LITHOSTONE
A UNIQUE TRADITION
LITHOSTONE
A UNIQUE TRADITION
SOLNHOFEN Natural Stone suddenly became world famous in 1798 with the invention of lithography. Today, this legendary stone is not only in demand by artists as LITHOSTONE, but also by people seeking exclusive natural flooring worldwide.
ABOUT THE STONE
SOLNHOFEN Natural Stone is an incredibly tough limestone slab.
It is considered the finest material globally for making lithographic printing plates. All LITHOSTONE used worldwide today originates from the Solnhofen Stone Group.
SOLNHOFEN Natural Stone is an incredibly tough limestone slab. It is considered the finest material globally for making lithographic printing plates. All LITHOSTONE used worldwide today originates from the Solnhofen Stone Group.
THE PRINTING PROCESS
Every printing method requires a printing template, a medium containing the content to print. In lithographic printing, a lithographic stone is used for this purpose. This invention by Alois Senefelder in 1798 revolutionised the world of visual communication, much like the invention of letterpress printing once transformed the distribution of written texts. Skilled artists with a keen eye for detail worked on lithographic stones and crafted templates for later colour applications in individual pictures, resulting in vibrant overall images. From the Münchner Kindl to the Bremen Town Musicians, all these historical images were once created using the famous LITHOSTONE from Solnhofen.
LITHOGRAPHY TODAY
While lithography as a mass printing method is no longer prevalent, it remains highly sought after by artists. The SSG Solnhofen Stone Group now possesses thousands of LITHOSTONES, serving as a source of inspiration for contemporary artists. Lithographic stones continue to be the foundation for creating exceptional artworks.