‘The Catalina Emerald Sculpture’
The piece entitled ‘The Catalina Emerald’ is one of the world’s largest known fine emerald carvings. The stone is a masterpiece of gem carving art by one of the world’s foremost sculptors of gems.
McPhee spent over six months designing and carving the emerald crystal from the famous Muzo Mine Region in Colombia. This important stone is carved in high relief and contains intertwined figures representing the various aspects of the artist’s vision of the new world. The Emerald is named for the indigenous woman named Catalina who played a pivotal role in early Native-European relations.
The statue is cast in bronze, the crown is adorned with over 27 carats of diamonds cast in 18Kt yellow gold. The intarsia base was created by lapidary artist Nicolai Medvedev, using lapis lazuli, malachite, gold-veined quartz, and sugilite. The mermaid cherub and Pacific Northwest Coast bear mask feet are cast in sterling silver with 24K gilding and the offering tray holding the emerald decorated in leaves are cast in 18K yellow gold.
This masterpiece, with the emerald’s final weight of 1,550 carats, (original crystal weight was 2,010 carats) features nine images that reference the 500th anniversary of the European arrival in the Americas. The characters on the stone represent the various qualities that when in harmony, can create a sustainable and humane world.
Total approximate height of the statue including feet on base to top of crown is 25” (63.6cm). The emerald dimensions are 72.8mm in height, 60mm in width, 51.5mm in depth.
The Statue and metal work done by Thomas McPhee.
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Thomas Richard McPhee info@mcpheestudiogallery.net