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Thurman's Gemstone Butterfly

Thurman's Gemstone Butterfly

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Thurman Pickrell
Hand-cut by Thurman Pickrell — Mount Ida, Arkansas
★★★★★ 4.9 (64)
Amethyst gemstone butterfly on a silver stand

Thurman's Gemstone Butterfly

Regular price $59.00
Regular price $59.00 Sale price $85.00
SAVE $26 Sold out
Hand-Cut in Mount Ida, Arkansas · Since 1985

Two Wings, Cut by Hand
From One Slab of Stone

Thurman Pickrell, 73, dug his first crystal out of a red clay bank at fifteen. For forty-one years he cut stone at his bench in Mount Ida, and his late wife, Imogene, wrote down every slab. These butterflies are the last of it. Both wings of each one come from the same slab, so the pattern runs from one wing into the other and exists only once.

41years at the saw
8natural stones
240in the final run

“Thurman cut me a butterfly for our twenty-fifth. I put it on the sill above the sink, and every morning the sun came through the stone. A butterfly doesn’t stay the way it was. That’s the whole point of it. Neither do we.”

Imogene Pickrell · Mount Ida
Why a Butterfly

A Small Symbol of Starting Over

For centuries, people have given butterflies to mark a turning point. In ancient Greek, the same word, psyche, meant both “soul” and “butterfly.”

Change

A caterpillar becomes something entirely new. Nothing about it stays the same.

New Beginnings

A new home, a new chapter, a first year without someone. The butterfly says: you can begin again.

Hope

Light, quiet and free. A reminder on the windowsill that hard seasons pass.

Imogene loved the monarchs. Every fall, when they drifted south through the Ouachita Mountains, she planted half the yard in milkweed and zinnias to give them somewhere to rest. “A butterfly means something is starting over,” she used to say. That is why every pair Thurman cut became a butterfly.

What Arrives at Your Door

Ready for the Windowsill

I

Stone Wings

Two natural stone wings, cut from one slab.

II

Silver Stand

Slim steel butterfly body on a round 2.2-inch (5.5 cm) base.

III

Padded Box

Packed by hand, safe and ready to give.

IV

90-Day Returns

Not right for you? Full refund within 90 days.

Why These Butterflies

What a Gift-Shop Butterfly Doesn’t Have

01

One Slab, One Pair

Both wings are traced side by side on a single slab and cut together, so the bands run from one wing into the other. No second pair like it exists.

02

Cool, Heavy, Real

Natural stone is cool to the touch and heavier than it looks. Hold it next to a resin ornament and you feel the difference at once.

03

Never Dyed, Never Backed

No dye, no resin backing, no plastic. The color is the color the stone grew with.

04

Made for the Window

On lighter stones the morning sun shines through the thin edges. On tiger’s eye the bands move as you walk past.

05

Veins Carved by Hand

Every wing carries carved vein lines that catch the light. You can feel them with a fingertip.

06

Small Enough for Anywhere

About 4 to 5 inches wide on a 2.2-inch (5.5 cm) base. Fits a windowsill, desk, shelf or nightstand.

Choose Your Stone

Eight Stones, Eight Meanings

Imogene always told people what each stone had traditionally stood for. Choose the one that fits the person, or the moment.

AmethystPurple bands · a calm, clear head
Rose OpalSoft pink · a soft heart
SodaliteRoyal blue · honest words
Tiger’s EyeGolden shimmer · courage
AgateEarthy red and green · new beginnings
Red Gum FlowerRed clouds in clear stone · warmth
ApatiteOcean blue · the push to start something
Yellow CalciteWarm yellow · a lighter heart

Meanings are old lapidary lore, shared the way Imogene shared them. A reminder, not a promise. Every stone is natural, so the pattern on yours will differ from the photos.

A Mineralogist’s Note

“Three things have to be true at the same time: the stone is cool and stays cool in your hand, it is heavier than resin of the same size, and the pattern runs through the whole thickness of the slab. A fake can imitate any one of them. Nobody has ever produced all three.”

Dr. Annelise Brokaw · Retired mineralogy professor, 31 years, Fayetteville, Arkansas

90DAYS

90-Day Money-Back Guarantee

If your butterfly isn’t what you hoped for when it arrives, send it back within 90 days for a full refund. No questions, no hassle. Ships within 1–2 business days, packed by hand.

The Details

Specifications

What It Is A natural stone butterfly on a silver steel display stand
Wings Two wings cut and polished by hand from one slab, with carved veins
Stones Amethyst · Rose Opal · Sodalite · Tiger’s Eye · Agate · Red Gum Flower · Apatite · Yellow Calcite
Size About 3.9–5.1 in (10–13 cm) wide, 3.9–4.7 in (10–12 cm) tall
Base Round steel disc, 2.2-inch (5.5 cm) across
Included 1 butterfly on its stand, padded box
Care Dust with a soft dry cloth. Stone can chip if dropped. Years of strong midday sun can pale amethyst and rose opal, so morning or evening light is ideal.
Cut by Thurman Pickrell, stone cutter since 1985, Mount Ida, Arkansas
Final Run 240 butterflies. No restock, no second run.
Shipping Ships within 1–2 business days
Guarantee 90-day full refund
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The Final Sale

Message from the Artist:

After years of making things by hand, our workshop is closing. These are the last pieces we'll ever ship. Every item on this page was made slowly, carefully, and with more love than any factory could replicate. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced. Just real craft from real hands.

We're proud of every single one. We hope they find good homes.

When they're gone, they're gone — and so are we.

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Shipping with UPS / USPS

Free shipping across the United States

- Delivery time: 7–14 business days
- Insured: Every package is fully insured

View full details

160+ Happy Owners

Excellent 4.9

What Thurman's customers are saying

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

I was sure it would be resin at this price. It is not. It is cold and heavy for its size and the purple bands run right across both wings. It sits on my kitchen windowsill now and the morning sun comes straight through the edges.

Verified

Darlene P., Russellville, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Bought the rose opal for myself after a rough year. The color is softer in person than I expected, a real blush pink and not that candy pink you see in gift shops. Came in a padded box without a scratch on it.

Verified

Lorna V., Branson, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Smaller than I pictured, about the height of my coffee mug, and that turned out to be perfect for the sunroom windowsill. The tiger's eye shimmers every time I walk past. My husband keeps picking it up to turn it in the light.

Verified

Bettina R., Cookeville, Tennessee

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Put the sodalite one on the bookshelf in my den next to my old field guides. It stands steady on that round base, no wobble at all even when I pull a book out beside it. The white veins running through the blue are something else.

Verified

Gerald F., Fort Smith, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Mine does not look exactly like the photos and that is the whole point, the red clouds in my red gum flower are all its own. It sits on the windowsill over the sink and glows orange in the afternoon. Got here quicker than I expected too.

Verified

Nadine K., Joplin, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Unpacked it at bedtime and had to switch the lamp back on to look at it again. The apatite is a deep ocean blue with little lighter flecks. It was packed so carefully I almost felt bad opening the box. I had 90 days to send it back and I will not be needing them.

Verified

Wilma J., Conway, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

I was sure it would be resin at this price. It is not. It is cold and heavy for its size and the purple bands run right across both wings. It sits on my kitchen windowsill now and the morning sun comes straight through the edges.

Verified

Darlene P., Russellville, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Bought the rose opal for myself after a rough year. The color is softer in person than I expected, a real blush pink and not that candy pink you see in gift shops. Came in a padded box without a scratch on it.

Verified

Lorna V., Branson, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Smaller than I pictured, about the height of my coffee mug, and that turned out to be perfect for the sunroom windowsill. The tiger's eye shimmers every time I walk past. My husband keeps picking it up to turn it in the light.

Verified

Bettina R., Cookeville, Tennessee

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Put the sodalite one on the bookshelf in my den next to my old field guides. It stands steady on that round base, no wobble at all even when I pull a book out beside it. The white veins running through the blue are something else.

Verified

Gerald F., Fort Smith, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Mine does not look exactly like the photos and that is the whole point, the red clouds in my red gum flower are all its own. It sits on the windowsill over the sink and glows orange in the afternoon. Got here quicker than I expected too.

Verified

Nadine K., Joplin, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Unpacked it at bedtime and had to switch the lamp back on to look at it again. The apatite is a deep ocean blue with little lighter flecks. It was packed so carefully I almost felt bad opening the box. I had 90 days to send it back and I will not be needing them.

Verified

Wilma J., Conway, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

I was sure it would be resin at this price. It is not. It is cold and heavy for its size and the purple bands run right across both wings. It sits on my kitchen windowsill now and the morning sun comes straight through the edges.

Verified

Darlene P., Russellville, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Bought the rose opal for myself after a rough year. The color is softer in person than I expected, a real blush pink and not that candy pink you see in gift shops. Came in a padded box without a scratch on it.

Verified

Lorna V., Branson, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Smaller than I pictured, about the height of my coffee mug, and that turned out to be perfect for the sunroom windowsill. The tiger's eye shimmers every time I walk past. My husband keeps picking it up to turn it in the light.

Verified

Bettina R., Cookeville, Tennessee

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Put the sodalite one on the bookshelf in my den next to my old field guides. It stands steady on that round base, no wobble at all even when I pull a book out beside it. The white veins running through the blue are something else.

Verified

Gerald F., Fort Smith, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Mine does not look exactly like the photos and that is the whole point, the red clouds in my red gum flower are all its own. It sits on the windowsill over the sink and glows orange in the afternoon. Got here quicker than I expected too.

Verified

Nadine K., Joplin, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Unpacked it at bedtime and had to switch the lamp back on to look at it again. The apatite is a deep ocean blue with little lighter flecks. It was packed so carefully I almost felt bad opening the box. I had 90 days to send it back and I will not be needing them.

Verified

Wilma J., Conway, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

I was sure it would be resin at this price. It is not. It is cold and heavy for its size and the purple bands run right across both wings. It sits on my kitchen windowsill now and the morning sun comes straight through the edges.

Verified

Darlene P., Russellville, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Bought the rose opal for myself after a rough year. The color is softer in person than I expected, a real blush pink and not that candy pink you see in gift shops. Came in a padded box without a scratch on it.

Verified

Lorna V., Branson, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Smaller than I pictured, about the height of my coffee mug, and that turned out to be perfect for the sunroom windowsill. The tiger's eye shimmers every time I walk past. My husband keeps picking it up to turn it in the light.

Verified

Bettina R., Cookeville, Tennessee

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Put the sodalite one on the bookshelf in my den next to my old field guides. It stands steady on that round base, no wobble at all even when I pull a book out beside it. The white veins running through the blue are something else.

Verified

Gerald F., Fort Smith, Arkansas

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Mine does not look exactly like the photos and that is the whole point, the red clouds in my red gum flower are all its own. It sits on the windowsill over the sink and glows orange in the afternoon. Got here quicker than I expected too.

Verified

Nadine K., Joplin, Missouri

Thurman gemstone butterfly customer photo

Unpacked it at bedtime and had to switch the lamp back on to look at it again. The apatite is a deep ocean blue with little lighter flecks. It was packed so carefully I almost felt bad opening the box. I had 90 days to send it back and I will not be needing them.

Verified

Wilma J., Conway, Arkansas

See Thurman's Last Butterflies

Frequently Asked Questions

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Got a question? Here's how to reach us.

My son Wade and I personally respond to every single email — as fast as we possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to talk stone, we're here.

You can reach us:

  • Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (CT)
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (CT)

Email: info@backroad-goods.com

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Can I return my order if I don't like it?

Of course. We stand behind everything on Backroad Goods 100%. If you're not happy, neither are we. Just shoot us an email within 90 days and we'll make it right — no hassle, no headaches.

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How are your products made?

Every single product on Backroad Goods is 100% handmade — crafted by hand, using only premium quality materials. We're proud to carry on a tradition of craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.

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