LITHIC ALTAR BY RICHARD RHODES
ABOUT LITHIC ALTAR
On view and for sale at domicile is Lithic Altar, a monumental sculptural stone table by local stonemason Richard Rhodes. Crafted from two ancient stone slabs—estimated to be 900 years old and salvaged from the worn steps of a temple—the tabletop bears the graceful patina of centuries of footsteps. Weighing 4,300 pounds (just over two tons) and seating up to twelve, Lithic Altar functions as both a gathering space and a powerful evocation of time, ritual, and craft.
"Stone is meant to be touched. It improves infinitely with wear, becoming something burnished, something better. The top of this table was made from ancient granite stair blocks; their smooth and worn surface bearing witness to 1000 years of architectural service. Collected and re-purposed from a demolished temple in Fujian, China, these ancient blocks were crafted into a sculpture meant to sit at the heart of human exchange. Whether deployed as outdoor feast tables or gathering tables for the larger community, they extend and nurture the legacy of human fellowship.
Making sculpture that can be enjoyed visually and physically is one of the most privileged parts of my practice. The table is signed and like much of my work, lies at the crossroads of architecture and sculpture. Lithic Altar inhabits the gray area between monumental and intimate not frequently explored."
Installing this two-ton piece in the gallery was a five-hour process involving three stonemasons. The table was rolled across the floor atop PVC pipes—an ancient technique reminiscent of how the pyramids were built. Check out our Instagram for videos and photos of the installation process:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLnyKGQSlRD/?img_index=1
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Richard Rhodes is a sculptor, stonemason, entrepreneur, and scholar of stonework based in Seattle, Washington. After graduate studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he apprenticed in Siena, Italy, becoming the first non-Italian in 726 years to be admitted into Siena’s ancient masonic guild—earning him the title “the last apprentice.” It was there he encountered the Sacred Geometries and Sacred Rules of Bondwork, foundational principles in the 4,000-year tradition of stone expression that continue to shape his sculptural practice.
A nationally recognized lecturer and educator, Rhodes has presented at the national conventions of the American Institute of Architects and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, as well as at the Institute of Classical Architecture in New York and San Francisco, the Building Stone Institute, and numerous universities.
In June 2025, Rhodes released his first book, Stone: Ancient Craft to Modern Mastery, which is available for purchase at domicile gallery. Following the book’s release, domicile presented an exhibition with Rhodes, featuring his monumental two-ton granite table, Lithic Altar, alongside a selection of photographs from the book.
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