Gemstone tree making is a handicraft practiced in Tubudan, San Remigio, Antique, where semi-precious stones like agate and jade are used to create decorative miniature trees. The process involves cutting stones into small pieces, shaping them into leaves, and attaching them to trunks and branches made of wires using a sealant. The trees are then coated with shellac or resin as finish, and are mounted on driftwood or larger stones for stability. The gemstone trees are not only decorative pieces and souvenirs, but are also featured in local festivals, contributing to the region’s economy. However, increasing demand for these trees poses a risk to the local riverbeds where these stones are collected, threatening the sustainability of this natural resource.
Location/s:

Photo Credit/s:
RENE BOY C. CAHILIG, 2021
Mappers:
Rene Boy C. Cahilig,Joecon M. Rubino,John Vincent Corpez,Joenette Lovely Garcesa,Reann Villaflor,Rizza Lyn M. Villasor,Karl Anthony P. Mission,Mae Claire P. Vedia
Tags:
Agate gemstone trees, Antique, decorative gemstone trees, driftwood bases for gemstone trees, eco-friendly craft challenges, environmental impact of gemstone crafting, folk arts in Antique, gemstone tree as local economy source, Gemstone tree making, gemstone trees as souvenirs, gemstone-based crafts, handmade tree decorations, Jade gemstone trees, local craft preservation, local festivals in Antique, local souvenir crafts, natural resource conservation in crafting, regional artistic traditions, regional craft traditions, riverbed resource sustainability, sealant in gemstone tree making, semi-precious stones crafting, shellac or resin finishing, stone shaping for crafts, sustainable crafting practices, Tubudan San Remigio, wire trunks and branches
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