The first inspection is carried out with the slab upright and dry. We map filled cavities, open fissures, changes in grain, and the direction of geological bedding. Water is then applied to reveal the depth and colour the finished surface may carry, but the structural map remains visible beneath that temporary intensity.
A beautiful vein is not automatically placed at the centre. Its direction must agree with the shape of the component and the loads it will meet. On a long shelf, a transverse weakness can be more important than a dramatic pattern. On a console top, a quiet edge may matter more because it is touched every day.
Cut plans are photographed and numbered before machining. Paired pieces are nested for continuity, and offcuts large enough for samples or repairs are retained with the project record. This is slower than treating the slab as a uniform field, but it reduces surprises at assembly.
Edges are tested at full scale. A sharp arris may appear precise in a drawing and feel hostile in use; a broad radius can erase the character of a fine-grained stone. Most KORVAE stone edges are honed by hand after machining so the final transition is judged through touch as well as measurement.
The finished element is inspected in raking light, packed according to its weakest orientation, and installed on isolation pads that allow the supporting material to move independently. The craft begins with looking and ends with making room for difference.
FIELD NOTE / EXCERPT
A cut line is a proposal about geology, structure, touch, and the future repair of the piece.
