This was a private commission. I was drawn to Dhuston from Clee Hill, Shropshire having seen it used in a show by Stephen Cox, curated by Meadow arts. Cleehill is itself mystical place, appearing on the Mappa Mundi at Hereford cathedral. Dhuston is a dolorite, an igneous rock that comes from the magma at the earth’s core. It is extremely hard, indeed the hardest I have ever carved. What if find intriguing is that come south of the quarry with a yellow crust, but once polished has a deep black matt surface. Like Barman’s helmet I think. This contrast of what is reveled beneath the surface has symbolic meaning for me.