Polynesian Turtle Sculpture Flower Stone

Flowered stone from the Marquesas: the turtle revealed by the rock

The flowered stone turtle sculpture from Ua-Pou is extracted and carved in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, in the Hohoi Valley, the only place in the world apart from Brazil where this garnet phonolite exists.

Each piece is unique by definition: the yellow inclusions are distributed differently in each block, and no pattern is repeated. The shell of this turtle bears its own mineral flowers, frozen in the rock for millions of years before the craftsman’s hand revealed them through polishing.

A piece of this nature is not manufactured, it is discovered.

Polynesian Turtle Sculpture Flower Stone : Material & dimensions

• Stone: Ua-Pou flower stone, garnet phonolite, yellow inclusions
• Origin: extracted and cut in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
• Dimensions: 20 cm x 16 cm x 8 cm
• Weight: 1.660 kg
• Finish: hand-polished
• Care: keep away from impact, wipe with a soft, dry cloth

Light plays a role in the appearance of this stone: depending on the angle and lighting, the yellow inclusions change in intensity, sometimes golden, sometimes almost translucent. The photographs show one version of the piece, but when held in the hand, it often appears richer.

The Polynesian monoi oil used in the finish may leave a slight oily film on delivery, which is normal and beneficial for the stone.

This turtle is as much a collector’s item as it is a decorative object, an authentic souvenir of the Marquesas Islands to bring back from French Polynesia, like all the creations gathered in our Polynesian art universe.

Shipped from Moorea, French Polynesia. Carefully packaged due to its weight and the fragility of the stone.