By Michael Colella

I began collecting rocks and minerals when I was a child and have continued this hobby into adult life. While browsing through stones at a local gem show about 15 years ago, I spotted this piece of petrified wood, which looked attractive to me but less so to others because it wasn't polished and shiny like all the other typical pieces of petrified wood on sale. By the end of the show, it was still there, so it had to come home with me. It sat in my collection for several years until I became aware of the art of viewing stones. Finally, my small petrified tree trunk would go on display. Also, as an avid woodworker, I had this piece of burl from a damaged branch of an old oak tree, which also had been sitting in my shop for years, waiting to be reborn. The two were a match. Pairing the natural cut off branch of the oak tree with the natural untouched petrified section of prehistoric tree branch made the perfect display of young and old. "From Wood To Stone" is the natural cycle of life in this viewing stone.

Stone: Petrified wood 4"D x 15" H, base - oak 6.5" D x 4.5"H.