Grand Antique Polished Marble Slab | AIR 7 mm

The Grand Antique AIR Lightweight Technology marble slab is a natural stone of rare aesthetic power and exceptional architectural history, now available in a revolutionary format of just 7 mm thickness. Quarried from the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in South-West France — the only region in the world where this authentic marble is found — Grand Antique impresses with its dramatic and immediately recognisable contrast: an intense, deep obsidian-black base, streaked with wide and expressive pure white veins that create a fractured and dramatic pattern, reminiscent of an abstract tableau of exceptional visual power. Used in royal palaces, museums and architectural monuments around the world since the era of Ancient Rome, Grand Antique remains one of the most prized and recognised luxury marbles in the world.

AIR Lightweight technology represents a revolutionary innovation in the world of natural stone: through advanced technical processes, the natural Grand Antique marble is thinned to just a few millimetres and structurally consolidated with an ultra-lightweight support — aluminium honeycomb panel, fibreglass or high-density epoxy foam — resulting in a final slab of 7 mm with a weight approximately 3 times lower than a classic 2 cm slab, yet with the same structural resistance and the same authentic visual appearance of natural marble.

Technical specifications:

• Material: Natural Grand Antique marble + ultra-lightweight structural support (AIR technology)
• Marble origin: Pyrenees Mountains, South-West France
• Base colour: Intense, deep obsidian-black
• Veins: Pure white, expressive, wide — dramatic fractured pattern
• Technology: AIR Lightweight — natural marble thinned and structurally consolidated
• Total thickness: 7 mm
• Weight: ~16–20 kg/m² (compared to ~54 kg/m² for a classic 2 cm slab)
• Format: Slab — large format panel (variable dimensions)
• Structural support: Aluminium honeycomb panel / fibreglass / epoxy foam (depending on technical variant)
• Compressive strength: Similar to solid marble
• Recommended use: Interior — wall applications, furniture, decorative elements, lightweight cladding

What is AIR Lightweight technology?

AIR Lightweight technology enables the use of authentic natural marble in contexts and applications where a classic 2 cm slab would be impossible to install due to weight or structural constraints. The process involves thinning the natural marble to a thickness of 3–7 mm and structurally consolidating it with an ultra-lightweight and ultra-resistant support — most commonly an aluminium honeycomb panel, fibreglass or epoxy resin and glass microsphere foam. The result is a panel with the same authentic visual surface of natural marble, with the same compressive strength, but with a weight 3 times lower — opening up revolutionary application possibilities.

Applications:

The reduced weight and minimal thickness of AIR technology open up application possibilities impossible to achieve with a classic slab:

• Interior wall cladding — including on substrates that cannot support the weight of classic marble
• Furniture cladding, doors, headboards and luxury interior elements
• Decorative accent panels and maximum-impact feature walls
• Reception areas, boutique hotels, lounges, spas and ultra-premium commercial spaces
• Nautical (yacht) and aeronautical applications — where weight is a critical factor
• Renovations and refurbishments — direct installation over existing cladding due to reduced weight
• Furniture surfaces where classic marble would be too heavy or too thick
• Decorative architectural elements

Advantages of AIR technology over the classic slab:

• ~3 times lower weight — significantly easier transport, handling and installation
• Total thickness of 7 mm — installation possible in spaces where available depth is limited
• Same authentic visual surface of natural Grand Antique marble
• Structural resistance equivalent to solid marble
• Possibility of installation on substrates that cannot support the weight of classic stone
• Reduced transport costs and fewer people required for installation
• Optimal use of rare natural marble resources — 2–3 times more surface coverage obtained from each block

Design tip:

The dramatic black-and-white contrast of Grand Antique marble works exceptionally well in contemporary minimalist interiors, where the stone becomes the central element. It combines perfectly with matt black or chrome metals, natural or smoked wood tones, grey exposed concrete and textiles in white, grey and black tones. Thanks to AIR technology, Grand Antique can now also be used as furniture or interior door cladding — applications impossible to achieve with a classic slab — dramatically extending the design possibilities with this legendary marble.

Maintenance and care:

The natural marble surface of AIR slabs is cared for identically to a classic slab: cleaning with neutral detergents (pH 7), periodic impregnation with a hydrophobic and oleophobic product specifically designed for natural stone. Acidic or abrasive products should be avoided. Avoid impacts to the edges of the panels — the reduced thickness makes them more vulnerable to direct impacts on the edge.

Professional tip:

Due to the composite structure, AIR Lightweight panels require high-quality epoxy adhesives or flexible adhesives recommended by the manufacturer — cement-based adhesives are not recommended. The substrate must be perfectly flat and stable. Consultation with a specialist experienced in ultra-lightweight marble installation is mandatory before commencing work.