Part of Travertine's appeal lies in its ability to bring geological variation and warmth into an interior without relying on strong colour or pattern. RAK Ceramics has drawn on this understated quality for Maximus Travertine Crosscut Osso, a large-format porcelain collection that translates the softer, more cloud-like character of cross-cut stone into a manufactured surface.

Available in White and Light Beige, the collection takes its reference from the tonal shifts and natural markings revealed when travertine is cut across its bedding planes. Rather than reproducing the more pronounced linear movement associated with vein-cut stone, the design offers a more dispersed pattern, with subtle multicolour nuances giving the surface depth without making it visually dominant.

Crosscut Osso forms part of a wider Travertine Osso offering and is designed to work alongside Maximus Travertine Osso, the complementary vein-cut interpretation. Sharing the same colour palette, the two surfaces can be combined within a single scheme, using the contrast between directional veining and the more diffuse cross-cut pattern to introduce variation while retaining material consistency.

The range is available in four formats, with the large slabs providing scope for more continuous surface treatments across floors, walls and architectural features, while the smaller dimensions offer flexibility for residential and commercial interiors. What’s more, the collective material palette offers options for surface texture, with RAK Ceramics Sync Effect digital structure technology used to create tactile relief products, as well as coordinating striped slabs available in the range. This adds a physical dimension to the visual interpretation, rather than relying on printed pattern alone, and with it, two or more finishes can be used in subtle contrast.

The collection reflects the continuing interest in travertine across contemporary interiors, while offering a porcelain alternative for projects where a coordinated palette, varied slab dimensions and the practical characteristics of a manufactured surface are important considerations. Its restrained colours and combination of cross-cut and vein-cut designs provide a degree of flexibility, allowing the familiar qualities of natural stone to inform a wider range of interior applications.