Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones

Barbara Segal Creates Modern Birkin Bags from Stone

I combine many ancient and modern methods together: mold making, lamination, pointing and carving using pneumatics. My work is autobiographical, combined with renaissance techniques and modern technology, merged with my American perspective.

Stone blocks are selected or designed through the inlay or lamination process, and laboriously hand-finished by carving, grinding, and polishing for months or years.

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones

For example, for years I have taken photos of 13th-century Romanesque striped cathedrals. I knew I could create a grey and white striped Birkin that mirrored a cathedral. This required technical knowhow, stacking the stones for the body of the piece and creating a segmented handle for the portal. As I worked through the techniques, the ideas came to me. I would cast a shadow in the windows using perspective as Donatello did. On the buckle, I wrote: “Porta Del Paradiso.”

When I look at a Birkin, I can see a cathedral in stone. I see how I would construct it, shape it, and elegantly merge it into a seamless new form. I can make this work because I am heavily technically trained in classical and renaissance methods and modern technology, which gives me a unique perspective.

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “L.V.B.S.” Greek White Marble

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Candy Verde” Verde Smeraldo Onyx

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones

“Eye Candy” Orange Calcite and Gold Leaf

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Blue Candy” Sodalite

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Gate Of Paradise” Savoie and Bardiglio, Statuario Marble

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Persian Candy” Persian Marble, White and Red Marble Mosaics

Belgian black marble sculpture “Byzantine Candy” Belgian Black Marble, Gold Leaf and Glass Mosaics

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Thou Shalt Not Covet”

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Crowned Jewels” Semi-Precious Blue Onyx, Rubies, White Sapphires, Gold Leaf over Silver

Barbara Segal Creates fashion icons in rare and exquisite Stones “Crowned Jewels” Close Up, Semi-Precious Blue Onyx, Rubies, White Sapphires, Gold Leaf over Silver