Alabaster Art – Slabs Tiles Mosaic & Bricks

Prized by the Ancients, Alabaster is carefully sourced, cut, shaped, turned by De Ferranti's master craftsmen

In Egypt, both cultures, the Fayum and Tasa, used ground alabaster as a base for make-up. Later generations of egyptians used alabaster for ornamental purposes such as vases and bottles. The Assyrians however, were big supporters of alabaster and used it extensively for architectural elements, of note, walls and doors, columns, frames, architraves, to name but a few. The Phoenicians were famous for their skill in the preparation of perfumes, using alabaster vessels as packaging. The Etruscan sculptors (8th Century B.C.) also learned the art of working with alabaster for carving urns, reliefs, sphinxes and sarcophagus with figures. Alabaster then went out of fashion, and began to have a positive revival in England in the 14th Century and even more so in Italy during the 16th Century.

Jean-Michel Frank famously used alabaster for quiet luxury, soft light and timeless restraint. Our De Ferranti alabaster collection follows that spirit: luminous, mineral, calm and architectural.

The beauty of this mineral is due to its soapy texture, its silky feel and most importantly, its translucent property.