There was a tombstone carver in Deer Island, Maine who was a very fine whittler. Quite a while after he died one of his heirs sold his whittling work to a local antique dealer who then passed them along to us. Most of the work we got consisted of traditional whittling forms, ball in a cage, lovers knots and the like. In addition to the usual forms there is a bible, praying hands, the right hand of the carver (he was missing one finger) plus various animals and Masonic symbols. Looking at all that work one could easily assume the carver led a quiet, ordered, untroubled life except that is for the peach pits.
Tucked away in a little bag among all the usual carved forms were 14 peach pits carved front and back with male and female figures in all kinds of sexual positions and attitudes. They resemble as much as anything scenes from Dante's Gates of Hell. The quiet tombstone carver from Deer Island was portraying an inner life that most certainly was anything but conventional. These peach pits are fantastic.
We have added 14 carrot gold loops so they can be worn as a pendant. Hanging from a gold choker necklace against a black velvet blouse they are stunning.
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