Why can a manufacturer who uses alabaster guarantee that fixtures will match?
Alabaster is quarried. It is a natural material. Unlike marble or granite, it is found in thin veins, 6″ to 20″ deep. Marble and granite can be found in huge deposits. So, they can be cut in matching tiles. Alabaster is delivered to the factory in huge rocks weighing from 30 lbs. to almost a ton. Much of it must be cut away to reveal the translucent material that can be used for lighting. So, some may be almost completely milky white, and others may have beautiful veining. To get the matching pieces for a single chandelier, the larger rocks are cut into slices. They are then cut apart into the sizes necessary for each alabaster piece. They are worked on a lathe to cut out the individual shapes. Up to 75 percent of the rock must be cut away.
