Polished onyx with soft translucent layers

Marble, Onyx and Travertine: A Guide to Our Stones

Every sasso&lume piece starts with a stone. The three you'll see most often in our collection are marble, onyx and travertine. They are related, yet each has its own look, texture and relationship with light.

Marble

Black marble with fine white veining
Black marble with fine white veining.

Marble is a metamorphic stone: limestone transformed over a very long time by heat and pressure. That process creates its signature veining, the flowing lines that run through every slab. No two pieces share the same pattern.

Marble names usually describe a look rather than a place. Calacatta Viola, for example, describes a pale stone with bold violet-toned veins. You'll find it in pieces like the Alzata pedestal bowl.

Best for: a classic, architectural look on coffee tables, consoles and dining tables.

Onyx

Polished banded onyx with wavy layers of gold, white and brown
Polished banded onyx with wavy layers of gold, white and brown.

The onyx used in decor is a banded stone with soft layers of color. Its most striking quality is translucency: when light passes through it, the stone seems to glow from within and its inner bands come alive. That is why onyx is a favorite for lighting.

Our Lumetta lamp is available in White Onyx as well as Calacatta Viola, and our Cubetto cube lamp comes in Honey Onyx.

Best for: lamps and pieces where you want warmth and glow.

Travertine

Travertine tiles with natural banding and pores
Travertine tiles with natural banding and pores.

Travertine is a limestone formed by mineral springs. As it forms, it traps tiny bubbles of water and gas, which leave its typical pores and small cavities. Its palette is warm and earthy: cream, sand, honey and soft beige.

Travertine has a relaxed, organic feel. It works beautifully in lighting such as the Paralume table lamp and the Ombretta wall sconce.

Best for: warm, natural interiors, from Japandi to Mediterranean-inspired rooms.

How to choose

  • Want drama and pattern? Choose marble with strong veining.
  • Want glow? Choose onyx, especially for a lamp.
  • Want warmth and texture? Choose travertine.

Natural means unique

Because every piece is cut from real stone, the veining, color and markings on yours will differ from the photos. We see that as the point: you're getting a piece that exists only once.

All three stones are calcium-based and sensitive to acids. See our care guide to keep them looking their best.

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