Flower Stone Manta Ray Carving Sculpture from Ua-Pou

Flowered stone from the Marquesas: what the rock says even before it is carved

Working on the manta ray sculpture in Ua-Pou flower stone is an exercise in extreme patience. Garnet phonolite is one of the most brittle rocks that Marquesan artisans work with.

Every stroke of the tool is calculated, every polishing pass meticulous, because a mistake on this material cannot be corrected. The final result is polished by hand, sometimes finished with monoi oil to accentuate the black floral patterns that appear on the surface.

It is these dark inclusions, these mineral flowers frozen for millions of years, that make each piece irreplaceable: no pattern is repeated, no line resembles another.

To explore other expressions of Marquesan sculpture in noble materials, the Marquesan mask in Pacific walnut bears the same heritage of craftsmanship and territory.

Flower Stone Manta Ray Sculpture: Material & dimensions

• Stone: Ua-Pou flower stone, garnet phonolite, yellow and green patterns
• Origin: quarried and carved in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
• Dimensions: 30 cm x 19 cm x 6 cm
• Weight: 2.735 kg
• Finish: hand-polished
• Care: protect from impact, wipe with a soft, dry cloth

The flower stone reacts to light: depending on the angle and lighting, the black patterns change in depth and presence. Photographs can never accurately reproduce what the piece looks like in your hands.

It is a living material in the geological sense of the term, imbued with a history that nothing else can imitate. The monoi used in the finishing process may leave a slight oily film upon delivery, which is normal and beneficial for the stone.

For lovers of Polynesian art seeking to understand the symbolic universe behind these creations, our blog on Polynesian art explores the traditions and craftsmanship that inspire each piece.

Shipped from Moorea, French Polynesia. Piece carefully packaged given its weight and the fragility of the stone.