A new but an ancient trend in natural stone: BOOKMATCHED MARBLE
Looking around at recent interior designs and architectural details that are being published, it has become clear: bookmatched marble is the next big thing in luxury interiors! We want to touch upon this particular method of cutting stone. But read on and you will find out that this is also an ancient method that was being used thousands of years ago...
Bookmatching is a marble cutting technique, where two or more slices (slabs) from a marble block are cut, numbered and the opposite sides are polished, then installed next to each other in a seamless way that makes the patterns mirror each other. This technique requires very high precision and handwork, which also produces some waste material. Even a few millimeters inaccuracy will throw the complete pattern off balance. This is why bookmatched marble has premium prices. However, a few slabs will go a long way in an interior scheme. The idea is not to cover the whole room with bookmacthed tiles, but rather to choose a perfect place for showcasing nature's own artwork. Such areas can be backsplashes, feature walls, antrances, fireplaces etc.
By cutting the marble block in this special way creates an effect of an open book or the symmetrical patterns on the wings of a butterfly. For bookmatched slabs, the best quality piece of marble is used. It takes a trained eye and technical expertise to choose the best specimen out of the material that is available. The stone should have enough clarity and distinct veining, which means that certain types of marbles are more suitable than others. Onyx, which is a translucent variant of marble and quarried in the same places and the same methods as marble, can be cut in a similar way. Onyx´s added appeal comes from the fact that it lets the light through beautifully. Light enhances the unique patterns on the stone even further.
Bookmatched marble fits into a modern, naturalistic decorating style that emphasizes ecological values. It draws inspiration from nature´s own beauty. Many designers have fallen in love with the idea that they can create very ornamental and decorative feature walls and floors that are at the same time timeless. Natural stone patterns have formed over millions of years and are a result of geological processes, not man made designs. Placing bookmatched stone as a focal point in a decoration upholds organic values and makes a statement. Still an artistic eye is required to pick the perfect pattern and color and find a way to make it stand out!
Art history (and history in general) really is about the same innovations and solutions being discovered over and over again, sometimes in different places around the world. We as a company find inspiration from the historical use of natural stone and different types of tiles. One major reason is that we discover again and again how the real, original materials the historical architects and builders were using hundreds or thousands of years ago, are still the most ecological and durable options for today's building projects!
It was recently reported in a scientific study that ancient Ephesus's villas in modern day Turkey were built using precious marble stone slabs to cover their walls. Not only that, but the slabs were in some cases installed in patterns using the bookmatching technique we have just described. The Romans two thousand years ago had already discovered the natural beauty and pattern of marble!
The slabs were cut in a water-powered saw mill, effectively using what is today known as hydraulic metal saws. The most startling conclusion from a detailed analysis of restored slabs from Ephesus is that apparently during this time, local marble production was very efficient and the marble wastage was in fact even lower than in modern marble production. The Roman engineers and architects surely deserve our admiration and it is worthwhile looking into old production practices and techniques, at the same time as we are reaching into the future that will be more sustainable.
