The Vigil

A pound of quiet.

Hand-carved in St. Charles, Iowa from a single block of raw Indiana limestone, The Vigil is made to hold one tea light and keep it steady. Each of the four sides carries a simple incised cross — cut by hand, not stamped, so no two are identical.

This one is finished with Howard Wax It All, a food-grade beeswax blend. The wax deepens the stone's natural buff color to a warm honey tone, gives it a soft satin feel in the palm, and adds light water resistance for daily use. It's the same finish you saw on the darker prayer stone — you get richer contrast without losing the stone's texture.

It sits low and heavy on a table, nightstand, or windowsill. The weight does the work.

Made for: evening prayer, remembrance, Advent, or just one small light at dinner when you want the room to slow down.

Details

•  Material: hand-selected Indiana limestone (Salem formation)

•  Finish: hand-rubbed Howard Wax It All

•  Size: 2.75" wide x 2.75" deep x 2" high

•  Weight: approx. 1 lb

•  Holds: standard tea light only (about 1.5" diameter, not a votive candle)

•  Carving: four hand-cut crosses, one per face

•  Origin: carved by Mike Ayers, Cross and Stone, Saint Charles, IA

Each Vigil leaves the studio a little different. As noted on crossent.net, no two pieces leave the same way they arrived. They're built to last longer than the moment that inspired them.