Ebony & Coral
Ebony and coral merge, embodying earth and sea.
EBONY WOOD - A RARE & PRECIOUS TREASURE
Mauritian ebony (Diospyros tessellaria) is one of the rarest and most precious woods in the world. Recognizable by its deep, velvety black hue, it has endured through the centuries as a symbol of nobility and exclusivity.
In the 17th century, this exceptional wood, exported from the Indian Ocean, adorned the creations of great master cabinetmakers such as André-Charles Boulle, the Sun King’s own ébéniste, who combined it with metals and precious materials to magnify Versailles.
Today, Mauritian ebony is protected and can only be used responsibly, sourced from naturally fallen trees. With the support of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). Its extreme rarity gives it inestimable value: each sculpted piece becomes a unique work, imbued with history and soul.
Deanna's sculptures unite Mauritian ebony and coral in a vibrant homage to the meeting of earth, sea, and the radiant light of the Sun King.
EBONY, FROM THE SUN KING TO MAURITIUS: A REIVENTED HERITAGE
In the 17th century, King Louis XIV, the Sun King, transformed his reign into the golden age of the arts in France. To magnify the splendor of Versailles, he appointed André-Charles Boulle, the undisputed master of marquetry, as his official cabinetmaker. Working in his workshops at the Louvre—a rare privilege granted by the king—Boulle elevated French furniture to the rank of supreme art, blending precious woods with copper, tortoiseshell, and mother-of-pearl.
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Among the most coveted materials was ebony, a symbol of luxury and rarity. This wood, imported from the islands of the Indian Ocean, notably Mauritius, fueled the creativity of artisans and embodied the magnificence Louis XIV sought to associate with his kingdom.
A tribute to this centuries-old dialogue between material and creation, between the France of the Sun King and the distant lands from which this exceptional wood once came.
Through these sculptures, ebony regains its nobility and tells a timeless story—one of heritage, art, and light.
PORITES CORAL
Beneath the surface of the earth, Deanna de Marigny uncovers coral — silent remnants of ancient reefs, once alive beneath the sea. Porites land coral dating from late pleistocene epoch between 110 000 to 160 000 before present years.
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She breathes new life into this fossilized memory, transforming it into sculptures that bridge time and element. In her hands, coral becomes more than matter; it is the whisper of the ocean preserved in stone, a dialogue between the depths of the earth and the spirit of creation.
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