What is Inlay Art?
One of the most attractive work of art that comes from marble is”Marble Inlay” work. It is the same work that adorns the Taj Mahal and other Mughal monuments.
One of the most attractive work of art that comes from marble is “Marble Inlay” work. It is a closely protected traditional art and only a few expert exponents are available today. Marble inlay work is done in only two part of India i.e. Rajasthan and Agra(UP). Agra is basically famous for the Inlay on table tops, flooring, & wall decoratives.
BASIS :
We mostly use two types of bases, White Marble and Black Stone (Kadappa this is Sandstone). We can also use other colored bases such as Green Marble, as per buyer Requirement. Inlay on White Marble gives a Royal touch where as Black Stone gives a very attractive look.
Types of bases we used: 1) White Marble (Makrana, Rajasthan india)
2) Creama Marble (Italy)
STEP 1
The marble can be white, black, pink or green. The marble is then cut according to the size of the article to be made. The marble used by us is the same type of Makrana marble that was used for the construction of the TajMahal.
WHITE MARBLE QUIRY
STEP 2
- The semiprecious stones used in the inlay work were brought from many different places during the time of Shah Jahan. Here is the list of the most common ones that are used in the inlay
- Black Onyx
- Amethyst
- Carnelian
- Jasper
- Lapis Lazuli
- Pauch Shell
- Turquoise
- Tiger Eye
- Coral
- Malachite
STEP 3
The stones are now taken and cut into thin slices. These small fragments are then shaped by using a hand operated machine called the hone. The hone allows for better control of the artist on the shape of the stone. The artist holds the tiny bit of stone in his left hand and brushes it against the hone to shape it. Each artist is responsible for a different motif. Some are responsible for making leaves, some for flowers and some for stems. The master artisan called the ustad (in Persian) is responsible for conjuring up the overall design.
Artists working on the Hone,shaping the semi-precious stones
STEP 4
While the stones are being shaped, the marble is smeared with color which is either powdered ochre or heena. Heena is the traditional paste made of plant by the same name. It gives a deep orange to rust color after application on hands. This heena is used for decorating the hands of the brides during Indian weddings. It is a symbol of luck, joy and beauty.
STEP 5
The marble is now chiselled to make space for the stones to be set. This way the chiselled spots are easily highlighted against the orange background of the heena making it easier for the artist to work. The chiselling work is done using two chisels, one pointed and one flat. The tools are made of iron but the tips are made of tempered steel. For tempering the steel a process of heating and reheating the steel to upto 650 degree celcius is used.
Artist chiseling out the marble
STEP 6
Now the stones are ready, the chiselling is done, the only thing left is setting the stones. They are set one piece at a time into the carved out space using a special glue. After the glue dries and the stones set, the finished piece is scrubbed gently with sandpaper to even out any rough edges. The henna is washed off to reveal the dazzling white purity of the stone.
Chisels, glue and pieces of semi-precious stones
STEP 7
After the final polish for a high finish protective shine, a piece of the history is ready.
