Our stone tea light candle stones begin as freshly “grown” fieldstones that American Stonecraft sustainably hand-harvests at working farms. Each rock is unique in shape and color, comprised of metamorphic granite. Artisans craft each rock with a hammer & chisel, and drill holes for the candles from scratch with custom diamond tools in our Massachusetts studio. The stone is transformed from a dull rock into a piece of art. Each candle stone retains the natural “live” edge from the stone’s glacial tumbling.

Each stone arrives packaged in an American Stonecraft gift box with your personalized gift note, if applicable.

SIZING

The candle stone is approximately 1.5″ tall, and 4″ long. It is 1 pound in weight. For scale, please consult the photo with a ruler shown next to the stone.

NOTE

Fieldstones being natural, have minor, non-structural fissures, pocks, scratches, chips, and other superficial flaws that we affectionately call beauty marks.

THE FARM–TO–TABLE STORY

About 8,000 years ago, icy glaciers pushed boulders into the soil of America’s Northeast. As a result, a fresh crop of rocks ‘grow’ each spring when the winter’s freeze-thaw cycles force buried stones upward, a process called granular convection.

In the 1890s, before the railroads opened up rock-free farmlands in other parts of the United States, farmers removing stones from their fields piled them into what eventually became 215,000 miles of stonewalls, a distance greater than from the earth to the moon!

These stonewalls became the folklore of poets like Robert Frost, and the landscape of the Northeast United States. Because clearing rocks is never complete, American Stonecraft partners with working farms to sustainably harvest their fresh rocks and transform them into functional heirlooms. Not only does this endeavor share geology that has never been seen before, but it helps support working farms, preserving open space and protecting the stonewalls that are so iconic to this region.

Like many of us, the founder of American Stonecraft, Gerald Croteau, fell in love with these archaeological stone ruins as a youth. However, he became an economist and founded American Stonecraft in his late 20s after seeing the inside of a fieldstone for the first time. He was amazed at what he had overlooked for so long, and realized that there was a sustainable supply of these rocks that farmers could share at their farmstands. Diamond tools (being a relatively modern invention) revealed amazing colors, patterns, and geologies in the humble New England farm-gathered fieldstone that he wanted to help share with others!

Gerald rolled up his sleeves, spent several years as an independent craftsman touring at local arts and crafts shows, and taught himself how to make a number of fascinating products. We are now a small team of artisans, and each piece is signed by its maker(s), and produced under Gerald’s direct supervision.

Shipping

Orders $40 and up ship free throughout the continental USA. Otherwise shipping is a flat $10 fee. For Hawaii/Alaska/International shipping please email the product Serial Numbers and your destination address and we will quote the cost. Shipping to Europe is surprisingly affordable.
Pricing information is never included in the package, and receipts are only sent to the purchaser. We offer complimentary personalized gift notes, or, simply address your package to your name, at your friends address, in order to subtilely notify the recipient of the sender.
We typically process orders received by 10 am EST Monday - Friday by the following day. We strive to ship your order fast so you get it ASAP.
Transit time from Lowell, MA is generally 2-6 days. Orange Region 1-2 days, Dark Brown 2-3 days, Yellow and Green 3-4 days, Blue 4-5 days, Light Brown and Purple 5-6 days. If your total package weighs less than 5 pounds (each 1 of 1 product listing will list its weight), then you might expect your product within 3 days, even across the country.
We are often complimented on our high quality packaging and highly detailed wrapping. Items are insured and if anything arrives broken you are not liable for damages. Please notify us as soon as possible.
You will receive a tracking number for your package via email when we ship the item. Check your spam folder if this email is missing. If you checked and think something is awry, email us at office@AmericanStonecraft.com or call/text (978) 254-7625 for questions.
We use recyclable green packaging, paper gum tape, and kraft paper or recycled paper for void fill. This does not sacrifice the safety of your item. Please compost the boxes and void fill if possible. This is a sustainable product, through and through. Product gift boxes (inner boxes) are branded by hand with a hot branding iron rather than printed with ink, and can also be composted.

Returns / Exchanges

If you wish to make a return or exchange from a website purchase, please email office@AmericanStonecraft.com or call/text (978) 254-7625 within two weeks of your purchase to initiate the process.
Exchanges of website purchases have no charge to you. Notify us of your desire to make an exchange, which item(s) you desire in exchange, and we will send you a return shipping label. Please reuse your original packaging and pack in the same style.
Returns are subject to a flat $20 fee regardless of purchase size. Notify us of your desire to make a return and we will send you a return shipping label. Please reuse your original packaging and pack in the same style. Once the item arrives we will process your refund minus the fee.
Grill stone and baking stone purchases are final, and not eligible for return or exchange.