Types of Stone and Material
Stone Inventory
We currently sell statues made from five different types of stone, each one offering
its own unique qualities:
Black mountain stone (granite igneous)
Granite characteristics include strength and durability. This natural stone possesses
a sleek, rich feel and is typically smooth to the touch. It is one of the oldest,
hardest, and strongest stones available; a truly beautiful natural stone that exudes
strength and longevity. Usually our granite pieces are light grey (some with a rose
hue) in color with fine-grain pattern. However, since they are each cut from a different
piece of stone, they vary in color and sometimes contain unique veins and textures.
Black lava stone (scoria igneous)
Igneous rock, also known as volcanic rock, is formed by the cooling of magma or
lava. The lava stone typically chosen for our statuary ranges in texture and grain
from fine to semi-coarse, and is then worked smooth by the artist’s hands. Most
often this stone appears in rich, warm brown and black tones.
Green river stone (conglomerate sedimentary)
Conglomerate rocks are composed of fragments of pre-existing minerals and
rock fragments. This beautiful, solid stone ranges in color from light brown to
deep green and often has a complex, intricate grain structure containing a variety
of stone strata, veins and webbing.
Limestone and Brexistone (sedimentary)
Sedimentary rock in large part is composed of calcium carbonate. Limestone
is ordinarily white or creamy beige, but may be colored by impurities, such
as carbon making it blue, black, or gray (like the grey layers often found in
brexistone). The texture varies from coarse to fine; our statuary is worked
to a smooth finish and typically has a very tight, fine grain. Limestone deposits
are frequently of great thickness allowing for large, beautiful pieces of art.
Marble (metamorphic rock)
Metamorphic rock forms are composed of coarse crystals from parent limestone
or dolostone rocks. Pure marble is white and composed of the mineral calcite,
but there are many varieties that contain a range of gray, black and cream
colors marbled in. The rich, luxurious stone has long been popular for sculpting
and grand construction because of its beauty and relative softness.
Other Materials Represented in our Inventory
Composite Stone
Composite stone is a refined architectural composite material crafted
from white and/or grey cements, natural sands, carefully selected crushed
stone or well graded natural gravels and mineral coloring pigments to achieve
the desired color and appearance to simulate natural cut stone, while maintaining
durable physical properties. Composite stone is often used in masonry applications
as an architectural feature, trim, ornament or facing for buildings or other
structures, and can either be hand-carved from a preformed block or poured into a well-crafted cast mould.
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy, with the main additive usually being tin or
copper. This is a particularly hard and luxurious metal that was extremely
significant in antiquity, enough to name the Bronze Age after the metal.
Throughout history, bronze has been used for tools, weapons, armor, certain
decorative building material, boat and ship fittings and sculpture.
Brass
Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, is easily shaped, stamped and deep
drawn. It has excellent forming and drawing properties and good strength.
Brass containing different elements can differ in characteristics such as
surface smoothness and ease and quality of sculpting. In general, brass
is impervious to most common conditions. However prolonged exterior exposure
and substantial abrasion can affect the surface finish and it tends to become
more yellow when exposed to high temperatures. Brass has long been a favorite
material for decorative items.
Suar Wood (Saman Samanea)
Suar Trees, with the botanical name Saman Samanea, are easily recognized
in Indonesia by their characteristic umbrella shaped canopy. This tree grows
in many different countries, including Indonesia and Hawaii and usually
reaches heights of 50 - 80 feet. Suar is a non-endangered and fast growing
tropical hardwood. Suar has a beautiful crisscross, interlocking grain which
reduces the possibility of cracking, called checking, that can occur when
wood is exposed to climactic changes. This lustrous wood can range in color
from warm reddish hues to deep, rich honey tones.
Suar wood is used frequently for large sculptures and furniture and compares
favorably to woods such as Black Walnut.
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