Spheres
Granite lathe and shaping works / Chennai / Since 1987
Any granite.
Any form.
We cut, turn and hand-finish granite into spheres, columns, fountains and one-off pieces for clients worldwide.
Granite forms we turn and shape
Who we work with
- Architects
- Landscape designers
- Hotels and resorts
- Temples and trusts
- Civic bodies
- Real estate developers
- Stone importers
- Private estates
Why Universal Granites
Any stone
Ship us blocks from your own quarry, or choose from granites we source and inspect.
Any shape
Spheres, columns, balusters, urns, basins and fountains, or a form drawn for one project only.
Any scale
One garden sphere or four hundred matched balusters, all turned to the same drawing.
Anywhere
Crated in Chennai for road, rail or sea, and delivered to projects across the world.
From raw block to finished piece.
Six stages, the same on every commission, whether it is one sphere or four hundred balusters.
Drawing
We study your drawings or sketch, confirm dimensions and tolerances, and agree stone, finish and timeline before any cutting begins.
Block selection
Blocks are chosen for colour, grain and soundness. Send stone from your own quarry, or use granite we source.
Primary cutting
Diamond saws bring the block close to its final envelope, leaving material for the lathe and the hand.
Lathe turning
Round forms are turned on our granite lathes, our specialty since 1987: spheres, columns, balusters, bowls and urns.
Hand finishing
Carving, profiling and polishing by hand, checked against templates at every stage.
Crating and shipping
Every piece is crated for its journey, whether to a site in Chennai or a project overseas.
Selected projects
Hotels, homes, temples and public spaces. A cross-section of the commissions that come through the workshop.
Three-tier fountain with a turned basin surround, in polished jet black.
- Forms
- Fountains / Basins
- Sector
- Hospitality
- Location
- Dubai, UAE
- Year
- 2024
Terrace balustrade with matched balusters, plinths and coping.
- Forms
- Balusters
- Sector
- Residential
- Location
- Bengaluru, India
- Year
- 2023
A set of honed spheres lining a pedestrian plaza.
- Forms
- Spheres
- Sector
- Civic
- Location
- Singapore
- Year
- 2022
Turned and carved pillars for a temple hall, matched to existing work.
- Forms
- Columns
- Sector
- Religious
- Location
- Tamil Nadu, India
- Year
- 2021
Vessel basins hollowed from single blocks for a private residence.
- Forms
- Basins
- Sector
- Residential
- Location
- London, UK
- Year
- 2024
Monumental columns and capitals for a public memorial park.
- Forms
- Columns
- Sector
- Civic
- Location
- Uttar Pradesh, India
- Year
- 2019
Planters and urns for terraced resort gardens.
- Forms
- Urns
- Sector
- Hospitality
- Location
- Maldives
- Year
- 2023
Pier caps and crowning spheres for an estate entrance.
- Forms
- Spheres
- Sector
- Residential
- Location
- Chennai, India
- Year
- 2025
Turning granite since 1987.
Universal Granites began as a granite lathe workshop on the edge of Chennai. Round, turned forms are still the core of the work, alongside fountains, basins and pieces cut to drawing.
- Established
- 1987, Chennai
- Specialty
- Lathe-turned round forms
- Material
- Your granite, or ours
- Delivery
- Crated for export, worldwide
Frequently asked questions
General notes
Can you work with granite we supply?
Yes. We regularly shape client-supplied blocks, as well as granite we source ourselves.
What shapes can you make?
Round and turned forms are our specialty: spheres, columns, balusters, bowls and urns. We also cut fountains, basins and custom architectural pieces to drawing.
Do you ship outside India?
Yes. Finished pieces are crated for export, and our work has been delivered to projects across the world.
How do I start a commission?
Send drawings, photos or a sketch with sizes and quantities. We reply with feasibility, stone options and a quote.
Where is your workshop?
Attapalayam Village, Orakkadu, Sholavaram, Chennai 600067, Tamil Nadu, India. Workshop visits are by appointment.
Start a commission
Bring us the piece others turn down.
Send drawings, sizes and quantities. We reply with feasibility, stone options and a quote.
WhatsApp+91 98410 49752