This corn maiden is carved out of sugilite. A fairly recent discovery (1944), sugilite is found in Japan, Canada and India. The most important occurrence was found in 1975 in the Kalahari Desert, Northern South Africa. It is named for the Japanese geologist who discovered the first specimens, Ken-ichi Sugi. It is opaque with a waxy luster and ranges from a pale grayish lavender to a deep dark purple. Sugilite is also known under the trade names of "Royal Lavulite" and "Royal Azel”. It often contains black matrix, reddish brown or yellowish blotches.