Are You Looking Up is a white marble sculpture for sale, carved by hand by Zak Stevens and offered at £8,000. Fine grey veining runs through the stone, and where the marble opened along those veins it has been finished in gold kintsugi and left visible. The work comprises a tall female form, a small companion figure and a carved marble plinth.
The piece
The tall figure has a body but no head or arms. The small companion at the back of the plinth has a head and arms but no body, and looks up at her. Two figures, a single upward gaze.
Figure, companion and carved marble plinth are offered as a single work for £8,000. Dimensions are available on request, and the piece can be viewed in Bruton, Somerset.
What white marble is
Marble is a metamorphic rock. It forms when limestone is recrystallised by heat and pressure deep in the earth, and it is made mostly of calcite, a form of calcium carbonate. The purer the calcite, the whiter the stone.
Veins and clouds of colour come from other minerals present when the stone formed, such as clay, iron oxides or graphite. These give each block its own pattern. No two blocks are alike, and the colour and veining of each stone carry through into the finished work.
Choosing a white marble sculpture for sale
Uniform whiteness is not the only measure of quality. Veining can give a figure direction and life, and how a sculptor places the form within the block decides whether the veins follow the body or cut across it. In Are You Looking Up, the natural openings in the marble are finished in gold rather than hidden.
When looking at any white marble sculpture for sale, a few points are worth checking.
- Whether it is carved stone or cast from resin and marble dust
- The surface finish, polished or matt, and how it catches the light
- How veins, openings or flaws have been treated
- Any staining or chips, especially on edges and the base
- Whether the piece is intended for indoors, outdoors or both
Care and siting
White marble is slightly porous, so it can take up stains from oils, wine, rust or leaves left lying on it. Calcite also reacts with acids: lemon juice, vinegar and many household cleaners will etch the surface and dull it.
Indoors, dusting with a soft dry cloth is usually enough, with plain water and a pH-neutral soap for anything more. Keep it away from places where drinks or plant pots might be set on it. Outdoors, rain, frost and plant growth all act on the stone over time. For advice specific to Are You Looking Up, and whether it suits a particular garden or room, ask Zak.
Price and enquiry
Are You Looking Up is £8,000 for the complete work. To ask about the piece, its dimensions or a viewing, write to Zak at hello@zakstevens.art or call +44 7498 566111.
Questions
Does white marble turn yellow?
It can, over a long time. The usual causes are surface dirt, old waxes or coatings ageing on the stone, or traces of iron in the marble reacting with moisture. Gentle cleaning and avoiding unsuitable products help keep it white.
How do you clean a white marble sculpture?
Dust it with a soft cloth. If it needs more, use plain water with a little pH-neutral soap and a soft brush, rinse, and let it dry. Avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners, bleach and pressure washers.
Can a white marble statue go outside?
Many marble pieces stand outdoors, but weather slowly changes the surface and frost can open cracks where water gets in. For Are You Looking Up specifically, ask Zak at hello@zakstevens.art before placing it outside.
Why does some white marble have gold lines?
In kintsugi, breaks or openings are traced in gold rather than concealed. In Are You Looking Up, the natural openings in the marble are finished in gold and left visible as part of the work.