ANTOLINI Luigi’s creativity is etched in stone – literally. At the Big 5 show this month, the innovative producer of natural stone from Italy will be showcasing its wide knowledge and extensive portfolio of stone products – each combining the beauty in nature with the skill of its designers and craftsmen.

Among the collections promoted at the show will be its Natura Collection, a product of creativity, knowledge and the capacity to extract the finest finish – portraying energy and charm – from stone, says a spokesman for the company.
The Natura Collection currently includes designs created by Antolini’s in-house design studio and by internationally renowned designers Domenico De Palo and Alessandro La Spada, which give a new interpretation of stone.

“The development and expansion of the Natura Collection is a result of extensive research and innovative technology applied on granite and marble,” says the spokesman. “Numerous tests have been carried out and unexpected and highly striking results obtained.”

De Palo has exploited the full potential of stone to conceive new, special and unique textures, which form the De Palo Design series. He employed modular bas-reliefs, a play on empty and full spaces, and on shadows and semi-darkness in order to create four new concepts – Geisha, Avata, Spizzo and Verano – that are presented as the focal features of wall decorations made of stone. “With these new textures, stone becomes dynamic. It is not a formal abstraction anymore, but a vital reality,” comments De Palo.

The outline of Geisha, which is associated with harmonic, refined and sensuous rituals, highlights the ductility of marble. Verano is an original concept that expresses itself through damask surfaces and bas-reliefs with marked and warm shades.

Spizzo turns marble into a bright and dynamic material that, thanks to its play with empty and full spaces, reflects the light and renders a lace-like appearance. And Avata is a texture that is inspired by nature and expresses flexibility and adaptability, with a pattern that repeats itself to create natural and contemporary spectacular effects, he says.

La Spada Design

The Natura Collection also includes the La Spada Design series, which was launched recently in collaboration with La Spada, who has enhanced the versatility and emotive properties of marble and granite using embellishments that are inspired by nature.

Snakes, leaves and butterflies are the new patterns developed and added to the range. The pattern is etched on the stone, thus creating a texture that complements the naturally irregular one of the material.

Designs include:

• Papilio in shiny sandy blue, is “a lace of butterflies” created by a sandblasted stroke, resembling a shadow skimming over the glossy surface of sandy blue;

• Snake Design on shiny bronze Armani granite is inspired by the jelly fish’s hair. “It is the mythological reinterpretation of Medusa’s snake-like hair that envelopes the shiny bronze Armani as if it was its face petrified by its reflection on Perseus’ shield,” he explains;

• Forest Design in Shiny Soapstone, which is linked to the vegetable world, results from the stylisation of Monstera, a plant that comes from tropical forests in Guatemala. The design leaves that are spread over, complements the stone and creates a green-wall effect.

Antolini Design

The Natural Collection also includes the Antolini Design series created by Antolini’s in-house design studio.

Commenting on the series, the spokesman says: “The stone surfaces are transformed, thanks to a special technique that succeeds in engraving with great accuracy and uniformity to create endless optical illusions. The resulting textures create shining laces and soft arabesques that fascinate with their lines, by geometrical lights and shades are replicated endlessly, and by classic floral reliefs.

“The Antolini Design is a unique collection whose strength lies in nature itself and reinterpreted by Antolini’s insight and by its refined working techniques. This collection is made of different materials and is available with a wide range of designs.”

Bubbles, Arabica, Leopard, Ali and Contatto e Replica Design are some of the new textures that have been added to the existing range that includes the Wave Croco and Zebra Design.

Antolini Luigi will be present at Stand C221 in Rashid Hall, at The Big 5.