The story of “The Czar’s Stones”

​In 1993, our cousin Barry had a significant birthday. I made this wall piece of sticks and stones, held together with looping (knotless netting). At dinner one night, before gifting the piece to him, our family created a story to go along with the gift. We had a broken clock, a cracked porcelain piece, believed to have been carried to the US by a mutual grandmother from Russia.

Here's the story we created:
     We finally took our old clock that was brought over from Russia to a clockmaker. He found a string of stones and a note written in Russian. Here is the translation:

     For you, my dear great granddaughter Sadie, may these bring you good luck in the New World. There were a part of the Czar’s Royal Stones of Russia. In my years of protecting the royal garden, I obtained a part of his stones by stealing them.
     May they bring you happiness, good health, and good luck in the New World. They should be passed down in the many generations to come in the Berman family. I hope you enjoy this present thoroughly and good luck.
     Lots of love,
     Great Grandpa Berman
 
     So now, Barry, may you share a part of our ancestry, and may bring you happiness, good health, and good luck. Enjoy!

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For a very funny period of time, this story was believed to be the truth!

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​Today I am creating more stones. I’m not certain what they will become. Their inspiration is the old Czar Stones, still hanging in Barry’s home.