IONA STONES anyone know the lore?

[c***@gmail.com]

I am using stones from Iona in jewelry that I design, make and sell in the
US mostly for a Scots-American audience. The green marble from the old
quarry is what is usually called "Iona Stone". I use this but also use the
red, green, white and black granitite sort of stone that is found on the
south end of the island. The bedrock around Columba's bay is made of this
material.
I once heard this material refered to as "bloodstone" but the silversmith
working on the Ross of Mull referes to it as "serpantine". In the US
serpantine refers to a very different, much softer material.
Everthing connected with Iona has some sort of legend or lore attached to
it. My visits have been too brief to learn much about any traditional
beliefs about this stone, but since the stone is so beautiful and
plentiful I feel certain that the imaginative people of this part of the
world must have found some special use or meaning for it.
My jewelry, including some peices that use the Iona stones can be seen at
http://www.underbridge.com/market/walker/walker.htm
Thanks for any help.
Tapadh leibh,
Steve

Hi Steve good on you for shooting down in flames that idiot that thinks Scotland belongs to him. My uncle's name ( Pilot Officer Colin Campbell MacColl) is the first name on the Iona War Memorial and He was born along with other siblings in a crofters cottage called Culdamh just off Port Bahn and my Great Grandfather Donald Campbell saved the lives of 3 sailors when the Guy Mannering foundered on the rocks all these years ago so I reckon that gives me the right to an input in this conversation. You are doing an amazing job creating Iona jewellery with the stones and distributing it around the globe. When I visited New Zealand I took some stones in my luggage and gave it to the people I met and they were thrilled to receive such a momento from such a holy place. The last day of my New Zealand trip I was in a place called Nelson walking along a grassed area when I was prompted to look down and there lying at my feet was a small stone from New Zealand practically hidden by the blades of grass around it. i took it on my next visit to Scotland and handed it back to nature. I am proud to be Scottish and the amazing history it has but the goons who have taken it over make me fearful for the future.
Best Regards Catherine Wilson .

[soupdragon]

Post by c***@gmail.com

I am using stones from Iona in jewelry that I design, make and sell
in th

e

US mostly for a Scots-American audience. The green marble from the
old quarry is what is usually called "Iona Stone". I use this but
also use th

e

red, green, white and black granitite sort of stone that is found on
the south end of the island. The bedrock around Columba's bay is made
of this material.
I once heard this material refered to as "bloodstone" but the
silversmith working on the Ross of Mull referes to it as
"serpantine". In the US serpantine refers to a very different, much
softer material.
Everthing connected with Iona has some sort of legend or lore
attached to it. My visits have been too brief to learn much about any
traditional beliefs about this stone, but since the stone is so
beautiful and plentiful I feel certain that the imaginative people of
this part of the world must have found some special use or meaning
for it.
My jewelry, including some peices that use the Iona stones can be
seen at http://www.underbridge.com/market/walker/walker.htm
Thanks for any help.
Tapadh leibh,
Steve

Hi Steve good on you for shooting down in flames that idiot that
thinks Scotland belongs to him. My uncle's name ( Pilot Officer Colin
Campbell MacColl) is the first name on the Iona War Memorial and He
was born along with other siblings in a crofters cottage called
Culdamh just off Port Bahn and my Great Grandfather Donald Campbell
saved the lives of 3 sailors when the Guy Mannering foundered on the
rocks all these years ago so I reckon that gives me the right to an
input in this conversation. You are doing an amazing job creating Iona
jewellery with the stones and distributing it around the globe. When I
visited New Zealand I took some stones in my luggage and gave it to
the people I met and they were thrilled to receive such a momento from
such a holy place. The last day of my New Zealand trip I was in a
place called Nelson walking along a grassed area when I was prompted
to look down and there lying at my feet was a small stone from New
Zealand practically hidden by the blades of grass around it. i took it
on my next visit to Scotland and handed it back to nature. I am proud
to be Scottish and the amazing history it has but the goons who have
taken it over make me fearful for the future. Best Regards Catherine
Wilson .

You're replying to a post from almost 20 years ago. Check the date
The website is long gone.

[r***@gmail.com]

I am using stones from Iona in jewelry that I design, make and sell in the
US mostly for a Scots-American audience. The green marble from the old
quarry is what is usually called "Iona Stone". I use this but also use the
red, green, white and black granitite sort of stone that is found on the
south end of the island. The bedrock around Columba's bay is made of this
material.
I once heard this material refered to as "bloodstone" but the silversmith
working on the Ross of Mull referes to it as "serpantine". In the US
serpantine refers to a very different, much softer material.
Everthing connected with Iona has some sort of legend or lore attached to
it. My visits have been too brief to learn much about any traditional
beliefs about this stone, but since the stone is so beautiful and
plentiful I feel certain that the imaginative people of this part of the
world must have found some special use or meaning for it.
My jewelry, including some peices that use the Iona stones can be seen at
http://www.underbridge.com/market/walker/walker.htm
Thanks for any help.
Tapadh leibh,
Steve

I am on Iona now - a friend here works with the stone, making jewelry and using it for ceremony. The early Christian lore you speak of seems to be correct - to save one from drowning. The new agey me - American of Scottish descent on both sides of my family, who is visiting folks who have lived here for a long time,says that there is definitely something wonderful energetically about the green stone. The only hearsay lore I have uncovered on island is that it is connected to Faerie. I am sure you have researched how Iona was formed and that the geology here is completely different than on Mull, any granite has washed ashore.

[The Phantom Piper]

I am sure you have researched how Iona was formed [...]

You do realise you are replying to a more-than-20-year-old thread?


Doing The Time-Warp,

The Phantom Piper

[S Viemeister]

Post by The Phantom Piper

I am sure you have researched how Iona was formed [...]

You do realise you are replying to a more-than-20-year-old thread?
Doing The Time-Warp,
The Phantom Piper

Hi there, Piper!

[The Phantom Piper]

Post by S Viemeister
Hi there, Piper!

Hallooo there, Sheila!

So, d'ya think *NOW* they can get full independence through?

Or is the Scottish electorate ready to accept Bonnie Prince
Boris and Sweet Nigel as lawful leaders?

I urgently need to know, as even in my role of 'Greek In Rome'
I might have to flee the advent of Emperor Trump and come home.

(Or, I hear Greece is nice in the Spring...)


Awrabest,

The Phantom Piper

[Alan Smaill]

Post by The Phantom Piper

Post by S Viemeister
Hi there, Piper!

Hallooo there, Sheila!
So, d'ya think *NOW* they can get full independence through?

Only if the support is there --
will you come to Scotland and get involved?

Post by The Phantom Piper
I urgently need to know, as even in my role of 'Greek In Rome'
I might have to flee the advent of Emperor Trump and come home.

Things must be *really* bad
for you to be thinking of coming to Scotland!

Post by The Phantom Piper
(Or, I hear Greece is nice in the Spring...)

More to your taste, perhaps.

Post by The Phantom Piper
Awrabest,
The Phantom Piper

[S Viemeister]

Post by Alan Smaill

Post by The Phantom Piper

Post by S Viemeister
Hi there, Piper!

Hallooo there, Sheila!
So, d'ya think *NOW* they can get full independence through?

Only if the support is there --

And if Brexit actually happens.

[The Phantom Piper]

[Well, who cares, really?]

My, your life must be sma[i]ll...

All that lurking, just . . . *waiting* . . . for me to come by
and allow you that moment of self-perceived 'glory'...

How sad.


Making Your Day,

The Phantom Piper

[Alan Smaill]

Post by The Phantom Piper
[Well, who cares, really?]

Not you, it was just talking about Scotland after all.

Post by The Phantom Piper
Making Your Day,
The Phantom Piper

QED.

[Adam Whyte-Settlar]

Post by The Phantom Piper

I am sure you have researched how Iona was formed [...]

You do realise you are replying to a more-than-20-year-old thread?
Doing The Time-Warp,
The Phantom Piper

You've got a real thing for punctuality Piper.
What's so bad about answering a 20 year old thread?
Have you imposed some kind of statute of limitations or what?

AWS

[S Viemeister]

Post by Adam Whyte-Settlar

Post by The Phantom Piper

I am sure you have researched how Iona was formed [...]

You do realise you are replying to a more-than-20-year-old thread?
Doing The Time-Warp,
The Phantom Piper

You've got a real thing for punctuality Piper.
What's so bad about answering a 20 year old thread?
Have you imposed some kind of statute of limitations or what?
AWS

Hello, Adam!

[The Phantom Piper]

Post by Adam Whyte-Settlar
You've got a real thing for punctuality Piper.
What's so bad about answering a 20 year old thread?
Have you imposed some kind of statute of limitations or what?

I'm sorry, Adam, but I'm not going to reply to you.

You know what happens when I do: you get all maudlin
and teary-eyed and pretty soon we're talking about
foreskins or the Crypto-Fascist Apocalypse* or summat
and before you know it Fred or Hardy show up as though
summoned from a rusty 1-shilling condom-vending machine
(which, if you will remember, is how they began their
tenure on this planet) by a hopped-up Junkie Psychic
on Walpurgisnacht. And then where would we be?

So no, I'm just not going to do i-

Oh...damn!


Caught Out,

The Phantom Piper

*[Notice: the Crypto-Fascist Apocalypse is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of PlutoMart<tm>,
which is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary
of KleptoCorp, LLC. All broadcast rights
are retained and hello Sheila if you read
this far down.]

[S Viemeister]

Post by The Phantom Piper

Post by Adam Whyte-Settlar
You've got a real thing for punctuality Piper.
What's so bad about answering a 20 year old thread?
Have you imposed some kind of statute of limitations or what?

I'm sorry, Adam, but I'm not going to reply to you.
You know what happens when I do: you get all maudlin
and teary-eyed and pretty soon we're talking about
foreskins or the Crypto-Fascist Apocalypse* or summat
and before you know it Fred or Hardy show up as though
summoned from a rusty 1-shilling condom-vending machine
(which, if you will remember, is how they began their
tenure on this planet) by a hopped-up Junkie Psychic
on Walpurgisnacht. And then where would we be?
So no, I'm just not going to do i-
Oh...damn!
Caught Out,
The Phantom Piper
*[Notice: the Crypto-Fascist Apocalypse is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of PlutoMart<tm>,
which is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary
of KleptoCorp, LLC. All broadcast rights
are retained and hello Sheila if you read
this far down.]

<waves>

[Joe Makowiec]

Post by S Viemeister
<waves>

Waves back. There are still a few of us hanging around, missing the old
days when Usenet was a viable medium. And I miss the gang in here.

[S Viemeister]

Post by Joe Makowiec

Post by S Viemeister
<waves>

Waves back. There are still a few of us hanging around, missing the old
days when Usenet was a viable medium. And I miss the gang in here.

Yes, it was fun back then.

[Craig Cockburn]

Post by S Viemeister

Post by Joe Makowiec

Post by S Viemeister
<waves>

Waves back. There are still a few of us hanging around, missing the old
days when Usenet was a viable medium. And I miss the gang in here.

Yes, it was fun back then.

Indeed it was.

[The Phantom Piper]

Post by Craig Cockburn
Indeed it was.

Hello, Craig! Glad to see you're still kicking.

Do you think that (perversely if appropriately
enough - given how the Act Of Union came about
in the first place) Brexit will be the event
which finally results in Scottish Independence?

The current Parcel Of Rogues is firmly embedded
in Westminster, and instead of German Geordie we
hae Boorish Boris; I think it would be Hi-LARious
if this led directly to Scotland's recognition by
the EU as a sovereign state.

(Just think: in addition to the Water Contracts,
the Power Contracts, and the Oil Contracts with
Anglistan all being renegotiated, Scotland could
change the Tax Structure for foreign-owned Golf
Courses...) */:~D


Salivating,

The Phantom Piper

[David Edmunds]

Post by The Phantom Piper

Post by Craig Cockburn
Indeed it was.

Hello, Craig! Glad to see you're still kicking.
Do you think that (perversely if app
The current Parcel Of Rogues is firmly embedded
in Westminster, and instead of German Geordie we
hae Boorish Boris; I think it would be Hi-LARious
if this led directly to Scotland's recognition by
the EU as a sovereign state.
Salivating,
The Phantom Piper

Amen

Can we describe them as a Junta, and another Cold War period term Putsch now seems relevant?

The Iona stones are pretty but I an curious about another unusual and interesting material, someone gave me a piece, it was described as Portree Marble, it was a softish stone, easly worked and I made a pendant and trinkets using it. It was variegated, mainly black and dark green with quite bright red flecks.

Searches have not come up with anything like it. Any ideas anyone?

David Martin Edmunds

[Alan Smaill]

Post by David Edmunds
The Iona stones are pretty but I an curious about another unusual and
interesting material, someone gave me a piece, it was described as
Portree Marble, it was a softish stone, easly worked and I made a
pendant and trinkets using it. It was variegated, mainly black and
dark green with quite bright red flecks.
Searches have not come up with anything like it. Any ideas anyone?

There was/is marble around in Skye:

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/marble-line.shtml

https://www.jewellerylocations.co.uk/jeweller/428168/skye-cuillin-marbles

Post by David Edmunds
David Martin Edmunds

[celtic dove]

Well that sounds like bloodstone to me, David.

I came here in search on serpentine and then realised it could be related to the Columba's tears (which led me to this thread) but this thread is so full of off-track comments, many of them rude, that I am reminded of why I don't bother much with forums unless it is so high or dry (automotive for instance) that cuts past the ugly in human nature.

There are so few Columba's tears on the south beach (as of 2013; last time I looked), that it certainly proves an earlier point that marble in general does not last long in a natural tumbling environment. Of course there is the factor of popularity as well...

Post by Alan Smaill

Post by David Edmunds
The Iona stones are pretty but I an curious about another unusual and
interesting material, someone gave me a piece, it was described as
Portree Marble, it was a softish stone, easly worked and I made a
pendant and trinkets using it. It was variegated, mainly black and
dark green with quite bright red flecks.
Searches have not come up with anything like it. Any ideas anyone?

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/marble-line.shtml
https://www.jewellerylocations.co.uk/jeweller/428168/skye-cuillin-marbles

Post by David Edmunds
David Martin Edmunds

--
Alan Smaill

[p***@gmail.com]

G'day Steve,

My view as a geo/anthropologist is that all jewelery and in fact all treasure is meant to be stolen. It merely adds to the legends. Campin is a particularly silly grump.

Here's a freebie. Iona greenstone, from its serpentinite association, and hardness, may be nephrite jade. May be wrong, one beach would prove it, but I much doubt any marble pebbles would survive in an active beach - too soft.

So, sell your jewellery to China if it is nephrite. They go bonkers about the white colours and the price has gone even more bonkers.

To play fair, tell the folk on Iona? Place is not rich.

Peter.

Peter Spencer Ravenscroft. Geologist/social anthropologist/aging grump. Ravenswood Wildlife Sanctuary (Google “Rescue Ravenswood “ if interested) Closeburn, Queensland, Australia. Ph: 617 32894470 Email ***@gmail.com Ex-Cape Town, for 26 years. Anti-apartheid then, anti-aparthate now.


PS: One lady who lost a jade brooch over a hundred years ago advertised a reward for its recovery in every edition of the paper for over adecade. Maybe she owned the paper, dunno. The legend of luck, no doubt.

[p***@gmail.com]

G'day Steve,

My view as a geo/anthropologist is that all jewelery and in fact all treasure is meant to be stolen. It merely adds to the legends. Campin is a particularly silly grump.

Here's a freebie. Iona greenstone, from its serpentinite association, and hardness, may be nephrite jade. May be wrong, one beach would prove it, but I much doubt any marble pebbles would survive in an active beach - too soft.

So, sell your jewellery to China if it is nephrite. They go bonkers about the white colours and the price has gone even more bonkers.

To play fair, tell the folk on Iona? Place is not rich.

Peter.

Peter Spencer Ravenscroft. Geologist/social anthropologist/aging grump. Ravenswood Wildlife Sanctuary (Google “Rescue Ravenswood “ if interested) Closeburn, Queensland, Australia. Ph: 617 32894470 Email p.s.ravenscroft[at]gmail.com Ex-Cape Town, for 26 years. Anti-apartheid then, anti-aparthate now.


PS: One lady who lost a jade brooch over a hundred years ago advertised a reward for its recovery in every edition of the paper for over adecade. Maybe she owned the paper, dunno. The legend of luck, no doubt.

[The Phantom Piper]

Post by p***@gmail.com
G'day Steve,

Nice necro of an over-two-year-old post,
*and* with a Double-Post to boot!


Applauding,

The Phantom Piper