Charmstone

For the sculpture by Michael Heizer, see Charmstone (sculpture).

The "Archer-Butler Luck Stone", once owned by the Butler family of Garnavilla, near Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland, was traditionally invoked to protect cattle from disease. It was dipped in drinking water or hung from the neck of a cow. The crystal ball, which weighs 200g, is mounted in a gilded copper or bronze frame with trefoil decoration and a hanging loop. Probably made in Ireland. Hunt Museum

A charmstone or coldstone is a stone or mineral artifact of various types associated with various traditional cultures, including those of Scotland and the native cultures of California and the American southwest. Typically they are elongated or cylindrical and have been shaped by grinding or other human activity, and may be perforated and/or grooved. They are thought to have been regarded as having some religious or magical function, including being talismans, amulets or charms.

Typically, references to American examples use the single word charmstone, while references to Scottish ones break the term as charm-stone or charm stone.