Alabaster brick is a versatile material that can work well with natural or artificial light to create the desired effect.

Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals: gypsum, a hydrous sulphate of calcium, and calcite, a carbonate of calcium. The former is the alabaster of the present day. The latter is generally the one known to the ancients.

The two kinds are readily distinguished by their relative hardnesses. The gypsum kind is soft enough to be scratched by a fingernail, with a hardness of 1.5 to 2. The calcite kind is too hard to be scratched in this way, with a hardness of 3, though it does yield readily to a knife. Calcite alabaster, being a carbonate, effervesces on contact with hydrochloric acid, whereas gypsum alabaster remains practically unaffected.

De Ferranti not only commissions ancient objects from this material, but has also developed a way of creating partition walls in bricks, producing remarkable translucent effects.

Alabaster Brick for Translucent Interior Effects

Alabaster brick gives this ancient mineral a more structured and contemporary form. Instead of being used only as carved object, slab or vessel, the material can be arranged as a rhythmic wall surface, screen, partition or decorative feature where light becomes part of the design. The creamy mineral ground, clouded veining and soft internal glow make each brick feel individual, while the repeated format brings order and proportion to the finished surface.

Used with natural daylight, alabaster brick can soften the passage of light through an interior. Used with artificial illumination, it can create a warmer and more controlled effect for bars, restaurants, hotel spaces, bathrooms, spa interiors, private residences and carefully detailed commercial projects. Because alabaster is a specialist stone, specification should always consider backing, fixing, thickness, lighting, position and day-to-day use.

For related material context, the wider Alabaster Art – Slabs Tiles Mosaic & Bricks category can be used to compare this product with other alabaster formats. Designers considering other luminous stone surfaces may also want to review De Ferranti’s Marble & Onyx Collection or the Semi-Precious Tile & Slab collection.

Project Guidance and Enquiries

For project guidance, availability, pricing, samples or further information, please use the Send E-Mail button below this description. Your enquiry will come directly to De Ferranti, and we will be pleased to discuss suitability, quantities, lead times and options for your project.