The alabaster industry center is in Volterra, near Florence, Italy.
The alabaster from Volterra is the finest in the world. Alabaster is calcium sulphate hydrate CaSO4 2H20 and dates back to the miocene period, 26 to 7 million years ago. A tender stone measuring 2 on the Mohs scale, alabaster is exclusively carved by hand. The artisans in Volterra can be divided into artisans specializing in turning, squaring, ornaments, animals and sculpture. The oval blocks of the various types of alabaster are cut, divided and carved according to the required article. It is very interesting to observe the different working techniques, the clouds of white dust emanating from the turner's tools, the chips of alabaster flying from the sculptor's hand, the step by step creation of an article in the skilled hands of the ornament list and then finally the finishing touches. The works are faced and polished with a special paste made from shell and crustaceum dust mixed with an oily solution made up of natural spermaceti, vaseline oil, whitened wax and colophony which serves to enhance the translucent and veined qualities of the stone. These working techniques are unique to Volterra and have been used to magically transform this fascinating stone for more than 2,500 years.
THE PROPER CARE OF ALABASTER OBJECTS
Alabaster is a stone of precious aesthetic value. However, due to its chemical composition as well as the delicate workmanship to which it is subjected, alabaster must be carefully treated if it is to be properly preserved over the years:
• handle with care: even slight blows can cause breakage, cracking and chipping at the more delicate points on the object.
• never wash with water (not even with a slightly dampened cloth), liquid detergents or alcoholic or corrosive substances: the immediate risk is to ruin the finish, but with time, the stone itself can be eaten away.
• do not use alabaster objects as receptacles for moist or acid food (fruit, vegetables ere.). Alabaster vases may hold dry flowers or decorative branches. hot for fresh flowers, vases should be equipped with glass or plastic liners.
• don't leave out of doors, exposed to humidity, rain, pollution.
• keep object away from sources of heat such as stoves and heaters and from steam, because the stone "cooks", losing transparency and sheen.
HOW TO CLEAN AND PRESERVE ALABASTER OBJECTS
Alabaster is a very porous stone endowed with a characteristic amount of humidity. The traditional polishing technique - to which our objects have been subjected – does not alter these physical properties.
Just like fine wood and leather, therefore, alabaster must be cleaned and treated exclusively with grease-based substances capable of penetrating the porosity, thus protecting the stone's compactness and internal chemistry.
Neutral furniture waxes, vaseline and other delicate oils, as well as rich (greasy) skin creams are all suitable for the cleaning of alabaster.
Before the treatment, however, it is useful to leave the stone in the sun (or near a moderate and diffused source or heat) for several hours, as the warm stone is more likely to absorb the nutritive substances.
In the event that superficial blemishes appear, cover the spot for several hours with a cotton ball soaked in liquid vaseline.