Marble Carving of Abraham Lincoln by Robotic Machine

The team at Petrillo Stone is excited to have obtained a robotic carving machine to use in our shop! I have always been completely enthralled and taken by the beauty that Romans and Etruscans were able to produce. While their carvings took them decades, our new robotic machine will allow us to create beautiful works of art in a very short amount of time. Honest Abe in Marble Marble busts and statues have been a traditional and beautiful element of art for centuries, and so we thought it was the right choice for the first project of our new robotic…

Custom, Hand-Carved Gold Leafed Limestone at Fordham University

The team at Petrillo Stone was recently contacted by Fordham University to return to a building we have worked on many times before. In addition to the two beautiful Limestone carvings we have added over the last two years, the university wanted a special project completed to honor Father Joseph McShane, the former president of Fordham University. Using a denser form of Limestone -Portuguese limestone – our team used 24-karat gold leaf to date the side of the McShane Building. While this took several weeks from start to finish, the contrast of the gold with the natural dark veining of…

Exploring The Many Uses of Stone

As a stoneworker, I have witnessed the timeless elegance and enduring strength that stone brings to various construction and design projects. From historic monuments to modern residential structures, stone has left an indelible mark on our architectural landscape, showcasing its incredible versatility. I am excited to explore the many applications of stone in masonry and share some insights with you. Here are some ways we utilize stone for both businesses and homes: Facades: Stone facades radiate sophistication and offer endless customization options. Whether adorning homes or commercial buildings, the natural allure of stone elevates curb appeal and leaves a lasting…

Favorite Projects from 2022

Every year goes by faster and faster, but every year I am able to work with the most incredible clients to enhance their buildings or preserve historical architecture. In 2022, our team worked on many projects, but a couple of my favorites were ones with which I was able to bring history back to life and rekindle some of what was lost. Hand-Carved Tracery Window There’s a beautiful church in Manhattan that you may drive past without ever knowing about its incredible history. As one of just five ministries of the Collegiate Churches of New York, the church showcases the…

Hand-Carved Brownstone for the Palace Hotel in New York City

Recently, I was able to put my skills, knowledge, and years of experience to use carving beautiful Brownstone features for the Palace Hotel in New York City. Commissioned for this job because of my professionalism and reputation, I was honored to be able to put the Petrillo mark in such a beautiful and historical location. Carving Brownstone Brownstone, sometimes called ‘freestone’ is honestly one of my favorite stones to use for carving. Not only does this stone have a rich history in early American construction – but carving into this stone feels like carving into butter. Back in the late…

The Difference Between Natural Stone and Cast Stone

Most people who know me know that I am incredibly passionate about stonework and its history. Not only do I love working with and around stone, but I am deeply interested in educating people about stone, stonemasonry, and its intricacies. One question I get asked pretty frequently is how to know the difference between cast stone and natural stone and how you can decide which is best for your project. I hope this helps answer that question! Natural Stone Natural stone is my favorite category of stone – as this consists of stone like quartz, basalt, limestone,  onyx, marble, granite,…

Hand-Carving a Tracery Window at Fort Washington Collegiate Church in Manhattan

I absolutely love historic stonework, especially when it comes to churches and colleges that pre-date even the founding fathers. This last month, we were able to work on the Fort Washington Collegiate Church in Manhattan by hand-carving a tracery window. While this specific building was erected in 1907, it is actually a part of a much bigger group of churches, called the Collegiate Churches of New York. These churches date as far back as 1623. It’s All in the Details A church with that much history demands detail and attention with any addition or renovation. My time was well spent,…

3 Things You Need to Know About Stonemasonry

Driving down the east coast, it is hard for me to look away from all of the history and beautiful architecture around me. This country, and most civilizations around the world, have something in common with one another. 70% were built with stone. From their churches, their monuments, and their homes to their schools, streets, and the foundation of the civilization itself. Stonemasonry has been around for thousands of years. As I reflect back on the history of Petrillo Stone, it is very gratifying to be a part of such an important part of history. There are a lot of…

Stonework From Around the World

By now, it should be well known that I love neat facts, history, and stonemasonry. This month, I decided to combine those loves and post about some of my favorite stonework from around the world. Enjoy! English Cathedral Stonework Some of the most eye-catching pillars of architecture from the old world are the cathedrals stamped across England. One of the most noteworthy for stonemasons, such as our team at Petrillo Stone, is the Exeter Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter. Exeter is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the…

Carving and Installing Limestone Work at Fordham University

The team at Petrillo Stone was recently contacted by Fordham University. They were interested in adding two limestone carvings to their Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, NY. Our team started hand-carving a cross that was 10 ft by 8 ft and a University Seal that had a 12 feet diameter. It took us a few months to carve the cross and the seal at our Mount Vernon, NY facility. But once they were ready, we installed them in less than a week at the new McShane Campus center at Fordham University. Get a closer look:

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