Like Carrara marble, Statuario marble comes from mountain quarries in Italy, just a stone's throw away from Northern Tuscany, and is known as one of the major white marbles used in both commercial and residential projects. Also known as Bianco Statuario marble, this Italian marble features a bright white background with gray and gold veining that line the exclusive stone.
Statuario is a high-demand Italian marble for a number of reasons. Limited availability makes the stone a rare find, and the same type of material could not mimic the intricate veining patterns seen in Statuario marble. Although sometimes interchanged with Calacatta slabs, a Statuario marble slab has a different surface design and feel that contributes to its style of luxury and elegance.
Popular Uses
Carrara marble, Calacatta marble, and Bianco Statuario marble all make ideal stone choices for marble countertops, floor tiles, and wall panels for their polished finish and classic, timeless aesthetic. However, Statuario marble is not suitable for exterior applications, and are limited to indoor applications unlike Calacatta marble.
Still, the gray and gold veining against the pure white background of Statuario makes it an ideal natural stone to use in a variety of applications from marble slab countertops to shower wall lining. The polished finish of a Statuario marble slab offers the best view of its gold accented veining, making it the perfect natural stone for conspicuous locations in homes and businesses.
Statuario marble makes the ideal material for luxurious home accents such as the kitchen countertop and bathroom floor tiles. A vanity made from Statuario shows of a cool, elegant vibe, and the light hues of Statuario bring brightness to any room. Essentially, any area where Carrara can be aesthetically placed, Statuario can pose as an alternative just the same.
Care & Maintenance
Any marble slab would require some level of care, and for a low-availability, luxury marble slab such as Statuario, the care that goes into maintaining the stone is no small feat. As always, we recommend keeping acidic solutions away from the marble, and to clean it with specialized cleaning solutions meant for natural stones like marble and granite. Here are a couple of care tips for your Statuario marble:
1. Purchase slabs only from reputable suppliers
As Statuario slabs and tile flooring are rare and in high demand, not all shops that offer the stone actually sell the real thing. Many unscrupulous suppliers would pass off a lesser stone, or even a replica, to unsuspecting buyers for a larger profit. Ensure you're getting a real Statuario by only dealing with reputable shops, and knowing the differences between marble slabs.
2. Use castile soap or other safe cleaning products
A classic solution for cleaning natural stone areas like the floor and kitchen countertop, castile soap diluted in some water creates a cleaning solution safe for multiple types of surfaces regardless of material or style. Use the solution on your floor, countertop, or any sensitive material in your living space.
3. Have the material repolished on schedule
A marble tile or slab will get dull over time due to usage, etching, or scratches. Having your Statuario polished every few years or so keeps the material in tip top condition, and keeps the tile or slab looking as pristine as the day it was installed in your living space.
4. Avoid placing hot items on the surface
As Statuario is used for the kitchen countertop, there is a tendency for the stone to come into contact with hot pans and dishes. Natural stones may not be as affected by heat, but the varnish that polishes the stone may react poorly to the heat applied to it. Always work with pot holders, and avoid placing hot items on the marble.
Other Facts about Statuario Marble
Italian marble is not without its historical glory. Sharing the spotlight with Carrara, Michelangelo is one of the famous renaissance artists to create works from Statuario, the most famous being Michelangelo's David, carved entirely out of a particular slab of Statuario marble.
Amore e Psiche by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova is another popular work made using Statuario. Today, Statuario is a sign of luxury, and is often used in designer homes and high-end fixtures, often in complement to other high-class materials such as Swarovski crystals, and gold.
Choosing Statuario Marble
Statuario, Carrara, and Calacatta are all quarried in the same part of the world, but produce different designs and images from each other as they form varying veins that make up their signature image. While Italy is the leading producer of these materials, they are in demand across the world for their timeless look, and air of light elegance.
