Feb Apollo – Large Hand-Embroidered Tapestry with 5100 Swarovski Crystals

Michael Verkholantsev Collaboration
Rubelli Bespoke Fabric, Black Silk, Silver Threads, Swarovski Black Crystals

170 x 170 x 3 cm 

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We are honored to present 'Feb' (Phaebus), a masterpiece of textile engineering and artistic devotion. This work serves as a contemporary altar to Apollo, the "Radiant" god of light, music, and the prophetic future. In an era of fleeting aesthetics, this tapestry evokes the "Golden Age" of Octavian Augustus, capturing the eternal ideal of youthful beauty and rational harmony.

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The Material Alchemy: Rubelli & Swarovski
At the heart of this creation is a custom-engineered Rubelli fabric, woven with integrated metallic threads to provide a canvas of unparalleled structural elegance. Upon this foundation, the master has executed a sophisticated volumetric technique using:
5,100 Black Diamond Swarovski Crystals: Each hand-set to create a rhythmic, shimmering surface that breaks the darkness, echoing Phaebus’s quadriga as it carries light across the firmament.

Artisanal Silver Metallic & Black Silk Threads: Intricate hand-embroidery that translates the "Apollonian" principle of order and beauty into a tactile, multidimensional experience.

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Philosophical Depth: The Apollonian Ideal
Inspired by the masters of the Renaissance—from Raphael to Tintoretto—this work pays homage to the Apollo Belvedere, the "highest ideal of art." In the spirit of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy, 'Feb' represents the triumph of the rational and the luminous over the instinctive, offering a serene yet powerful presence for the modern interior.

Part of a specialized Couture Art Collection, this piece is more than an acquisition; it is a bridge between the classical past and the visionary future.

Specifications for Discerning Collectors:

Availability:  Ready for Private Acquisition.
Base: Bespoke Rubelli Fabric with Metallic Weave.
Embroidery: Hand-applied Black Silk and Silver Metallic Filaments.
Embellishment: 5,100 Certified Black Diamond Swarovski Crystals.
Concept: A modern reinterpretation of Phaebus (Apollo), the Personification of the Sun.

Provenance & Craftsmanship: The Alchemy of Excellence

The creation of the 'Feb' Silver Threads Tapestry is a dialogue between centuries of textile heritage and 21st-century couture innovation. Every element has been sourced and executed to meet the standards of the world’s most prestigious art collections.

I. The Foundation: Bespoke Rubelli Heritage
The canvas of this masterpiece is a custom-made fabric from the house of Rubelli — the legendary Venetian weaver that has adorned royal palaces and the world’s most famous theaters for centuries.
The Innovation: Specifically engineered for this collection, the fabric integrates microscopic metallic threads within the weave, providing a structural luminescence that changes depth depending on the ambient light.
The Significance: By selecting Rubelli, the artist anchors the work in the tradition of Italian excellence, ensuring that the background itself is a work of technical brilliance.

II. The Embellishment: 5,100 Black Diamond Swarovski Crystals
To capture the "radiant" essence of Phaebus Apollo, the artist utilized a staggering 5,100 hand-set Black Diamond Swarovski crystals.
The Play of Light: Unlike traditional clear crystals, the Black Diamond palette offers a sophisticated, moody shimmer. It represents the "night breaking into day," mirroring the myth of Apollo’s quadriga paving the way for the coming sun.

Precision: Each crystal is strategically placed to enhance the volumetric embroidery, creating a surface that appears to vibrate with life when viewed from different angles.
III. The Embroidery: Volumetric Hand-Stitching
The figure of Apollo and the surrounding architectural elements are rendered through a proprietary volumetric technique:
Silver & Silk: The interplay between high-sheen silver metallic threads and light-absorbing black silk creates a 3D effect, bringing the "Apollonian" rational form into a physical, tactile reality.

Artisanal Hours: Hundreds of hours of master-level hand-embroidery were required to achieve the level of detail that honors the legacy of Renaissance masters like Raphael and Tintoretto.