Description
The rarest things on Earth were formed by the most ordinary processes, repeated for eons. Named for the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele’s tears are small spheroids of basaltic glass formed when lava fountains eject droplets that solidify in flight. Often connected by hair-thin threads of glass (Pele’s hair), each teardrop captures a moment of volcanic energy in a perfect miniature form. The black glass is essentially identical to obsidian, formed in seconds rather than years.
This specimen originates from Kilauea, Big Island, Hawaii, USA, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.
Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.
