Clough Quarry Pendant by Sam Holmes

The Clough Quarry Pendant is a stunning one off piece by Sam Holmes - the artist who has been selected for our 'In the Window' display for June 2025, chosen from a range of makers who exhibited at Manchester Metropolitan University Graduate show, 2024

Materials:  Raw stone, Silver, Amethyst, Lab Sapphire

Dimensions:  Pendant Length 70mm x Width at the widest point 25mm   On a 13cm diameter round silver neck wire 

"Formed on the rugged slopes of a disused granite quarry, the Clough Quarry Pendant is a grounded tribute to the raw landscape and subtle beauty found in the wild. Crafted on-site using my portable jewellery bench, this piece incorporates two granite stones discovered just metres from where I worked — fragments of the mountain itself, shaped by time and terrain.

These locally found stones are framed in brass, echoing the earthy, weather-worn tones of the quarry walls. Nestled within the structure are delicate amethysts and deep sapphires, a deliberate nod to the scattered foxgloves that coloured the quarry’s edge. Their purples and blues stand out vividly against the muted granite, capturing the unexpected bursts of colour blooming in a seemingly barren space.

The stones are secured in silver settings, offering a refined contrast to the granite, and reflecting the craftsmanship that brings nature’s raw materials into harmony. Every element — from the hand-shaped frame to the raw granite — speaks to a deep respect for place, process, and presence.

The Clough Quarry Pendant is a wearable monument to the mountain — a fusion of geology, flora, and craft, forged in the silence of a forgotten landscape and alive with its quiet story."