Reminder! Call to Artists

Just a friendly reminder that the Theme Division Entries for Ironstone Vineyards Annual Spring Art Show are due Friday, January 4th. This show is juried, open to both Professional Artists and beginners. Winner of the THEME Division not only wins a $500 prize, but the image becomes the promotional poster for Ironstone’s award winning “Obsession” wine, gaining world wide acclaim for the winning artist.  So, get those entries in!

Photo shoot

Photographer Scot Neiman here today taking some awesome photos of Ironstone's Heritage Museum and the Kautz Family.

Can't wait to see the final results. Promise to share as soon as they come back to us.

Murphys Christmas Open House! UPDATE!

UPDATE!  So sorry I missed the first 5 minutes!  There were some awesome floats that you had to see, but, not here. Sorry!  What a fun night in Murphys!

Friday, Dec. 7th. Murphys celebrates the start of the Christmas season with a parade at 5:30 and shops open till 8:00 pm. Come by Ironstone for a warm up before 5:00 then get on downtown for all the fun! Carole’s, firepits & fun.

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Murphys townsfolk getting ready for the Friday festivities, decorating the town Christmas tree, donated by Ironstone Vineyards. Millier Winery generously donated the space for the tree this year right in their parking lot. Come on down and join the fun!

Crucibles or shot/wine glasses?

Ironstone's Heritage Museum has on display several crucibles that were recovered from the 5000 ft level of the Historic Argonaut Mine in Jackson, California. They spent the last 99 years as part of a private rock collection recently purchased by Ironstone owner, Mr. John Kautz.

The Argonaut Mine deposit was discovered in 1850, ultimately reaching a vertical depth of 5,570 feet via a 63 degree shaft.  The mine operated until 1942 producing more than $25 million in gold.  Unfortunately, it was also the site of the worst gold-mining disaster in the state's early history.  

Along with the nearby Kennedy Mine, it is registered as a California Historical Landmark #786.

Crucibles found at the 5000 ft level of the Argonaut Mine in Jackson, California

Now, back to crucibles... These crucibles are heat resistant containers used to smelt the gold recovered from the mine.  Smelting refers to melting then "burning off" the impurities that gold might be mixed with, resulting in nearly pure gold.

The crucibles you see here in the photo from the Argonaut Mine are in excellent condition with some amazing glaze patterns.

Here in the Museum, we were so taken by the forms and colors of the old crucibles that we decided to partner with our dear friend June Vaughn of Vaughn Pottery to come up with some fun ideas for you to enjoy.  

Our new shot glasses joining the historic Crucibles from the Argonaut Mine.

Shot Glasses?  Wine Cups? Saki Cups?  Whatever you choose!
They are now here and available for you just in time for the Holidays.  Vaughn Pottery created two styles influenced by the originals, in a variety of shapes and sizes.  All sell for $26.  We are excited about these fun ceramic glasses and hope you enjoy them as well.  

You may email cgomez@ironstonevineyards if you would like us to save you one before they are sold out! 

Maggie, our Museum gal at Ironstone is in a contest to be one of the “calendar girls” for Patelco's 2019 Pet Calendar.  Maggie so wants to be a Calendar Girl, and welcomes any votes she receives. Maggie will reward all her supporters with a full body tail wag the next time you see her at the Ironstone museum and jewelry store.  Just click on the link below to vote for Maggie.   Besides helping Maggie, every vote helps rescue animals in need.  Also, if Maggie wins, she will donate her prize to the Calaveras County Humane Society in their efforts to help pets in need.  You can vote once per day from each device you have.  So, vote early and vote often.  J

https://woobox.com/5ygg6b/gallery/RkjQBSnH8Ew

CALL to Artists * Entry forms now available

Entry forms for Ironstone's 22nd annual Spring Obsession Art Show are now available.  You may download from this site, email cgomez@ironstonevineyards or come in to Ironstone Heritage Museum or Tasting Room and pick one up.

Theme Division entries are due Friday, January 4th, 2019. OPEN Division entries are due Saturday, January 26, 2019.

Details are included with the entry forms, however,
should you have any questions, please feel free to email cgomez@ironstonevineyards.

Vaughn Pottery New Arrivals

#347  $350 front

#347  $350 back view

Like Christmas morning, we were ripping the paper off the boxes revealing treasures beyond our expectations.  These new designs are breathtaking.  The intricate carvings into the new clays speak volumes of the creativity and imagination of June Vaughn.  With a new color palate in this first vase, Vaughn Pottery has opened a new phase of design.  Too difficult to describe here, a visit is a must. 

#349  $400

Seen above is a new shape which we are very excited about.  In natural colors the carved footed vase features a lidded top. 

#348   $325

This subtle beauty is inlay-ed with jasper and fossils, highlighted with intricate carvings in an almost mystical design.

Below are featured two of the new signed wearable art pieces.  All include adjustable necklaces. 

#3414  $160

#342  $140

Woodies Wonder Gold Discovery

Ironstone Vineyards is proud to have on display a very special Gold Nugget recently discovered in Woods Creek, not far from the little town of Columbia, just on the other side of the river from us. 

Woodies Wonder as it is now called, lay hidden away under boulders for millennium till reportedly discovered by an amateur gold prospector in 2016. Taking his find to owner of Gold Prospecting Adventure in Jamestown, a video was made while all were still in shock over this amazing find. You can see the video here if you'd like  ...  Woodies Wonder discovered





The Union Democrat wrote an article shortly after that about the find that soon went viral.  Here is their link. 

Union Democrate Article

This past year, the Kautz Family purchased this nugget which was reported as weighing 16 oz.  The actual gold weight is 11.2 troy ounces after it was assayed.

Woodies Wonder now joins the 44 pound Crystalline Gold Leaf Specimen found in 1992 by the Sonora Mine at their Jamestown site. 

In addition to these spectacular pieces of Gold, the Museum also features a wonderful collection of fossilized wood and other rocks & minerals.  There is no charge to visit, so do come by and take a look.