Some zones of rock crystal are so immaculate and completely transparent that the eye sees straight through them and seemingly on toward infinity. Others are “occupied”, enclosing frost or fine filaments of mist whose undulations catch the eye. A rock crystal represents at once both turbulence and limpidity, and its dual, even ambiguous nature is the very essence of the minerals magic. It combines up all that is finite yet never ending, instantaneous though eternal – both heat and cold, immobile yet changeable. This is why George Sand said that it represents the limit between “the Visible and the Invisible”. When I look at rock crystal, I tell myself that it is the very image of life itself, radiant with light in spite of some stormy passages.
The word crystal, comes from the Greek word “krystallos” which means ice. Rock crystal is colourless quartz with astonishing inclusions running through it and since the physical aspect of these inclusions is totally random, it goes without saying that no two crystal pens will ever be identical, even if they are sculpted in the same fashion. Each of them leads its own life, and what makes them so unique and fascinating
Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio
Stone Carver
Luis Alberto Quispe Aparicio follows a second generation family tradition, since 1968, in the creation of objects d’art and gemstone carving (also known as glyptography), an ancient art with roots from pre-Babylonian times. An engineer by profession, he grew up surrounded by art, sculpture, minerals & gemstones; artists, master carvers and jewelers were ingrained in his everyday life at his family studio in Lima, Peru, where he spent most of his formative years.
His knowledge on precious stones was organically acquired during constant visits to mines around the world where he hunted for exceptional gemstones; making the quest for rarity and quality an exquisite lifetime pursuit. His art is characterized by the fusion of sculpting techniques and those of jewelry fabrication, the use of exceptional gemstones, the daring design and the flawless execution carried out by hand which is vital in order to give a soul to each creation.
After mastering his craft, Quispe Aparacio moved to Paris in search for a new vision and to broaden his scope through the specialization in luxury goods. Examples of this can be seen in his collection “The Beast Within” which was inspired by the resounding influence nature has on man after Quispe Aparacio’s numerous travels to Africa. Today, though, he travels the world in search for the rarest gemstones to incorporate into his work, his studio specializes in carving rub. The second hardest gemstone found on earth after the diamond, few artists have managed to successfully work with ruby as it requires advanced technique in vision, carving and polishing. His works are displayed in museums in the United States and Europe and enjoyed by private collectors around the world.
Crystal Fountain Pen limited to 88 pieces
