Rooted in Gold: A Pine Landscape Pendant for a California Grower

His name is Caleb Thompson, a 42-year-old agricultural entrepreneur based in Napa Valley, California.

Five years ago, Caleb left his corporate job in San Francisco and returned to the land—starting his own organic farm in the rolling hills just north of the Bay. Since then, life has been full of learning, labor, and, in his words, “quiet fulfillment that feels earned.”

When he came to us, he said:

“I don’t need anything flashy. I’d just love a piece that reflects where I am now—something natural, grounded, maybe even timeless.”

We searched through our raw jadeite materials and found a beautiful piece of “qiao huang fei”—a golden-yellow jade with soft gradients from warm honey to rich amber. The base was anchored by a patch of creamy white jadeite—smooth, fine-grained, and subtly luminous.

Inspired by Caleb’s story and the unique qualities of the stone, we chose to carve a pine tree landscape pendant—a design that speaks of endurance, integrity, and harmony with nature.

Using traditional low-relief carving techniques, our artisan brought to life a windswept pine standing strong on a golden cliff.

Its branches twist like old dragons, reaching upward with quiet strength.

The pine needles are fine and dense, each one delicately etched, resembling soft feathers kissed by autumn light.

The golden tones of the jade evoke the late sun of a California harvest, while the pale base provides contrast—like mist curling around ancient rocks. The whole piece feels rooted, serene, quietly powerful.

“This feels like the land I live on,” Caleb told us. “Sturdy, patient, a little wild—and full of life.”

At TATHATĀ, we believe that jade isn’t just a gemstone—it’s a canvas for your story.

Whether you’ve built something from the soil, or simply want to carry a piece of nature with you,

we’d be honored to carve it into stone.

Tell us in the comments—what story would you like to see next?