Marble headstones in Tbilisi - white marble, sculpture, crosses and memorials for children

Marble or granite: an honest comparison

Marble is softer than granite, and that is both its strength and its weakness. A softer stone lets the carver shape folds of cloth, wings, flowers and facial features, which on granite would be almost impossible or very costly. On the other hand, marble is more porous and absorbs water, moss and dirt more easily. A family choosing marble should therefore know from the start that the stone will need regular care.

Many families combine the two: a marble cross or sculpture standing on a granite plinth. Such a memorial has the beauty of marble and the strength of a granite base, and the plinth stops moisture from the soil reaching the more delicate stone. There is a fuller comparison in our article on granite or marble.

Shapes and prices

Lettering up to sixty characters is included; anything longer costs 3 GEL per character. A photo ceramic or a carved bas-relief portrait is priced separately according to its size and technique.

A marble memorial for a child

For a child's grave, families almost always choose a light-coloured stone, and white marble is the most natural choice. The memorial is usually small, and its shape reflects what the family feels: a heart, an open book, a little angel, a dove or a flower. Our designer discusses this sketch with the family with special tenderness, and sometimes carves into the stone the shape of a favourite toy or one of the child's own drawings. We never rush the timeline or the revisions on these orders, and the price is agreed with each family individually.

Making it, step by step

1. Conversation and idea: the family describes how they picture the memorial and shows us photos they like. At this stage we often suggest a combined design if an all-marble one goes beyond the budget.
2. Site visit: at the cemetery our craftsman checks how damp the spot is, whether it lies in shade or sun, and what height is allowed. In a damp, shady place we set the marble on a tall granite plinth.
3. Sketch and model: for a stele we send a 3D image within three days; for a sculpture we sometimes make a small clay or digital model so the family can see the form from every side.
4. Choosing the stone: white marble has its own veining - some slabs are almost pure white, others have grey lines running through them. The family picks the slab in our stone yard.
5. Carving and finishing: a stele takes two to three weeks, a hand-carved figure four to eight. At the end the stone is sealed.
6. Installation: on a reinforced foundation, with a granite or marble plinth, during the warm season. At handover the family receives written care instructions.

Kinds of white marble

"White marble" is not a single stone. In our yard you will see almost pure, snow-white slabs, which are best for sculpture and children's memorials, and stone with soft grey veins, which looks natural and hides small marks better. There is also cream marble with a warm tone that glows golden in the sun. The family chooses the stone, and the craftsman helps place the veins attractively so that they do not cross the portrait or the lettering.

An angel or sculpture takes shape

Unlike an ordinary stele, a sculptural memorial is carved by hand over several weeks. First the sculptor and the family decide on the pose, the expression of the face and the details: the shape of the wings, the folds of the robe, a flower or a cross in the hands. A digital or clay model is then made for the family to approve. During carving, most of the stone is removed with a saw and machine tools, while the face, hands and folds are finished by hand with fine chisels in the final stage. Relatives are welcome to visit the sculptor and watch with their own eyes as the figure emerges from the block.

Caring for marble

Looking after marble is easy as long as it is done regularly. In spring and autumn, wash the memorial with warm water, a neutral soap and a soft sponge, then rinse with clean water. Never use vinegar, lemon, bleach or abrasives: marble is a limestone-based rock, and acid leaves its surface permanently dull. Do not place candles and wax directly on the stone, and stand flower pots on a saucer so water does not leave marks. Once a year the stone needs a protective solution, and our crew does this work, if you wish under an annual plan with a reminder sent to the family.

If a memorial has already yellowed or become covered in moss, in most cases it can be restored: specialist cleaning, light polishing and a new seal bring the whiteness back.

Lettering on marble

On marble the inscription is usually cut deep and filled with black, dark blue or gold paint so it can be read from a distance against the white background. A classic option is applied bronze lettering, which looks particularly elegant on a white marble surface. The Asomtavruli script, the old Georgian capital letters, sits very harmoniously on a marble cross or a church-style memorial. During the annual care visit we check the paint in the incised letters and touch it up where needed so the inscription always stays sharp.

Marble and the Tbilisi climate

In Tbilisi the main enemy of marble is not frost but damp and shade. In parts of a cemetery where trees cast shade all day and rainwater collects, moss appears on the stone more quickly. That is why the craftsman looks at the spot with exactly this in mind during the site visit, and if it is very wet we recommend a combined memorial or a drainage layer under the grave to carry the water away. In an open, sunny position, marble keeps its whiteness for decades with minimal care.

Frequently asked questions