Italian marble is a luxurious product used for centuries to create exquisite sculptures and breathtaking architectural designs. The Italian marbles are extremely versatile, as they can be used in a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and even bathroom. White-colored Italian marbles are used in flooring at temples, community theaters, palaces, and more. In this blog, let us take a deep dive and understand the origin of Italian marble, its uses, the various colors and their types, and more. At Shri Paras Marble Group, we offer exquisite, good-quality marble at a reasonable cost.
The History Behind the Italian Marble
Italian marble has been used in India since historical times. It was first mined in Carrara in 1550. It has been mined since Roman times in the mountains in the city of Carrara in the province of Massa and Carrara.
Furthermore, in ancient Italy, marble was more prominently used in architecture, as it gave a cozy and elegant finish to the buildings.
Most of the buildings in Italy were made of statuario, calacatta, and white Italian marble. The Italian marbles are also used in monuments, for making columns and tombs. The Romans are admired by the Italian marbles for their durability, finishing touch, and luxurious appeal.
Characteristics of Italian Marble
Italian marbles are unique for their intricate texture and veining patterns that give a luxurious and elegant look. The Italian marbles are available in various colors, such as white, green, pink, black, and beige. Customers who are looking for a marble that gives durability, resistance to wear and tear, exceptional finishing, and a cozy effect must opt for Italian marble.
The Italian marble is not only used in monuments, tombs, temples, and palaces but also can be used in living rooms, countertops, stairs, flooring, and more.
In addition, the Italian marbles are heat resistant; hence, they can be used in kitchens to give a modern look. They provide great polishing and finishing.
Furthermore, the Italian marbles are environmentally friendly and sustainable. It is long-lasting and requires less maintenance. Italian marbles are versatile, and it adds value to the property.
Multiple Uses of Italian Marble
After understanding the origin and the various characteristics of Italian marble, now let us understand the usage of Italian marble.
Here is the list of palaces where the Italian marbles are most commonly used:
- Monuments
- Palace
- Temples
- Countertops
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Wall Cladding
- Tombs
- Surrounding of Fireplace
- Bathrooms
What is the Common Thickness of Italian Marble?
In India, Italian marble is available in various colors, textures, and thicknesses. The most commonly available shades are gray, beige, white, and black.
Each marble’s price varies based on some of the factors like the quality of material, the thickness of Italian marble, the pattern, and much more. Typically, the Italian marbles range from 15 to 20 mm thick and are also available in the range of 18 to 30 mm thick.
Types of Italian Marble
There are various types of Italian marble available in the market. The most common types of Italian marble used are calacatta, Carrara, and statuary. Let us understand the types of Italian marble with their special characteristics and their uniqueness.
- Calacatta: If you are planning to build a beautiful, elegant home that can provide durability and elegant interiors, then Calacatta marble is the best choice. The mining of Calacatta marble is called Carrara; however, it is available in the lower parts of the quarry. The calacatta has an amazing thickness and gives a dramatic look. It adds contrast to the whiter background slabs. They are available in different colors, like brown beige to dark gray.
- Carrara: It is one of the most famous Italian marbles. Carrara is available in blue-gray or gray shades. It has light gray veining, usually soft and feathering patterns. Carrara is economical in terms of cost compared to other Italian marbles.
- Statuary: The Statuary marbles are mined in the Carrara region. It is much whiter than the Calacatta marble, but it has less color variation. The Statuary are high-end marble variety that are more highly priced than the Carrara. However, the calacatta and Statuary are almost the same prices.
- Perlao Sicilia: It is a kind of ivory-based with discreet dark veins. The Perlato Sicilia is commonly used for somber interiors.
- Botticino Crema: It gives a soft touch and provides charming, clear surfaces. These marbles are most commonly used for flooring.
- Calacatta Vagli: The calacatta vigil has patches of white in web-soft gold-like pieces of fluid art frozen in time. These marbles are well suited for walls as they have a beautiful white patch texture.
What is the Difference Between Indian Marble and Italian Marble?
Marbles are classified into Italian marble and Indian marble. The Italian marble is quarried from Northern Italy, while the Indian marble is quarried from Rajasthan, India.
Let us know the major difference between Indian marble and Italian marble. There are various factors the two marbles vary. You can check out the below list to understand the difference between both.
Cost: The Indian marbles are quite less priced compared to Italian marbles. The Italian marbles are imported from Italy, and they requires skilled craftsmen for installation and for intricate marble inlay work.
Appearance: Indian marbles have a medium luster, while Italian marbles have a crystal-like appearance with high luster.
Strength and Durability: Indian marble is available in a thickness of 30 mm, while Italian marble thickness ranges from 18 to 20 mm. Italian marble has long-lasting durability compared to Indian marble. Italian marbles have epoxy resins and matching pigments that increase their strength. The Italian marbles on one side are always pre-polished, which helps to hide the chemical resins.
Application: Italian and Indian marbles are commonly used for flooring and countertop material. The marble gives a soft touch; hence, it can be used in bedrooms, bathrooms, and more. Both the marbles may get stained; hence, avoid using acidic substances to clean, like vinegar and acid. Some of the substances must be kept away from marbles, like citrus juices, sauces, vinegar, and acidic liquids.
Maintenance: Both marbles will lose their luster after a few years; hence, they should be regularly polished to retain their original shine. The polishing can be done using a carborundum stone and tin oxide. For regular cleaning, a mild detergent can be used for cleaning marbles. It should never be scrubbed. Both the marbles must be sealed with impregnating sealers that act as a protective layer.
