pietrasanta-advice needed

["Clive Murray-White" <clivemw@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Dear Rod,

I got the distinct impression when I was there that the better quality
marble was almost always owned by the various studios because they had deals
with the quarriers. Rossi, Sem and Cervieti are all next to each other. I
didn't notice many fluent English speakers while I was there.

Getting stone for people was one of the things Lynne Streeter (fluent
Italian speaker) was doing at Rossi's. Once bits of stone were selected and
cut to size they'd ring the packer who would turn up with all the raw
materials and construct exactly the right sized crate in a matter of
minutes.

In short they've got everything they need to send stone anywhere in the
world at very short notice.

It surprises me that its only a 1000kms from UK to Tuscany, I'd call that an
easy day's drive, freeway all the way. You will have to go to choose your
stone. One thing to be very aware of when you are carrying stone over long
distances is that it can grind the back of the truck away! So always pack it
properly.

Just to put distance into some perspective the marble I use is about 3500kms
 from where I live that's why I buy it by the 20 Tonne Semi load.

I have heard that Customs can be a problem with stone because people have
been known to drill holes in it and pack it full of drugs.

We've had the "buying stone v owning all the equipment to dig it up
yourself" topic many times before. I think buying it is cheaper.

Stone isn't a very expensive material, I pay about AU $1500 per Tonne approx
GBP 600 that includes travelling 3500kms to select it, air fares, hire car
hotels etc  having it loaded and shipped back and unloaded at my studio of
course it gets much more expensive if you by it 500kgs at a time.

Best regards Clive

Sculptor Clive Murray-White
Web: http://www.cowwarr.com/CliveMurray-White/