Lapidary Studio
The lapidary studio at MMGM is an educational space created to facilitate various forms of stone-related arts.
Spheres and Sphere Making at the Lapidary Studio
The museum showcases spheres across the galleries as a defining visual motif. These polished stone spheres allow for a new perspective unlike other forms of display, allowing for the viewing of the structure of the rock from every axis. The materials used to create the spheres include the best of what our Earth – and beyond – has to offer: Rocks, ores, minerals, gems, meteorites, and even material from the Moon.
The unique art form of sphere making was introduced to the MMGM by founding board member and trustee, Robert “Bob” Ritchie, who in his retirement, became an accomplished sphere maker, often spending over 20 hours of time per piece, carefully crafting each sphere.
When the museum first opened in 2019, Ritchie generously donated his extensive sphere collection to the museum, many of which can be seen today both in the Discovery Gallery and just beyond the Space Rocks Gallery in an enclosed display. Along with this donation, Ritchie also gifted the museum a sphere making lathe, hoping to create a tangible opportunity for those who wished to learn the unique craft.
Every piece that comes out of the studio is unique, expressing the natural beauty of its material.
When Studio Manager Martin Roberts joined MMGM’s staff, he began learning the art form of sphere making in earnest. Today, Roberts creates each of the spheres on display and for sale at the Museum Store. Every sphere is a handmade, one-of-a-kind piece, crafted with materials from Maine and around the world.