The Reveal

Alabaster is a gypsum mineral, hydrated calcium sulphate, laid down in shallow inland seas tens of millions of years ago. The deposits in Aragon, in northern Spain, are among the largest and finest in the world, quarried since at least Roman times. Alabaster has been used in cathedral windows, funerary sculpture, and royal commissions for centuries because of one defining property: it lets light through.

The Reveal is designed to make that property visible. The wall thickness varies across the height of the piece — thicker at the base for weight and stability, thinnest along the upper third where the stone meets light. Backlit, the rim glows. Front-lit or in soft daylight, the piece reads as a solid sculptural form.

A vessel for a single stem. A tulip. A bare branch from the garden. A spray of dried wheat or grasses. Some owners leave it empty as a sculptural form. The piece is sized for one or two stems rather than a full arrangement — the proportions are not for a busy display.

Each piece is its own. Alabaster carries cloud-like banding, mineral inclusions, and subtle variation in warmth of tone. Your Reveal will be different from the photograph and from the next one. The differences are the record of how this particular stone formed, made visible in the finished piece.

A mantel against a quiet wall. A console catching late afternoon light. A windowsill where the sun moves through it for an hour each day. Heavy at the base, light at the top. Sit it on a hard surface where the weight reads. Best in a room with directional light — the piece does its work when light moves through it, not under flat overhead lighting.

For the full material story, see the Materials page.

Alabaster is the most fragile of the stones we work with. The rules are different from marble and travertine, and applying marble care to alabaster is the single most common way alabaster pieces get ruined.

• Dust with a dry soft cloth — cotton or microfibre. Daily or as needed.
• Never use water, soap, or commercial cleaners. Alabaster is water-soluble over time.
• Never use vinegar, citrus, or any acid. These dissolve alabaster visibly in minutes.
• For fresh stems with water, use a thin glass tube or florist's vial inside the vase. Do not pour water directly into the alabaster.
• Dried stems are simpler and do not require an insert.
• Keep away from kitchens, bathrooms, and direct heat. Avoid sudden temperature changes.

For the full procedure including what to do if alabaster gets wet, see the Care Guide.

Drop 01 opens in spring 2026. Register your interest above to be the first to know when it opens.

When the drop opens, you'll have 14 days to secure your piece. Once the drop closes, your piece is made for you by hand. Lead time from drop close to delivery is 8 to 10 weeks. Production places per piece are limited and some pieces will sell their production slots before the drop closes.

The Vesper for evening light at the same level — both pieces lit, the alabaster glow shared between them. The Waitākere on the same surface as a lower form. The Cornice as a base it can sit on.

Can I put fresh flowers and water in The Reveal directly?

No. Alabaster is water-soluble over time. Direct water contact will, over many fills, slowly dissolve the inside of the vase. Use a thin glass tube or florist's vial inside the vase to hold water and stems. The insert is invisible from outside and protects the stone.

What stems work best?

One or two stems with vertical line. Tulips, calla lilies, single hydrangea stems, dried grasses, bare branches from the garden. The proportion of the piece does not suit dense bouquets. Think of it as a frame for a single gesture rather than a holder for a full arrangement.

Does the alabaster glow without a light behind it?

In bright natural light, yes — sunlight passing through a window will illuminate the upper third of the piece and reveal the internal banding. Under flat overhead lighting, the piece reads as a solid sculptural form. The glow is most pronounced when light is directional and behind or beside the piece.

How fragile is The Reveal?

Alabaster is softer than marble but more substantial than it looks. The Reveal is built with a heavy base and is stable on a hard surface. The risk is not knocking it over, but rather chipping if the rim is struck against something hard or if the piece is dropped onto a hard floor.

Will my piece have visible veining?

Almost certainly yes. Spanish alabaster is characterised by cloud-like banding and mineral inclusions. The most translucent pieces show the most veining when lit. We do not select for uniformity, so the specific pattern in your piece will be different from the photograph.