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Alba Bianca · I of XI
The Piece
White Quartz
Stone
Amethyst
Base
24K Gold
Talons
Minas Gerais
Origin, Brazil
Two Years
In the making
White Quartz · Full Spread
Stone & Metal
Every material in Alba Bianca was chosen for its relationship to the others. The white quartz and the amethyst share a single origin in Minas Gerais — brought together over two years of deliberate work.
White Quartz
Sourced from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Carved from a single block per bird. No composite, no adhesive — each figure is one unbroken stone.
Amethyst Base
Deep violet amethyst from the same region as the quartz. A natural formation — not shaped, not cut. The birds rest on the earth as it came.
24K Gold Talons
Each talon is hand-cast in 24-karat gold and set individually. The beaks are obsidian, shaped over three weeks with a dental drill.
Two Years · By Hand
No machine touched this work. Every form was arrived at through hours of silence, stone dust, and revision. The sculptor worked alone, in a single studio, from first mark to final placement.
Rough Form
Each bird began as a block of raw quartz. The rough silhouette was established with diamond-tipped chisels over the first three months.
Feather by Feather
Individual feathers were carved with a dental drill — the same tool used for the gold beaks. Each feather took between one and four hours.
Final Placement
The five birds were placed on the branch once. No rehearsal, no adjustment. The arrangement was decided in a single afternoon.
Origin & Record
Alba Bianca is accompanied by a complete provenance document, signed by the sculptor and notarised in Brazil. The collector receives the full material record, photographic archive, and a sealed certificate of authenticity.
Certificate of Authenticity
Signed by David Machado Vaz and the sculptor. Notarised and registered. One copy travels with the piece, one remains in the Phaöra archive.
Photographic Archive
Over 400 photographs documenting the full two-year process, from raw stone to final placement. Delivered on archival media.
Material Record
Full geological documentation of the quartz and amethyst: quarry coordinates, extraction date, assay report, and material weight pre- and post-carving.
Preservation · Display
Alba Bianca was designed to live in interior light. The quartz responds to warm directional lighting from above; the amethyst deepens under natural daylight. Both materials are stable and require minimal maintenance.
Lighting
Halogen or warm-white LED at 2700–3000K, aimed from directly above. The quartz will appear to glow from within. Avoid cold-white or blue-spectrum light sources.
Cleaning
Dry microfibre cloth only. Never wet, never chemical. The gold talons can be polished with a jeweller's cloth annually if desired.
Installation
Phaöra offers a white-glove installation service. Our team travels to the collector's location and places the piece with the same care as its original setting.
Five Figures · One Branch
Each of the five birds in Alba Bianca is carved at a distinct moment of flight. None repeat. Each has a name — given by the sculptor on the day of final placement, not before.
The Ascendant
Wings fully spread, body vertical. The central figure. The loudest moment of lift.
The Watcher
Wings folded, head turned. Still — but not resting. The one that noticed something the others did not.
The Arriving
Mid-descent, one wing dipped. Just landed, or about to. The ambiguity is intentional.
Águas Vivas · Alba Bianca
Quartz is ancient water — silica crystallised over millions of years. Alba Bianca doesn't imitate flight; it releases what the stone already held. The memory of motion, set free by hand.
Watch VideoTwenty‑Eight Studies · One Piece
Each work is placed by private conversation.
No public sale. No auction. David responds personally within twenty-four hours.
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