Like other quarried stones, porphyry has its own unique characteristics which makes it distinctive. Historical use of the material has been noted as far back as approximately 3,000 years, when Egyptians and Romans considered it to be good luck. At that time, the word “porfirogenito” - meaning “born in a room cladded with porphyry” - was created. The same good luck that was hoped for at birth was also wished for Emperors at their death, and so they were buried in tombs made of porphyry. Nowadays, porphyry is being used for exterior and some interior applications, and companies such as Odorizzi Porfidi of Albiano, Italy, are quarrying and processing the material to markets around the world, including the U.S.

CarraraMarmotec is scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 2, 2007, in Carrara, Italy. This past year, CarraraFiere, the show’s organizer, launched a worldwide promotional campaign to attract more visitors and exhibitors to the upcoming exhibition. And judging by this year’s number of registrations, it is expected that CarraraMarmotec 2007 will improve upon the results of the 2006 edition, according to the show’s organizer.

Alfonso Bertoni migrated to the U.S. in 1984, and since that time, he has worked to build a strong fabrication operation. Originally from Bergamo, Italy, Bertoni understands the correlation between top-of-the-line machinery and high-quality products. Keeping this philosophy in mind, he has equipped his shop in Fair Lawn, NJ, with a variety of Italian-made machinery that is a key component to his business, which continually produces a high volume of commercial work.

The colors and materials used for the design of the new Phoenix Convention Center are intended to reflect the state of Arizona. As a facility that is host to thousands of visitors each year, it was important to the city of Phoenix that its architecture be warm and welcoming. To achieve this effect, an extensive amount of Indian sandstone - quarried and fabricated by Tab India of Jaipur, India, and supplied through the company’s U.S. office, Amsum & Ash of Minneapolis, MN - was used to build the exterior facade.

Although Dave’s Cabinets of Chesapeake, VA, has been in operation for about 30 years, it has only been in the practice of fabricating stone countertops for the past three years. The company originally began as a woodworking business, but after thoroughly researching the stone industry, its owner decided it was time to make the move to stone fabrication.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, MD, has a long and storied past. As the first metropolitan cathedral and major religious building that was constructed in America after the adoption of the Constitution, it became a symbol of religious freedom that was a core to the newly formed U.S., when its cornerstone was laid in July 1806.

As natives of Texas, a family building in a private residence in Colorado Springs, CO, wanted to incorporate materials reminiscent of their home state into their new house. In particular, they wanted to use marble throughout the expansive 25,000-square-foot space. To ensure that their design objectives were met, the owners worked closely with designer Barbara Elliott of Barbara Elliott Interiors.

On April 15, 1999, Philip Einsohn launched Waterjet Works! - a custom waterjet design and fabrication company - in Dallas, TX. The corporation was started because Einsohn believed there was a call from the architectural, design and contracting communities for a company that understands the needs of these professions. And he knew that he could rely on his experience with waterjet capabilities while he was working in the design field to develop an operation that could satisfy these demands.

Set in the picturesque New England town of Greenwich, CT, the owner of an upscale residence wanted the exterior design of their new home to feature natural stone, which is inherent of the area architecture. But to save on cost, they chose natural thin stone veneer that provided the same rich look and texture that is achieved with thicker pieces of stone.

Architect Dick Clark of Dick Clark Architecture in Austin, TX, recently utilized an innovative limestone design for a condominium complex lobby in Austin, TX. He created a two-sided wall of overlapping tiles that stirs interest and serves as the focal point of the space. The varying sizes of rectangular and square tiles, which jut out from the wall, bring dimension and texture to the seating area.