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Rediscovering Lapis Specularis

An almost forgotten material from the age of the Romans meets contemporary design.

The brand new project “Dark Ages” by Davide G. Aquini will be introduced during the fuorisalone in Milan 4-9 April 2017 – Spazio Cavaliere, via del Bollo 3, 5Vie District – thanks to Parco Regionale della Vena del Gesso Romagnola, Saint-Gobain PPC Italia and Apuana Corporate.

Lapis Specularis

This “rediscovered” material called lapis specularis, a transparent gypsum easy to cut even with a knife, was used by the ancient Romans for windows and greenhouses, and it has been forgotten, or confused with glass, during the Middle Ages.

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Cutting Lapis Specularis

The real challenge of the project is to rebuild the chain of extraction and processing of this material, unused for centuries (or millennia). For this reason Apuana Corporate has been involved; they are the network of artisans in Carrara, the maximum experts in working stone, marble and minerals.

Thanks to Parco Regionale della Vena del Gesso Romagnola, Saint-Gobain PPC Italia and Apuana Corporate.