Next level illuminated map

Are you in search of a world wall map that truly stands out, with cost being of secondary concern? Then this exquisite piece of wall decoration might pique your interest. While we previously delved into the stone map crafted from authentic Grigio Orobico marble, today's spotlight is on a similar model with an additional feature: the illuminated stone world map, a marble world map with stunning backlighting.

Diffused lighting through tempered glass

As detailed in one of our earlier posts, the stone world map is carefully cut using water-jet technology and reinforced with tempered glass on its rear surface. This glass not only fortifies the map and safeguards the delicate marble from damage but also serves another purpose. It allows light to pass through.

By affixing LED lights behind the overlapping panel and positioning the marble map with the glass backing over them, a breathtaking diffused backlight is achieved. A glimpse of the short clip below will likely conjure images of the striking spectacle that an illuminated stone world map could bring to your wall.

Illuminated marble world map

Shipping and installing

Undoubtedly, this impressive world map with backlighting commands a slightly higher price compared to its non-illuminated marble counterpart. However, the increase in price is not as significant as the impact of shipping has on the price. Due to the inclusion of an oversized panel housing the concealed backlighting, the shipping package dimensions are contingent upon the size of this panel. Consequently, larger package dimensions incur higher shipping costs, often necessitating transportation via pallets or wooden crates, which substantially affects the overall price.

On a positive note, the map's integration onto a single panel housing the backlighting means it can be installed as a unified piece, sparing the need for individual installation of continents and islands. Nevertheless, the total weight of this illuminated marble world map exceeds the feasibility of self-installation due to its substantial heft. While the installation process is straightforward, it is undoubtedly a two-person job owing to the weight involved.

Envisioning an exclusive world map like the illuminated stone world map crafted from Grigio Orobico marble? Don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Second generation stone map

In one of our earlier posts, you witnessed the creation of a world map crafted from a 2 cm (0.79 inch) thick slab of Grigio Orobico marble. This heavyweight champion was probably the most substantial world map ever made at this scale. However, due to its weight and the thickness of the stone, which posed significant challenges for transportation and installation, we found it necessary to make adjustments to the base design of the map.

Laser versus water-jet

When crafting a world map from any material, it's crucial to tailor the design to the specific map and choose an appropriate cutting technique. Most commonly, world maps, whether wooden or steel, are cut and engraved using laser technology. Wooden maps are typically crafted with a CO2 laser, while metal maps are cut by a fiber laser. Similarly, StoneCut world maps are often cut and engraved with a powerful CO2 laser. However, when dealing with a thick slab of genuine marble, neither CO2 nor fiber lasers suffice. Achieving the intricate precision required for detailed world maps necessitates the use of a water-jet. A water-jet is a CNC machine that operates similarly to a CNC router or laser but uses a high-pressure stream of water to cut through stone. The water-jet's strong cutting capabilities make it ideal for crafting world maps from large slabs of thick polished marble.

Some of you may already be familiar with the remarkable precision of laser cutting, capable of engraving with millimetre accuracy. However, the water-jet's beam is thicker and less precise, resulting in less detailed cutouts compared to laser-cut maps. This discrepancy in precision led to significant differences between the initial design and the technical drawings intended for maps made from other materials like wood and steel.

Returning to the drawing board

The fragility of the previous Grigio Orobico marble map posed several challenges during production and transportation, prompting the need for reinforced packing and careful handling. To ensure safe transport from Italy to our workshop in the Netherlands, extensive safety measures were made. Each continent and island is packed in styrofoam and housed in a specially designed wooden casing. Upon arrival, the wooden casing is lifted by crane near our workshop, where we finalise the product. Assembling a customised mounting kit, and preparing it for delivery to one of our clients.

The marble world map arriving by truck — ***Lifting marble world map by crane***

Recognising the relative fragility of the marble pieces representing continents and islands, we chose to reinforce the entire marble slab with tempered glass. This added layer substantially increased strength and reduced the risk of breakage during transit and installation. In the close-up photo below, you can see how the marble layer is securely affixed to the tempered glass, with only a five millimetre thickness used for this topping. Not only did this reinforcement enhance durability, but it also significantly reduced the overall weight of the map, facilitating easier installation. And the best part of all. The luxurious outcome is just as good as the marble map from the first generation. If not surpasses.

A close-up photo of the stone world map made out of Grigio Orobico marble with tempered glass — ***Close-up photo stone world map - Grigio Orobico marble*** **& tempered glass**

Stay tuned for our next post, where we'll dig into another remarkable advantage of this production tweak. One that will blow your mind.