The word marble comes from the Greek word mármaros, which means shining stone. The Greeks and Romans loved to use marble in their sculptures and architecture. Even back then, it was a symbol of culture, tradition, and refined taste. But how did this shiny rock make its way from museums and ancient ruins to our bathroom countertops?
Ancient Uses
Marble was originally only used for large structures like temples or government buildings. The process to quarry the stone was too difficult to be used in private homes. It was cut into large blocks that were best used for sculptures, walls, and flooring.
The Greeks and Romans loved the durability of natural stone, especially compared to the wood they’d used to build with before. As the methods of digging out the slabs were refined and the cost went down it wasn’t a surprise that people wanted to use it in their homes as well. Of course, that was only for the wealthiest citizens of the time.
The pure white Carrara and Calacatta marble were seen as the best because of their pure white color. Which is also what made these kinds of marble the most expensive. Usually, homeowners would only be able to afford enough marble to create a fascia over regular building materials like brick and mortar.
The use of this stone as a sign of wealth continued throughout the renaissance, victorian era, and up to modern times. Though today it’s not reserved for only the richest of the rich.
Marble in Modern Times
Technology has had a huge impact on the availability and cost of this stone. It all started around the time of the industrial revolution and has evolved even more in modern times. Thanks to wet cutting, specialized blades, and powerful equipment to transport slabs, marble has become much more affordable. This lead to marble countertops peaking in popularity in the early 1900s. Then in the 1950s and 60s, they were dethroned by cheap and colorful laminate countertops. However, laminate and other human-made materials couldn’t stay on top for long, and marble is back in a big way. Today’s interior designers value the unique color combinations and veining patterns much more than the Romans did. This stone allows homeowners to have a one-of-a-kind creation in their kitchen or bathroom. It’s also incredibly durable when sealed correctly, meaning it can last practically forever. After all, we’re still admiring the marble artworks from centuries ago.
If you want to craft an elegant, upscale look in your home, contact us to find the perfect marble slab for you.
