Salvatori is celebrating its 80th anniversary at Milan Design Week 2026 with Founded in Gold, a showroom installation centred on heritage, craftsmanship and the revival of a rare marble once largely forgotten by the market.
Hosted at the company's historic Via Solferino 11 showroom in Brera, the presentation combines new product launches with a retrospective narrative tracing Salvatori's evolution since its founding in 1946.
© Salvatori
Albe d'Or returns as hero material
At the heart of the installation is Albe d'Or, a silver-grey marble distinguished by vertical golden veining.
Widely used between the 1920s and 1950s before fading from prominence, the stone has been reintroduced by Salvatori under exclusive rights. The company says its visual appeal lies in the way raking daylight activates the golden veins, creating a changing surface effect over time.
The reissue reflects a broader luxury interiors movement toward rediscovered stones, provenance-led materials and finishes with historical character.
Existing collections refreshed in new marble
Albe d'Or is being applied across several existing ranges, including The Small Hours bathroom collection by Patricia Urquiola, the Tratti surface system by Elisa Ossino and the Baia shower tray collection.
Originally launched in 2024, The Small Hours combines marble with metal elements such as shelves, tops and splashbacks, shifting bathroom design away from mono-material schemes toward layered contrasts.
Within the Milan installation, Salvatori uses the new stone to give the collection a warmer, more precious identity.
New tapware through strategic collaboration
The company is also extending beyond stone through a renewed partnership with Fantini Rubinetti.
Together with Elisa Ossino, the brands introduce Margherita, a brass tapware collection inspired by public drinking fountains. Circular handles and pared-back geometries position the range within the growing minimalist-luxury bathroom segment.
Available finishes include Matt Gun Metal PVD, Pure Brass PVD and Raw Metal PVD.
Eight decades of stone innovation
Founded in Querceta, Tuscany, Salvatori built its reputation by repositioning natural stone as a design material rather than a purely structural one.
The company highlights innovations such as the 1950s Spaccatello textured finish and Lithoverde®, a recycled stone material launched in 2010. Today Salvatori operates in more than 35 countries, with flagship showrooms in Milan, London and New York.
Industry significance
Rather than relying on entirely new product launches, Salvatori's anniversary strategy uses archival material, signature collaborations and showroom storytelling to reinforce brand equity. In a design market increasingly focused on authenticity and material longevity, that combination of heritage and innovation gives natural stone renewed relevance in contemporary interiors.
More information:
Salvatori
www.salvatoriofficial.com
