KARVING12

MINERAL AND FOSSIL SCULPTURES

Handcrafted sculpture badge – hand carving a block of stone, handmade in a French workshop
Handcrafted sculpture badge – hand carving a stone block, artwork made by hand in France

The workshop: birthplace of mineral and fossil sculptures

On this page you will find the latest sculpted piece, a work in progress, as well as a selection of blocks intended for future sculptures. To see the sculptures currently available, you can visit the shop.

WORK IN THE WORKSHOP

Last block release

Kalhos

Mineral: Lapis lazuli
Dimensions (L x W x H): 13.5 x 8.5 x 10 cm
Weight: 1.87 kg

Detail of the lapis lazuli skull, close-up front view, natural texture and veins of the stone
Carved lapis lazuli skull, right profile view, detailed jaw and volumes
Sculpted skull in blue lapis lazuli, left profile view, realistic mineral sculpture
Lapis lazuli skull sculpture, three-quarter left view, unique piece carved by hand
Lapis lazuli skull, three-quarter right view, polished natural stone sculpture
Blue lapis lazuli carved skull, front view, handcrafted mineral sculpture
Available in stores

Creative process

Coco

Mineral: White agate from Morocco
Dimensions (L x W x H): 18 x 10 x 24 cm

Sculpture in progress in the studio, representing an animal form carved directly from a block of natural stone, showing the process of mineral sculpture, the work of volume, and the traces of the artist's gestures on the raw material.
Another view of an animal sculpture being created in the studio, carved directly from a block of natural stone, illustrating the process of mineral sculpture, the progression of the volume, and the gradual adaptation of the artist's technique to the material.
Close-up view of the parrot "Coco," a white agate sculpture with red markings on its crest.
Parrot "Coco" carved from Moroccan agate, with detailed feathers and natural red hues.
Parrot "Coco" carved from Moroccan agate, with detailed feathers and natural red hues.
Detail of the plumage of "Coco," a Moroccan agate sculpture revealing red spots and the finesse of the craftsmanship.
Sculpture "Coco," realistic parrot carved from white Moroccan agate with natural red spots.

Rocks in reserve

Blocks of minerals selected for future sculptures: labradorite, quartz, tourmaline, and others.

Blocks of natural minerals intended for future sculptures in my studio in Aveyron (FRANCE)
View of raw rose quartz awaiting artistic transformation.
Madagascar rose quartz (≈ 50 kg)
Block of raw (unpolished) labradorite revealing sublime natural reflections - Mineral intended for sculpting.
Labradorite (~8 kg)
Polished labradorite from Madagascar displaying its characteristic blue play of light, rough block awaiting carving.
Polished labradorite from Madagascar (10.8 kg)
Raw block of rainbow obsidian with natural iridescent reflections, intended for sculpting.
Rainbow obsidian (13.6 kg)
Fossilized wood block - Raw mineral with naturally sculptural shapes intended for a future work of art.
Fossil wood (~13.6 kg)
Polished tourmaline mass revealing the mineral's internal nuances—a natural block awaiting sculpting.
Polished tourmaline from Madagascar (~31 kg)
Raw block of Châtelperron agate, with fine veins and natural patterns intended for sculpture.
Châtelperron agate (~39 kg)
View of the raw lepidolite block showing a contrast between deep purple, white line, and gray area.
Lepidolite (~33 kg)

MINERALS AND SCULPTING CONSTRAINTS

Sculpted material

Explanatory diagram showing the material carved at the Karving12 workshop, with a main mineral carved, its possible matrix, and the other minerals that make up the rock.

At the Karving12 workshop, mineral material is at the heart of sculpture.

Stone or rock are natural assemblages of minerals, formed by geological processes.

I can sculpt a solid mineral, a mineral still bound to its matrix, or a rock in which several minerals coexist.

The physical properties of the mineral—hardness, grain, structure, strength—influence my work , particularly in terms of the possibilities for finishing, polishing, and reading details.

Understanding these parameters is essential to grasping the sculptor's technique.

The Mohs scale

Illustrations of mineral materials carved at the Karving12 workshop, showing chevron amethyst, agate, fossil wood, aragonite, and serpentine, with their reference hardnesses.

The hardness of minerals, measured onthe Mohs scale, directly influences the sculpting process, the tools used, and the time required to complete each piece.

Example of hardness (Mohs scale) applied to minerals carved in the workshop with some theoretical reference points:

The values listed below are orders of magnitude. The hardness of the same mineral can vary depending on its structure, origin, and state of fossilization.

Real portrait of craftsman Karving12, staged in a workshop setting generated by artificial intelligence

's dream workshop (AI-generated image)

The harder a mineral is, the longer and more demanding the work is for the tools and the sculptor. In the workshop, hardness influences the sculpture produced but never determines it on its own.

The main minerals worked on in the workshop have a hardness rating of between 3 and 7.

Mini FAQ

Illustration of two mineral blocks that are similar in appearance but different in their veins and structures, showing that each stone or mineral sculpture from the Karving12 workshop is a unique piece that cannot be reproduced.

Are all sculptures unique pieces? Yes, each piece is carved from a single block of mineral or fossil. There are no molds, templates, or reproductions.

Illustration showing the same sculpting tool applied to two different minerals, producing opposite results: a rough fracture on one side and a clean split on the other, illustrating that each mineral imposes its own sculpting constraints.

Are all minerals worked in the same way? No. Minerals impose their own constraints: hardness, internal structure, possible fractures. Sculpture, and the sculptor, always adapt to the mineral.

Illustration showing a mineral worked in its natural state, with chemical symbols crossed out, indicating the absence of chemical treatment or stabilization before and after carving.

Are the minerals treated or stabilized? No . The minerals are worked in their natural state. No chemical treatment is applied before or after sculpting.

Illustration depicting a mineral block associated with a plant element, symbolizing respect for natural environments in the choice of minerals and fossils worked on in the workshop.

Where do the carved minerals and fossils come from? We favor known and responsible sources (legal deposits, identified suppliers in France and internationally), even if some older or artisanal channels do not allow for complete traceability.