Marble Inlay Art is one of the most eye-catching arts, which is created from marble. Ever wondered what makes the Taj Mahal so marvelous and one of the seven wonders of the world? It is nothing but the marble inlay work that you adore, and this stunning art can be observed in other Mughal monuments. It is authentic traditional art, and only some experts are skilled in curating this art.The procedure comprises cutting and engraving marble shapes through hands. Firstly, a pattern such as geometrical design or floral design is carved on the marble slab. Then, small elements of marble of diverse shades are cut precisely to make them fit in these grooves. Besides marble, several materials can be used to embellish the marble inlay spaces.
Inlay’s work on subtle valuable stones was initiated in the workshops of Florence in Italy during the end of the 16th century. It was called “Pietra Dura,” which implies hard(dura) stone(Pietra). This Italian art certainly captured the people’s attention, and pietra dura emerged on a wide range of objects from attractive panels to flower motifs to the hand-carved bird to tabletops to cabinet fronts to souvenirs from travelers Emperors in the magnificent Mughal courts in distant India.Amongst all the Mughal Emperors, Shah Jahan was the supreme contributor of the arts, specifically architecture. It didn’t matter for him how much time or money was used in creating dazzling architectural work that would stand apart from the crowd. His blend of Mughal art and Italian pietra dura is witnessed in his buildings.In the midst of all, the Taj Mahal, the monument of the Emperor and his wife, holds the neighboring marble railings and the main floor, which is a resemblance of the pietra dura form of inlay work.
Creama Marble from Italy or white marble from Makrana, Rajasthan (India), is the most favorable surface type for inlay work. Other than that, green marble or black kadappa stone can also opt as a substitute.
Inlay work starts with a design – be it is geometrical, or a motif that’s flora is cut out on a sheet of brass. After it is cut, it is kept on marble and drawn very accurately. Then, the marble is engraved out. Slices of colored stones – valuable and less valuable are shaped and polished efficiently and then laid on the marble with the bonding agent. Sometimes, a heat treatment is provided to a specific stone to obtain a shading effect. For instance, when you heat Jaisalmer- a yellow-colored stone, it gives a red color.
After the inlay art is finished and it is dried entirely, the edges and surface need to be polished and shined. To give it a gleaming look that remains evergreen for decades, the polish work is done through a stone bar.
