Posted in Minoli
27th November 2023
Showcased prominently at the Cersaie 2023 International Exhibition of Ceramics were several standout porcelain tile series with precious marble and gemstone effects. Minoli’s top-flight production partners have prioritised research and development to progress these next level representations of the most sought-after stoneware and it’s the purity and precision personified in their production that will drive future demand.
When describing marble, ‘pure’ is an often-used term, for instance in the context of ‘pure white marble’. Natural marble is a metamorphic rock, most commonly formed when limestone, or sometimes dolomite, is subjected to extreme heat and pressure, which causes the recrystallisation and fusing of the various constituent minerals. In short, the purer the limestone, the more unadulterated and homogeneously white the surface will be.
However, it’s the presence of other minerals, such as clay, silt, sand, iron or chert, that also give marble its uniquely coloured characteristics, in the form of soft or striking veins, or distinctive overall pigmentation. Iron oxide delivers yellow and brown inclusions, iron and feldspar combine to create pink and red variants, serpentine presents a green shade and porphyry will bring a violet hue. Gold, pink and even blue marbles also get their shades from different mineral deposits, such as lazulite, calcite and pyrite.
Rather than consider these to be unwanted impurities, leading designers in the Italian ceramics industry have chosen to celebrate and exquisitely augment the resultant colours and surface features. Across the diverse Minoli portfolio of marble-effect porcelain products, there’s a vast array of designs that emulate the most renowned and rare stoneware including classic white Calacatta and Statuario, but also the greys of Bardiglio and Fior Di Bosco, the gold of Calacatta Oro and Imperiale, or those inspired by the tints and tones of gemstones such as Ammazonite, Lapis Lazuli and Labradorite.
In this case, the purity that’s sought is in the production values of graphic resolution, transparent layering, colour saturation and intensity, delicacy of detail and diversity of pattern frequency. Whilst faithfully reinterpreting the natural nuances and irregular features of the organic originals, their reproduction in porcelain allows for undesirable imperfections to be edited out, and consistency of flawless finish and calibrated formats to be engineered in.
This symbiosis between natural inspiration and technical ambition is delightfully demonstrated in the new Minoli Jolie Series. Purposefully produced in larger tile formats and expansive slabs to amplify their intrinsic impact, they are distinguished by distinctive designs, intricate detailing and reflective radiance.
Across seven stunning colourways, we see sublimely soft background shading, with pale or prominent veining, and tones that range from warm to cool, and light to dark, including white or cream with silver and copper-gold streaks, pale and graphite grey, and an alluring alpine green.
Depending on the design, the finishes include a polished Lappato or Brushed effect, both with a luxurious lustre and all with precisely rectified edges for exact installation in modern built environments, be they residential or commercial.
Jolie may have been inspired by a material made famous in ancient art and architecture, but these cutting-edge creations have remarkable resonance with today’s contemporary interior design directions. With products like these, it’s no wonder that marble-effect porcelain is already an established essential, and the ranges Minoli have selected for launch in 2024 will further extend their trend-setting credentials.
We will be publishing full details and specifications of these new ranges for launch in 2024 in due course, along with timelines for sample availability and ordering. In the meantime, if you would like to register your early interest or request to be informed when samples become available, please contact our showroom or account teams:
Minoli Oxford – 01865 778225 / showroom@minoli.co.uk
Minoli London – 020 7474 2934 / thesurfacewithin@minoli.co.uk
Corporate Clients – Please contact your account manager directly / developers@minoli.co.uk
Outdoor Specific Product Enquiries – 01865 778225 / outdoor@minoli.co.uk