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La Corte · II of XI
The Piece
Carved Crystal
Stone
Amethyst
Base
24K Gold
Talons
Minas Gerais
Origin, Brazil
Two Years
In the making
The Court · Full Assembly
Stone & Metal
La Corte is built around a single amethyst throne — the largest formation Phaöra has ever set. The five crystal macaws and the amethyst they gather on share one origin in Minas Gerais, brought together over two years so the court would look as though it had always been there.
Carved Crystal
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 crystal. A natural formation — not shaped, not cut. The court gathers on the throne exactly as the earth offered it.
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 macaws were seated on the throne once. No rehearsal, no adjustment. Who presided, who watched, who had just arrived — the whole court was decided in a single afternoon.
Origin & Record
La Corte 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
La Corte 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
The five macaws of La Corte are not a flock — they are a court. Each holds a different station around the throne, and none repeats. Each was named by the sculptor on the day they took their place, not before.
The Sovereign
Wings fully spread above the throne, body vertical. The one the others orient toward. The court has a centre, and this is it.
The Counsel
Wings folded, head turned to the Sovereign. Still, attentive — the one leaning in to be heard before the moment passes.
The Petitioner
Lower on the throne, one wing dipped, gaze upward. Newly arrived at court, or about to address it. The ambiguity is intentional.
Águas Vivas · La Corte
Five macaws in carved crystal, gathered on a single amethyst throne. La Corte does not pose its subjects — it catches a court mid-conversation, every glance still mid-sentence, and lets the stone keep talking long after you have left the room.
Watch VideoSeventeen 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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