FIND MARBLE-OUS INSPIRATION IN ITALY
Go Behind the Scenes with David Allan Charette to Discover Exquisite Marble at from Carrara Showrooms
- By Margaret Charette
- // Posted on
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David Allan Charette in Carrara, Italy
"The sculpture is already complete in the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there. I just have to chisel away the superfluous material."
MARBLE APPLICATIONS
Marble is widely used in our team’s interior designs, from countertops and backsplashes to shower enclosures, floors, and feature walls. So, when the teams at Marmoles Man Carrara and Franchi Umberto Marmi invited Britto Charette to learn more about the Carrara marble manufacturers and products of the region, Principal David Allan Charette was honored to accept their invitation.
The pre-Salone del Mobile event called WUNDERKAMMER² celebrated the confluence of art, design, and marble in immersive events that took place in the Crestola quarry and nearby showrooms. It was a very special way to introduce David and our team to the cutting-edge technologies being used to achieve refined marble designs.
Crestola quarry; photo by David Allan Charette
“The tour of Crestola quarry was fantastic. I was able to see new techniques that I had been reading about, including an AI-assisted technology that can make custom 3D sculptures at a competitive price.”
Alberto Franchi, owner of Crestola quarry, conceived Wunderkammer² as a way to create a cultural space within the quarry—a place for artistic vision to take shape in beautiful stone. “A place where the mountain ceases to be only a resource and reveals itself for what it truly is: memory, labor, identity.”
Photo by David Allan Charette
Carrara marble
Michelangelo, Dontaello, Bernini—Italian artists have been sculpting magic from Carrara marble for centuries. The Carrara region’s quarries house what is considered to be some of the world’s most precious marble, and just like the master sculptors of the past, today’s artists rely on the outstanding quality of Carrara marble for their modern masterpieces.
Visiting the Carrara District enabled David to learn from Marmoles Man and Franchi Umberto about the many marbles extracted from the quarries in northern Tuscany, including the darling of many of our clients, Calacatta, an ivory-colored marble with vivid veins and stripes in shades of grey to gold to purple when it is ground. One of our favorites is the Calacatta Viola with deep violet veins. Calacatta’s famous sibling, Statuario, is coveted for its small grey veins and was used by Michelangelo. The dark grey/blue marble, Bardiglio, and the lovely Arabescato are also quarried in Carrara and available from Marmoles Man.
Photo by David Allan Charette
CARRARA TOUR
Spiritus Montis
The first stop for David Allan was LITIX, where he and other guests viewed sculptures from Luciano Massari’s The Threshold of Silence. They also learned about the company’s ROBOTOR ONE-SPECIAL, a sculpting robot that has been the subject of some debate among artists. Later, in the Crestola quarry, guests looked on as Filippo Tincolini and ROBOTOR created a feminine form in real-time on the quarry wall. The performance was historic, showcasing the first marble work ever created “live” inside a quarry.
ROBOTOR in action at Crestola quarry in Italy; photo by David Allan Charette
Also inside the Crestola quarry, David Allan had the opportunity to engage with many marble and marble-related artworks, including Michelangelo Pistoletto’s The Reintegrated Apple, Giuseppe Veneziano’s White Slave, and Laura Veschi’s Anatomy of Wonder.
Photo by David Allan Charette
The Stone Bar at Crestola Quarry; photo by David Allan Charette
Giuseppe Califano performs at Crestola quarry; photo by David Allan Charette
A Symphony of Marble and Music
Later in the evening, the quarry became an ethereal backdrop for a concert by Giuseppe Califano. Music from Morricone, Piovani, Einaudi, and other Italian composers echoed through the quarry as Califano played on a “stage” illuminated by four thousand candles, a vision curated by Martinelli Luce that created an unforgettable ambiance. Guests were also treated to dinner in the quarry, with drinks and music in the spectacular Stone Bar.
Crestola quarry; photo by David Allan Charette
The final day of David’s itinerary was capped off with a tour of the Carrara District and a great brunch at the Franchi Umberto showroom.
Bringing Marble Mastery to Home Designs
David told our team that WUNDERKAMMER² was not only fascinating but also incredibly informative. Seeing the blend of traditional craftsmanship with innovative techniques provided him with a wealth of inspiration for creating our team’s elegant interiors. And the insights he gained will help inform clients as they choose the perfect marble applications for their home designs.
“WUNDERKAMMER² was an extraordinary event—a beautiful expression of artistic excellence and innovation in marble.”
Heartfelt Thanks and Connections
We would like to extend our gratitude to the teams at Marmoles Man, Franchi Umberto, and Litix for organizing and hosting such a remarkable event. A special shoutout goes to Beatrice and Tommaso for their exceptional coordination and communication with David Allan and our team.
Grazie mille!
Learn more
Interested in learning more about the organizations involved in the 2026 WUNDERKAMMER² event? Click on the links below to follow them on social media:
Marmoles Man: @marmolesman
Franchi Umberto: @franchiumbertomarmi
Litix: @litixtech
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