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The Gilded Apex

The Gilded Apex

$3,200.00Price
The Gilded Apex
Kristen Leigh Baker | 2025
Medium: Ethically sourced hand selected feathers, natural weathered driftwood, "brushed" metallic acrylic, and hand-tied premium deerskin lace
 
This dimensional textile wall-dependent sculpture marries the organic asymmetry of the natural world with the rigorous precision of sacred geometry. Suspended from a weathered driftwood bar, individual speckled brown feathers are meticulously hand-tied with soft, buttery deerskin cream lace. The plumage is calculatedly layered to form a striking triangular pyramid, creating a clean, geometric silhouette that shifts dynamically when viewed from different angles in a room.
 
Serving as the visual anchor at the apex of the pyramid is a single, hand-painted feather. Finished with a textured, "brushed" metallic gold paint, this brilliant focal point catches ambient light, evoking the intersection of raw nature and refined luxury. The piece is an elegant, highly tactile statement designed for sophisticated high-end interiors.
 
Dimensions: 17.5" Wide x 23" Long x 1" Deep
Classification: Original contemporary wall-dependent sculpture of tactile sensory assemblage.
Installation: Your sculpture includes two 2" Solid Brass 14-Gauge Escutcheon Pins
Preservation: Dust lightly with a soft slightly damp cloth of similar color.
Authentication: Signed by the artist on the reverse of the driftwood
Edition: Original mixed-media wall-dependent sculpture, 1 of 1
 
Please note: Due to the bespoke design and delicate nature of the multi-layered materials, all original acquisitions are Final Sale.
 
Shipping & Delivery
Your sculpture travels via fully insured, gallery-grade transit delivered directly to your door via UPS. Due to the delicate, multi-layered materials and custom engineering of this 1-of-1 artwork, a specialized packaging and transit logistics fee is added transparently at checkout. Each piece is professionally handled by certified packing specialists inside a custom-engineered enclosure to guarantee absolute protection.
 
Premium installation hardware is included with the artwork for your local art handler or installer to use.
 
  • Please note: A physical signature is strictly required upon delivery, and wall mounting is not performed by the transit carrier.
 
Provenance & Authentication
This original, one-of-a-kind sculpture is cataloged within the artist’s private archive. Upon acquisition, ownership will be officially transferred to you via a secure, digital Certificate of Authenticity issued through Tagsmart—the elite contemporary art registry standard. This creates a permanent, tamper-proof chronological record of the work's creation and provenance, protecting the long-term asset value of your investment. You will receive an official digital invitation to claim your certificate via email within 48 hours of purchase.

    • Museum-Grade Contour Installation Guide

      Hardware: 2" Solid Brass 14-Gauge Escutcheon Pins
      Required Tool (Not Included): 5/64" (or #45 Wire-Gauge) High-Speed Steel Drill Bit

      Architectural Presentation Note

      Due to the organic, structural irregularities of the natural driftwood foundation, this contemporary tactile sculpture is engineered for a variable-depth gravity installation. The artwork features integrated suede backing elements that act as natural counterweights to absorb wall protrusion variances.

      Step-by-Step Installation Procedure

      Step 1: Map the Contour Alignment

      Hold the sculpture up to your desired wall placement to find its natural visual center. Observe the back contour of the driftwood bar and identify two stable, level resting points—ideally positioned where the wood curves closest to the wall face. Mark these two points on your drywall, ensuring at least one mark aligns directly over a structural wood wall stud (recommended).

      Step 2: Prepare the Precision Pilot Holes

      Secure a 5/64" high-speed steel drill bit (not included) into your hand drill. Drill straight into your two wall marks at a perfect 90-degree angle to a depth of 1.5 inches.

      • Note: Pre-drilling a precise 5/64" pilot hole is critical. Because solid brass is a softer luxury metal, it will bend or snap if hammered directly into dense wood fibers without a relief channel.

      Step 3: Tune the Pin Depths for Wall Variance

      Gently tap the 2" 14-Gauge Solid Brass Escutcheon Pins into your pre-drilled pilot holes. Because the driftwood bar has an undulating, organic thickness, do not drive the pins to equal depths.

      • Adjustment: Measure the protrusion of your driftwood. If the left side of the wood curves deeper toward the room than the right, leave the corresponding wall pin protruding slightly further out. The pins should form a custom-tuned, three-dimensional ledge that mirrors the exact physical variance of your sculpture.

      Step 4: Seat and Gravity-Lock the Assemblage

      Carefully lower the driftwood bar directly onto your variable-depth brass pin ledges. Allow the artwork to settle naturally. The weight of the cascading feathers will gently pull the sculpture downward, while the integrated suede backing elements compress against the wall texture.

      Archival Conservation Guidelines

      • Oxidation Barrier: The enclosed solid brass escutcheon pins are pre-treated and sealed in a premium, hard-shell clear acrylic coating. This creates a permanent oxygen barrier that prevents the brass from oxidizing, tarnishing, or turning green over time.
      • Built-In Friction Protection: The crystal-clear acrylic coating completely seals both the smooth shank and the rounded head of each pin. This durable, integrated layer isolates the raw metal from making direct contact with the driftwood, eliminating the need for secondary sleeves or wraps.

      Structural Engineering Note: This contemporary tactile sculpture is engineered to utilize integrated genuine suede or vegan suede fasteners as structural counterweights. These elements stabilize the driftwood profile directly against your wall surface, absorbing depth variances.

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