Dubbed the “Floating G” by Tijoe, this table appears to be one solid piece of stone that defies the law of physics. In actuality, it is a steel frame with a heavy foot, covered entirely with slices of black granite.
MM Galleri director, Peter Tijoe has perfect the art of curved marble. And all by near-unfortunate incident that almost cost him his business! Read how things literally shaped out for the better.
Posted from thepeakmagazine.com.sg by Jasmine Tay.
What’s the secret to curved marble cave walls and intricate floating tables that are unmistakably marble to the touch?
It was then that he discovered the stone’s limited but existent malleability. With the steel backing, the marble sheet can handle some pressure without it breaking.
Tijoe then tested the limits of that bendability. The method, which he perfected last year, involves heating a 1mm marble sheet, then slowly moulding it into shape. To prevent it from cracking, he adds a chemical to the surface of the stone. Other hard stones like granite and onyx can handle this technique.
“Curved marble exists – and it makes for stunning interiors”
Says Tijoe: “The result is a sheet we can use like wallpaper to apply on anything, in any configuration.” Such application is unprecedented. To prove a point, Tijoe created a marble cave in his Chin Bee Avenue showroom by applying sheets of white stone from wall to ceiling (header image). He also created spindly marble chairs and tables – steel structures wrapped in thin stone sheets.
The use of steel frames allows designers to bypass structural limitations.
“These pieces are structurally impossible if carved from marble blocks thanks to the stone’s weight. The thin legs would break,” says Tijoe.
The technique has caught the attention of other designers. Last year’s Maison & Objet design fair in Paris saw Indonesian designer Jeffrey Budiman using the process to create a lamp with intricate twists of pink onyx. The technique could very well spell a new genre of design.
Related Posts
- A Blue Marble Must 'Sea'!
- Marble Bathtub cut from one single block
- Marble Tables Packed With Surreal Resin - Check It Out!
- Marble Trends 2018 sees Resurgence of the Nineties
- Marble vs Quartzite - What are the differences?
The post Curved Marble, Floating Granite appeared first on Victoria Stone Gallery.
