Carrara marble resists. 2

Carrara is renowned for its pristine white marble. But we know less that in the neighboring mountains, eclipsed by its flagship product, we also extract other marbles: belu Turquin and variegated blue, the portor, black veined. The mountain occupies an area of 750 km², compared to 20 km² where the quarries are located.

These less known marbles but they benefit from the image of white marble.

The activities related to marble occupy 10% of the employees of the Italian province of Massa Carrara and 22% of the city of Carrara;

Unlike some claims the white marble veins are far from exhausted. Alvise Lazzareschi extracts between 20,000 and 25,000 tons of this marble from his quarries with his 25 workers and he estimates that he could continue this way for at least 200 years

Euroroc

The European umbrella organization for the natural stone branch is undertaking an investigation of plagiarized product-names

Though surprising at first glance, one of the topics at Euroroc’s General Assembly at the 2017 Marmomac was Soya Milk! Euroroc is the European umbrella organization for the natural stone branch. The reason for Euroroc’s interest in produce is a judgement by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which had ruled that the nomenclature „Soya-Milk“ was misleading and thus prohibited: milk, by definition must originate from an animal and a derivative from e.g. soybeans could mislead consumers according to the Court.

Euroroc-members stand before the question of precedence: is the ruling applicable to other materials and would it prohibit producers of competing material using e.g. „Marble“ as a suffix or prefix of products that are not marble.

Flavio Marabelli, honorary president of the Italian Trade Organization Confindustria Marmomacchine, hat tossed the theme into the ring for discussion. Plagiarism is not new by any means, he explained. But it is slowly mutating from a nuisance to a threat as copies of the original, which can be mass-produced in increasingly large formats, are looking more and more natural.

But Marabelli stopped short of calling in the cavalry. Considering the complexity of the matter, he chose his words carefully: The branch should solicit an expert opinion on the prospect of such an initiative.
The line of argument based on the ECJ ruling is: a liquid may carry the name „Milk“ if and only if it ensues from an animal, similarly, a product bearing the name „Marble“ may carry the title if and only if it originates straight from nature (and is not man-made).

This is exactly what also the name „Natural Stone” implies.

Euroroc’s Secretary General, Professor Dr. Gerd Merke picked up on the line of thought and agreed to request a review. He expects first results in early 2018.

Some of the other topics at Euroroc’s General Assembly were:
• Geographical Indication (GI), brought before the EU-Parliament with great verve, seem bogged down in the EU-Commission according to Professor Merke. A recently created website lists GI-Protected alcoholic beverages („E-Spirit-Drinks“).
• A threshold to cap crystalline silica has been agreed by NEPSI (working group of European social partners). Currently the countries are being called upon to present their positions to the EU-Parliament and to the EU Commission.
• November 2017 saw the second Raw materials Week in Brussels. Natural stone is one of the topics, albeit with menial positioning.
• The 13th meeting of the work group for standardization took place in November 2017 in Würzburg, Germany.
• Professor Merke presented various marketing initiatives aimed at improving public relations for natural stone. „Have a Good Feeling“ is one of the slogans.

The next Euroroc-meeting is scheduled for June 15th, 2018 at Stone+tec in Nuremberg.

Caterina Moretti incorporates Mexican lava stone in her product design

„Lava Table“ and „Tribu“ are two new product lines, which bring material to the foreground

Mexico is one of the most active areas of tectonic activity in the world. It is where the North American Plate meets the Pacific Plate, forcing one to slide beneath the other, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the wake. Designer Caterina Moretti made a virtue of volcanic lava and, once again, incorporated it in her product design: „Lava table“ is a table top composed of several pieces of hand worked natural stone.

The seams dictate the pattern – there are two to choose from. The table stands on legs and a base made of teakwood and comes in three sizes.

In „Tribu“ (Tribal) lava also plays a major role. The collection designed for afternoon tea or luncheon is composed of a volcanic lava slab encircled by tiny fingerbowls in marble. The bowls come with a tiny handle protruding from the side like Japanese tea ceremony pots for positioning and poring.

The added contrast between lava, marble and copper complement the material stone – as is also the case with „Lava table“ where natural stone meets wood.

„Tribu“ was developed in cooperation with designer Alejandra Carmon.

Caterina Moretti was born in Vienna, studied architecture at ITESCO University in Guadalajara, Mexico, graduated from the Polytechnic University Cataluña (Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña), Barcelona with a master’s degree and founded Studio Peca in Guadalajara, Mexico as a mere 30-year-old in 2007 and distributes her craft via her online shop.

Lava is the term given to molten rock which reaches the Earth’s surface expelled through a volcanic eruption, which then usually flows down the side of the volcano. Once the lava flow has stopped moving, the mass solidifies. Depending on how quickly it cools, various types of rock ensue, most commonly basalt. Very quick cooling, e.g. when the lava flows into the water, will result in obsidian: a green and black glass-like stone, respectively.

The stone and its decoration. Vial Edition

Editions Vial published 4 interesting books on the work of stone.

Volume 4: sculpture

Public:

Professionals and lovers of stone carving. Restaurateurs of historical monuments.

The last volume of the collection devoted to the stone and its decoration, this book describes the techniques of sculpture. Artisan and trainer of great experience, the author invites here to go to the sources of the stone sculpture, for the restoration or the creation always in the respect of the styles and the kinds. Craftsmen and students will find here the precious advice gathered so that still lives a long time the profession of sculptor and restorer of the inheritance.

Summary:

1st part: The tools of sculpture. Focusing techniques. The clay. The plaster. Reproductive techniques.

2nd part: The trophies. Animal sculpture. The look. The busts. The medallions. The statuary (caryatids, Atlanteans, terms ...). Glossary.