Vert d’Evolène Gneiss is a metamorphic rock known for its striking green color, enriched with calcite veins. This stone originates from volcanic materials and is composed primarily of minerals with lower hardness, such as talc, carbonate, serpentine, and chlorite. Its unique mineral composition gives it a combination of softness and durability, making it resilient to both fire and frost.

Quarried in Evolène, a region in the Hérens Valley of Valais, Switzerland, Vert d’Evolène is admired for its beauty and has been used by craftsmen and artists since the Stone Age. Its softness allows it to be easily shaped and carved using simple tools typically associated with woodworking—saws, knives, and lathes—making it a highly versatile material.

Locally referred to as "Pîrra teindra," meaning soft stone in the dialect of the region, Vert d’Evolène is especially valued for ornamental and decorative uses. Despite its softness, it maintains resilience and longevity, enhancing its appeal as an architectural material. Its rarity (less than 1% of stones in the Alps) and exceptional qualities make it one of the most treasured ornamental stones in Wallis.

Its ease of workability combined with its natural beauty and historic significance has solidified its place as a prized stone for various artistic and architectural applications.