Black Obsidian Maitreya Buddha Pendant

Description

Black obsidian Maitreya Buddha catches the light with a surface like polished midnight. Cool and weighty in the hand, the volcanic glass is hand-carved into the rounded form of the Laughing Buddha, abundance made tangible and wearable.

Obsidian forms when volcanic lava cools so rapidly it becomes glass, not crystal, and has been prized for its mirror surface across cultures for millennia. In China, carved black obsidian figures carry long associations with protection and good fortune. The Maitreya Buddha, depicted in his familiar laughing posture, belongs to both Mahayana Buddhist tradition and the vernacular culture of abundance that spread along trade routes across East and Southeast Asia. This pendant is carved by hand by artisans working in traditional Chinese lapidary methods.

The pendant is substantial in the hand, its weight a reminder of the material’s volcanic origin. The surface is polished to a mirror finish, revealing the characteristic conchoidal fracture and subtle depth unique to natural obsidian, distinct from dyed glass imitations. The Maitreya figure is carved in full relief: rounded belly, raised hand, draped robe rendered in smooth, continuous lines. A stainless steel bail is set at the crown for suspension on any cord or chain. Approximate dimensions: 35 x 25 mm, weight approximately 15 grams.

Black obsidian pendant hand-carved into the form of Maitreya Buddha, the Laughing Buddha of abundance. Natural volcanic glass, mirror-polished. Stainless steel bail included. Origin: China. Approximate dimensions: 35 x 25 mm.

A hand-carved object in volcanic glass. Natural obsidian holds its mirror polish indefinitely. Produced by trained lapidary artisans in China.