the fossils, meteorites, stone, and other materials used in our projects.