Topaz - Wooden model mounted on a hat
Based on a specimen from Shigar Valley, Pakistan.
I’ve been going to mineral shows with my achtaragdite crystal model handbag for a while now, and it’s been a reliable conversation starter every time. (If you haven’t read about my crystal model handbag yet, you can do so here.) People really seem to love the idea of wearable crystal model art, and after a little while I thought maybe the world needed another example - perhaps a hat this time! I went through my collection looking for a crystal with the correct proportions and the right level of complexity, eventually settling on a perfectly transparent little topaz from Pakistan.
Construction of the hat went smoothly. Due to the large number of forms, I got to work with a lot of different kinds of wood. Finding a harmonious color scheme was one challenge, and achieving a proper fit on my head was another. I had to adjust the relative prevalance of the prism faces around the circumference to get a snug fit, but no other changes were needed. The termination of the model is pretty much exactly what I saw on the termination of the crystal.
It was hard getting a good photo of the crystal. It’s small and perfectly clear, and getting an image that shows even a fraction of those little faces was a challenge. Next to the crystal is a picture of me wearing the hat at last summer’s Springfield show. That’s my husband with me, wishing he had a hat too!
I enjoy doing unique things with crystal models. Aside from the wearable models, I’ve also started making custom display boxes to show off crystals with distinctive habits. You can see a spinel twin display here, and a synthetic quartz display here. (link to come)
As noted above, you can see my crystal model handbag here.
Model details: Topaz crystal model hat. The wood part of the hat is 4.5" high. Woods used are padauk, sycamore, English walnut, wenge, curly maple, red oak, cocobolo, bocote, bubinga, and American holly.
Specimen details: Topaz crystal. Shigar Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. 1.7 cm.