Volumetric Mosaic Stone Cutting,

a phrase I had never heard of before,

until now, all photographs Alexei Antonov Stone-Cutting Workshop, and many thanks to Live Journal, apparently volumetric mosaic is one of the most complicated and technical hardstone carving techniques. It involves combining volumetric fragments of various coloured semiprecious and ornamental stones to assemble impressive sculptural compositions,

Alexei Antonov’s stonecutting workshop in Yekaterinburg has elevated the art form to a whole new level, by incorporating precious metals in the detailed sculptures and using modern technology to make the artworks stunningly detailed, 

“Initially, we wanted to revive the almost forgotten art of stone working, but over time, we realized that a lot had changed over these hundred-plus years,” Antonov told Russia Beyond,

 “If previously the scope of work was limited by the small size of an expensive stone, today we use technology that allows us to increase the volume of a figure while maintaining the exquisite workmanship.”

before artisans even touch the stone, they have to create mockups of the artwork they plan to create, which is a laborious process in itself. First the design is debated among a team of artists, after which a black and white sketch of the approved composition is created. Then a color version of the sketch is created, based on the color and texture of the gems that are going to be used to make it,

after the design is settled upon, a 3D mock-up is created and then cast from plastic, with some parts attached to the body using magnets. In the past, an artist would make the mock-up by hand, from plasticine, but modern technology has simplified things. Now, an artisan can detach any part of the artwork to study, without disturbing the entire artwork,

“When you work with stone, there are always a lot of mysteries in it: It may crumble or turn out to be a different shade inside from what you expected,” the master hardstone carver said, considering the time and effort that goes into creating these intricate stone marvels, it’s not surprising that the cost of owning one is prohibitive for most people. The smallest sculptures are about 23 cm tall and cans sell for up to $20,000. Mid-size works are about 30 cm tall, weigh between 15 and 20 kg, and can cost up to $100,000. The largest volumetric mosaic sculptures can reach a meter in height and 100 kg in weight. These cost up to a million dollars, for Alexei Antonov and his team of artisans, practicing the art of volumetric mosaic stone cutting is about more than financial gain, it’s about legacy, “An artistic interpretation of any character is a great responsibility because the art of a stonecutter is eternal and our works will be sitting on museum or collectors’ shelves in 200 years’ time,” the Russian artisan said, volumetric mosaic stone cutting, so now I know.