Marble, a wonder of nature
Marble, a wonder of nature
The word marble comes from ancient Greece. “Marmaron” or “marmaros” meant, and still means, the shiny, crystalline stone of the Greeks. The English say “marble”, which roughly means “shines like”. They borrowed the word from the French, who call marble “marbre”. In the Balkans it is called “mermer” or “mramor”. Very different cultures, very similar names. All refer to the same unique natural stone with a lustrous texture that stands for refinement and luxury.
Marble and its structure
Marble is limestone that formed through metamorphosis beneath the earth’s surface. High pressure and high temperatures gave it its sheen and unique range of colours. Experts even say that marble comes from the oldest parts of the earth’s crust. That is probably also why it is so resistant to all weathers. Marble starts as limestone or dolomite and, through pressure and heat, becomes a harder, denser and more colourful stone.
Small crystals in its structure create its many colours: white, grey, black, pink, blue, red and even green. It is precisely these colours that make it so popular worldwide, because it suits every design and every material. Its main components are calcite, dolomite crystals and aragonite. Marble gets its shine from polishing, which is why it is associated with luxury, beauty and refinement.
The history of marble
The magnificent Taj Mahal mausoleum is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is regarded as the “jewel of Islamic art” and the “most admired masterpiece of world heritage”. The Taj Mahal is built entirely of fine marble, a stone that has been used for over 2,000 years. This shows how resistant and stable marble is, as do many other works of art and buildings.
Sculptors love marble for its “warmth” and its beautiful milky colour. Michelangelo chose pure white marble for his sculptures because it is translucent: light penetrates about 1 cm below the surface before it is reflected. That is why his figures look so lifelike. In New York, 530,000 m³ of marble were used to build the library. The workers had to wear flat-soled shoes so as not to scratch the precious stone. Architecturally, marble can be worked in an incredibly versatile way, which makes it ideal for your home, not just for wonders of the world.
Marble on trend
Growing environmental awareness is leading to a new ecological era that includes natural materials, and therefore natural stone. Architectural trends worldwide and regionally call for natural materials. Marble is used for wall and floor coverings and for steps indoors and outdoors. Marble-clad columns bring exclusivity to your rooms. It is traditionally used for bathroom floor and wall coverings, because marble slabs come in many shapes and formats.
Whichever type of marble you choose, your home will gain an impressive, refined touch.
Do not worry about care: marble is very easy to look after. Strictly speaking, it needs hardly any care.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Marble was used in the manufacture of the iPhone 7.
- Some companies make spectacle frames from marble.
- Marble powder is also used in pharmacy against hyperacidity and as a source of calcium.
- Marble is hypoallergenic, which makes it popular with allergy sufferers and families with young children.
- No two marble slabs in the world are the same. That is exactly what makes this stone so unique.