Inside Italy’s Carrara MARBLE MOUNTAINS
Italy’s Carrara marble mountains, estimated at over €1 billion, produce more tons of marble than anywhere else on Earth. This month Dominique Alexandra Forsström takes us on a unique trip, discovering inside the marble quarries and what makes this white gold so special.
What do the buildings of Harvard Medical School, the Oslo Opera House, theMarble Arch in London and Michelangelo’s David have in common? The white gold of Carrara, of course!
Carrara marble is one of the most prestigious marbles in the world, renowned from the Ancient Roman times to today’s most exclusive interior designers and architects. Because of its millennial history, the Carrara quarries have produced more marble than any other place on earth, and the market as a whole is worth over $1 billion and produces over 6 million tons of marble every year. This Summer, I had the chance to personally visit the outstanding white marble quarries of Carrara, which are so exquisitely picturesque, they were even featured in a James Bond movie, with Daniel Craig driving an Aston Martin DBS up the marble slopes.
Driving on the Tuscan coast that connects Genoa to Lucca, it’s easy to mistake the vast bright white mountainsides as glaciers, but when getting closer, you realize what appears as snow are actually enormous open-air quarries -the tips of the icebergs, as there are equally enormous underground quarries with caverns the size of cathedrals.As we hop on to a 4x4 Land Rover Defender, the road becomes very steep as we make progress going deeper into the Apuan Alps and further away from the Ligurian Sea, whilst crossing large lorries which are loaded with marble blocks. In the middle of the bright white marble, huge yellow earthmoving machines seem like tiny toys amongst the monumental quarries. In the distance, the highest quality of white marble used by sculptors such asMichelangelo and found only in the Fantiscritti quarries contrasts with the closer grey marble.
Here lies the value behind different types of marble - some marbles are more expensive than others depending on how they are extracted and they are also valued on their veins. Here in Carrara, the 350-ton marble blocks are extracted with chainsaw machines and cables made with diamonds, and then carefully divided into smaller blocks.It’s a very delicate process and it takes about a week to extract one 350-ton block. Another interesting fact is that the colour of the marble depends on the sediments, and in Italy there are the pink marbles of Lucca, the green marbles of the Aosta valley, and the black marbles of La Spezia to name a few. Around Carrara, the marble is white, and the geological structure is such that the marble deposits extend over 58 km and reach 2,000 metres in height, in this ancient group of mountains that was formed 190 million years ago.
Discovering both the open-air and interior marble quarries has given a completely new dimension to appreciating all the work and risks involved in obtaining this natural stone. The combination of immense nature and industrial machinery makes these architectural landscapes almost surreal and completely worth visiting when in Italy!
NEW VOLUMES DINING TABLE
by ARTEDOMUS
Pushing the boundaries of a single natural material, Artedomus teamed up with eight Australian designers to create a 12 piece furniture collection using Elba, a rich, complex stone with 250 million years in the making. I absolutely love the craftsmanship behind each piece, especially this dining table that proudly takes centre stage.
TOP MARBLE FURNITURE
by Dominique Alexandra Forsström
Marble furniture is, without question, one of the most sought after finishes to have in a home. It is a strong material that can stand the test of time, a good choice if you’re looking for a long term investment you’ll love for years to come. There are hundreds of different types of marble, with different patterns to consider too. There’s cross cut, which has a more open, flowered appearance, or vein cut, which is cut in a way that results in a more striped look. Heavily veined marble is especially on trend right now, and warmer hued varieties like Gold Calacatta are also having a moment, adding a cozier element to a room. You also have the option between polished and matte finishes. The latter hides dull spots better, but there’s something about a glossy finish that feels particularly luxe. Here are my top marble furniture choices of the moment, adding an element of immediate beauty into any space.
ILARY SIDE TABLE
by POLTRONA FRAU
I adore this side table designed by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poltrona Frau. Sculpted entirely from Grigio Romamarble with a semi-glossy finish, the monolithic Ilary side table has a circular top and the support is distinctive for its striking handle-groove which makes it easy to move. The two elements are united by an invisible steel frame. This piece would perfectly complement a beautiful lounge area, positioned between two armchairs, or beside a freestanding bath tub adorned with candles. A true piece of art!
EPIC COFFEE TABLE
by GUBI
Named after the epic poems of ancient times, GamFratesi’s Epic Table is a sculptural piece of furniture inspired byGreek columns and Roman architecture. Made in Italy from travertine stone, the Epic Table has a strong, sculptural form comprising of two simple shapes – a hexagon and a circle. I especially appreciate this type of stone for the natural beauty of its veins and the vibrant texture of its unique patina, adding refined elegance to any ambience.
PEARL LAMP
by GINGER & JAGGER
The Pearl Wall Lamp is a poetic handcrafted tribute to Nature’s mysterious ways. The piece, made in marble and metal, represents one of its quintessential attributes – serendipity. The magnificence of pearls, when produced naturally by oysters, is as breathtaking and it is exquisitely rare. The Pearl Wall Lamp’s marble shape is carved by hand, making each piece, much like a natural pearl, an absolutely unique sculpture.
MARBLE MORTAR
by TOM DIXON
This weighty block of white Morwad marble and brass to smash and grind spices and herbs, is the perfect accessory for creating delicious meals with style. An exaggerated rounded lip allows a firm grip, and I like to leave this mortar out on display in the kitchen as it is a unique piece to use as a decorative accessory.
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@domforsstrom | @alexandrastudio