GIL ROBERTS
Completely self-taught in the art of gem carving, Gil Roberts refined his skills and talent with an unlikely medium--wood. Roberts' early experience in furniture design and wood sculpture quickly turned to the realm of gemstones with the incorporation of carved stones into his wood creations. He began designing wood jewelry but soon turned to silver and goldsmithing, yet always setting stones carved by the hands of other artists. Roberts' growing fascination with gems led him to begin experimenting with carvings of his own. Soon gemstones became his focus and carving became his passion. Roberts often spent months, even years, studying a rough crystal before finally unearthing the image present in it. In the midst of several projects at once, Roberts often moved back and forth between pieces, averaging 200 hours per piece. The delicate grace and beauty that characterize the creations of Gil Roberts, from the fluid lines of a perfume bottle to the intricate detail of a falcon's head feathers, are without equal. His art has won numerous awards and has been displayed worldwide, including exhibits at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Chicago, and the White House; it also appears in various private and corporate collections.
Gil Roberts passed on in January of 2003.
(PIECES IN STOCK)