Types of Stone
All our bathroom washbasins are made from genuine natural stone — sourced directly from quarries in Norway and around the world. Here is an overview of the stones you'll find in our collection, what makes each one unique and what you can expect from them in the bathroom.
Larvikite
Larvikite is an exclusive Norwegian volcanic stone formed 300 million years ago in the Larvik region of Vestfold. What makes larvikite completely unique is the phenomenon of labradorescence — a natural play of blue and ice-blue crystals in the surface that shifts colour with the light in the room. No other stone in the world has this quality.
Larvikite is one of Norway's most exported natural stones and has been used on the facade of One World Trade Center in New York and in major international construction projects around the world. It has been designated a Global Heritage Stone Resource by the International Union of Geological Sciences.
Larvikite is one of the densest and most durable natural stones available. It has very low porosity and almost no water absorption — making it naturally resistant to moisture and stains without any sealing. It requires minimal maintenance and is exceptionally well suited to daily use in the bathroom.
At ELVV you'll find larvikite in Lundhs Emerald and Lundhs Royal.
Anorthosite
Anorthosite is a rare igneous rock formed close to one billion years ago — one of the oldest stone types in our collection. The stone is quarried from Sirevåg in Rogaland and has a warm brown background with a fascinating play of blue and turquoise crystals in the surface.
As a dense igneous rock, anorthosite has very low porosity and good natural resistance to moisture and stains. It is clearly distinct from larvikite in both colour and character — where larvikite is cool and dramatic, anorthosite is warm and earthy.
At ELVV you'll find anorthosite in Lundhs Antique.
Norwegian Marble from Fauske
Fauske marble is one of the world's most exclusive natural stones — formed between 450 and 525 million years ago in Fauske in Nordland. The marble is quarried directly from the quarry by Fauske Marble by Moser and has been used in iconic buildings and interiors around the world, including the Landmark Hotel London and the UN Headquarters in New York.
Fauske marble is known for its high durability and very low water absorption compared to other marble types — making it particularly well suited to bathroom use. It is frost resistant and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
We offer two varieties of Fauske marble:
- Norwegian Rose — world-renowned pink and white marble with a natural colour pattern.
- Hermelin — light grey Norwegian marble with a natural blended texture in grey, white and subtle greenish tones. Used in the floors of Oslo Airport Gardermoen and the facade of the ISS headquarters.
See all Norwegian stone washbasins.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock formed from limestone under high pressure and temperature over millions of years. What makes marble so visually unique are the natural colour bands and patterns — the result of minerals and prehistoric organisms pressed into the stone during its formation.
Marble is somewhat more porous than volcanic stones like basalt and granite. We recommend sealing at installation and once a year to protect against stains and moisture — a simple treatment that takes around ten minutes. Clean easily with mild soap and water.
At ELVV you'll find marble from Turkey, Spain and Namibia in various colours and shapes. See all international stone washbasins.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed from the remains of prehistoric marine organisms — shells, coral and microorganisms that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. Look closely at the surface of a limestone washbasin and you may find natural fossil imprints from these organisms.
Limestone is a relatively porous stone type and we recommend sealing at installation to protect against moisture and stains. With the right treatment limestone is easy to maintain and stays beautiful for many years. It has a naturally warm and earthy colour that works well in Scandinavian and minimalist interiors.
At ELVV you'll find limestone from the Black Sea region and Egypt. See all international stone washbasins.
Basalt
Basalt is a volcanic rock with a deep, natural dark grey to black colour. It is one of the densest and hardest natural stones available — with extremely low porosity and superior resistance to moisture, stains and daily wear. Basalt is actually denser than granite and requires no sealing.
The outside of the basalt washbasin preserves the stone's natural raw character while the inside is smooth and comfortable in use. Clean easily with mild soap and water.
See BASALTO.
Andesite
Andesite is a volcanic rock named after the Andes mountains in South America where the stone type was first classified — but it is found in volcanic regions around the world. Our andesite comes from Indonesia. The stone has a dark grey, fine-grained texture with a natural glittering quality in the surface.
Andesite is an extremely hard and dense volcanic stone with low porosity and good natural resistance to moisture and stains. It is exceptionally durable and well suited to daily bathroom use. Clean with mild soap and water — no sealing required.
See GARI.
Granite
Granite is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones available — formed deep in the earth's crust under extremely high pressure over millions of years. With low porosity and high resistance to heat, frost and daily wear, granite is one of the most durable materials you can choose for the bathroom.
Granite is naturally resistant to scratches, moisture and stains. The natural grey colour with fine-grained texture gives granite washbasins a timeless and solid expression. Clean easily with mild soap and water — no sealing required.
See YURI and RIMA.
Onyx
Onyx is a rare and exclusive natural stone with semi-transparent properties that give it a unique depth and warmth. Honey Brown Onyx has a characteristic honey-brown to golden-brown colour with natural nuances that give the washbasin a warm and exclusive expression.
Onyx is a hard natural stone but somewhat more brittle than granite and basalt. We recommend sealing to protect against stains and moisture. Onyx is one of the most distinctive stones we carry — no other stone type produces the same visual effect.
See NERA.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed from sand grains pressed together over millions of years. It has a naturally muted colour and a fine-grained texture that gives the surface an organic and earthy expression. Sandstone is more porous than volcanic stones and we recommend sealing to protect against moisture and stains.
See IJAN 40.
Belgian Black Stone
Belgian Black Stone — also known as Petit Granit or Belgian Blue Stone — is a limestone from Belgium with a deep, natural black colour that runs through the entire stone. The colour is not surface treated or painted — it is natural and will never fade or wear away.
The stone is extremely hard and dense and has been used in Belgian and European architecture for hundreds of years. We recommend sealing at installation for best protection against moisture and stains.
See BELL.
River Stone
River stone consists of naturally rounded stones shaped by rivers and water currents over thousands of years. Each stone is naturally unique in shape and colour — no two river stone washbasins are exactly alike. The stones come from rivers on Bali in Indonesia and have a natural, organic form that brings a warm and unique expression to the bathroom.
Want to learn more?
Visit our Stone Knowledge blog for articles about natural stone, maintenance and how to choose the right washbasin for your bathroom.