The Gemstone Apothecary by Sondra Sherman is a series that weaves together themes of science, superstition, and the symbolic language of jewelry. The pieces in this collection prominently reference science, with chemical diagrams as a visual element. Even for those unfamiliar with chemistry, the visual cues evoke a sense of scientific rationality and objectivity.

However, beneath this scientific facade lies an exploration of the superstitions that persist in daily life, often without conscious acknowledgment—such as the familiar habit of “knocking on wood.” In recent years, there has been a cultural resurgence of interest in crystals, gemstones, and amulets, particularly within New Age practices and mainstream culture. As the psychologist Stuart Vyse notes in Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, “The absence of control over an important outcome creates anxiety. So, even when we know on a rational level that there is no magic, superstitions can be maintained by their emotional benefit.”

Sherman's inspiration for this series stems from her residency at Trier University Idar-Oberstein Campus in the summer of 2019. Immersed in the gemstone industry, which defines the city of Idar-Oberstein, Sherman sought to respond to the unique environment while continuing to explore her ongoing interest in ‘process as metaphor’ and jewelry’s psychological and social roles.

Though initially struggling to find a connection between her research and the gemstone industry, Sherman became intrigued by the healing stones sold in local tourist shops. Entire rooms were dedicated to these stones, each accompanied by 'prescriptions' for their supposed healing powers. Through conversations with local colleagues, she discovered that many in the area sincerely believed in the gemstones' abilities to heal.

It was through this lens that the healing stones became a new symbol within Sherman's work, representing the psychosocial contexts of jewelry that have long informed her artistic practice. These elements coalesced into The Gemstone Apothecary, a series where healing stones are reimagined as both objects of superstition and as conduits for emotional and psychological expression.