‘Stone Age: The Art of Crystal and Stone’ runs Dec. 4 to 6 at Vetted, Unit 126, Mile Long Bldg., Amorsolo St. corner V. Rufino St., Makati City, with viewing hours from 11 am to 7 pm.
There is something extraordinary about seeing nature transformed by the human hand. A crystal, shaped over millennia by geological forces, becomes a bird poised in flight. A richly veined stone is hollowed into a bowl, its surface revealing patterns no artist could have invented. In the hands of master craftspeople, materials drawn from the earth become objects of beauty, contemplation, and everyday pleasure.
This is the world of Carmelo Balagtas, whose show at Vetted, Stone Age: The Art of Crystal and Stone by Carmelo Balagtas, brings together hand-carved crystal birds, sculptural stone bowls, and an assortment of decorative and functional objects under his eponymous brand, CARMELO. Evoking fascination with natural materials and the possibilities of fine craftsmanship, the pieces invite a closer look at the extraordinary qualities hidden within natural materials.
CARMELO is anchored on crystals and stones and their metaphysical and aesthetic properties. What started as a collection of materials evolved into a series of sculptures and objects transformed by some of the best French artisans. Their expertise allows them to bring out the subtleties of the material, while giving the sculptures a sense of life and movement. The result is an interplay between the organic and the highly refined, the natural irregularities of the crystal set into forms with the precision of the carving.
Carmelo Balagtas’ objects are hand-carved by the finest French artisans out of his Paris atelier.
Bird sculptures were some of CARMELO’s first collections shaped by a highly specialized craft. Carved from crystals and semi-precious stones—including rose quartz, rubellite, clear quartz, lapis lazuli, and amethyst—each piece celebrates the distinctive color, clarity, and character of its material.
The choice of stones also carries associations beyond their visual appeal. In crystal traditions, rose quartz is linked to love and harmony, rubellite to confidence and courage, and clear quartz to the amplification and regulation of energy. Lapis lazuli, revered in ancient Mesopotamia as a sacred stone, has long been associated with protection and wisdom. Amethyst goes back to ancient Greece and Rome, where it was believed to guard against intoxication, and continues to appear in royal collections, including the British Crown Jewels.
Crystal birds with gold-plated legs atop a baryte stone base (left); a lapis lazuli bird perched on a clear crystal mounted on a black obsidian base
For CARMELO, this spiritual dimension is part of its founder’s personal relationship with crystals that began through yoga and developed into a passion for collecting. Yet the collection is not limited to objects intended for contemplation. Stone bowls, carved from materials such as labradorite, sodalite, and jasper, offer another expression of the same philosophy. Their practical function is inseparable from their sculptural presence: the bowls reveal the natural patterns and colors of their stones, making each one distinct.
The Art de Vivre pieces extend this approach further. Boxes, parasols, obelisks, and other objects occupy the space between art and utility, transforming familiar forms into something unexpected. They suggest that luxury need not be confined to grand gestures or objects reserved for display. It can also be found in the pleasure of using something thoughtfully made, in the tactile experience of a finely worked surface, or in the discovery of an unusual material brought to life through skilled hands.
CARMELO’s path to this collection was not conventional. Born and raised in the Philippines, the brand’s founder studied mathematics at De La Salle University before starting a career in supply-chain management for a cosmetics company. In 2020, he moved to Europe to pursue an MBA in Nice, France, where his studies in luxury management gave him a new understanding of the field and its possibilities.
Home bowl of rutilated crystal (left) and obelisks made from clear crystal
What began as a personal interest in stones gradually developed into a business ambition, prompting him to work with specialist ateliers and push the boundaries of his initial designs.
The collection at Vetted reflects that evolution: an exploration of how natural materials and artisanal expertise inform a considered approach to design.
‘Stone Age: The Art of Crystal and Stone’ runs Dec. 4 to 6 at Vetted, Unit 126, Mile Long Bldg., Amorsolo St. corner V. Rufino St., Makati City, with viewing hours from 11 am to 7 pm. For inquiries, call tel. no. (0917) 526-2339.
