Séraphine — The Story Behind the Stone

Some pieces are just products. And then there's Séraphine.

Bonjour, and meet Séraphine — our latest one-of-a-kind creation, and honestly, one of the most tender transformations we've ever done.

The moment I found her, I knew she was something special. There was something about her sweet, serene little face — so graceful, so still — that stopped me in my tracks. I named her immediately. She was always going to be Séraphine.

The Transformation

Séraphine has been hand painted in Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint® with Salt Wash to create that breathtaking stone texture finish you can see in every curve and crevice of her carving. She was then waxed with both clear and dark wax — and it was in that moment, wiping away the dark wax to reveal her face, that I felt something unexpected.

It felt like a mum cleaning the dirt off her little girl's cheeks.

There was something so tender about watching her emerge. That's the magic of this work — you don't just paint a piece, you reveal it.

A Little About Salt Wash

If you've never heard of Salt Wash, it's one of those products that genuinely makes you gasp the first time you use it. Mixed into your Chalk Paint® before you apply it, Salt Wash creates a heavily textured, granular finish that mimics the look of aged stone, weathered render, or sun-bleached plaster. It's tactile, it's organic, and no two applications are ever the same.

On a piece like Séraphine — with all her intricate carving and cherub detail — Salt Wash does something extraordinary. It settles into every crevice and catches the light differently depending on the angle, giving her a depth and dimension that looks centuries old. Paired with Annie Sloan Old White, the result is cool, chalky, and utterly French.

The dark wax is the final act — worked into the recesses of her carving to bring out every exquisite detail, then buffed back on the raised surfaces to create contrast. It's slow, careful work. But moments like the one where her little face appeared from beneath the wax? Completely worth it.

How to Style Séraphine at Home

She's incredibly versatile for such a statement piece. A few ideas to get you started:

• As a candle holder — place a pillar candle in her bowl and let the candlelight play across that textured surface. On a mantle or a dining table, she's everything.
• As a vignette centrepiece — style her on a stack of vintage books (a worn linen-covered hardcover is perfect), with a sprig of fresh rosemary or dried botanicals at her base. Simple, considered, beautiful.
• In a bathroom — she'd be stunning on a marble vanity or beside a freestanding bath, holding a small succulent or a tea light.
• On a bookshelf or entryway console — pair her with a vintage vessel, some dried pampas, and a framed print for an effortlessly curated French farmhouse moment.

The key with a piece like Séraphine is to let her breathe. She doesn't need much around her — she is the moment.

One of a Kind

There will never be another one exactly like her. Once she's gone, she's gone.

If she's calling to you — you'll know.