Cracked Vase

Wood, art and design that survived the wildfires.

Wildfires leave behind nothing more than a trail of destruction. Yet, no matter how devastating they are, the story doesn't end there. At least, not for Luca.

For the self-taught wood carver from Serra da Estrela (Beira Alta, Portugal), the need for experimentation and self-expression through nature led him to realize something unique that the flames create in their wake. Projecto Vago was born.

Pieces of burnt wood, halfway between natural decomposition and artistic restoration. Just look at this Cracked Vase, a piece of disarming beauty that went through hell and then through Luca's lathe.

It was his own hands that rescued burnt wood from the great fire of 2022 in the region, such as that of a 150-year-old chestnut tree and a 100-year-old cherry tree. He sharpened his tools and, through an instinctive approach, simply began to sculpt. Luca believes that without a defined end result, anything can happen. At one point, he invented the abrasive techniques, the waxing, and even his own elegant and careful artisanal charring.