its help to know about the marble inlay origin and technique. there are difference between traditional inlay and modern inlay.

1. REGIONAL
The crafts of India are diverse, rich in history, culture and
religion. The craft of each state in India reflect the influence of
different empires. Throughout centuries, crafts have been
embedded as a culture and tradition within rural communities.
The crafts of India have been valued throughout time; their
existence today proves the efforts put into their preservation.
CRAFTS

2. What is REGIONAL CRAFTS?
The crafts of India are diverse, rich in history, culture and
religion. The craft of each state in India reflect the influence of
different empires. Throughout centuries, crafts have been
embedded as a culture and tradition within rural communities.
The crafts of India have been valued throughout time; their
existence today proves the efforts put into their preservation.

3. TYPES OF REGIONAL CRAFT
Pottery
Jute
Shell
and etc.
Wood
Work
Pashmina
Shawls
Zardozi
Carpet
Weaving
Leather
Brass
Handicraft

4. MARBLE INLAY

5. ORIGIN: AGRA
Agra Marble Inlay Work is a work of historical fine art, where in various semi precious
stones of various hues are inlayed in Marble so as to create designs of unsurpassed
elegance.
The origin of this work can safely be traced to the Mughal Era. The Agra
Marble Inlay work is found in various Mughal monuments such as :
• The Agra Fort in particular the Jasmine Tower in the Fort where Emperor Shah Jahan was
kept imprisoned. This is one of the finest marble in the world.
•Itmatuddaulah’s tomb at Agra,
• Saint Salim Chisti’s Durga at Fatehpursikri,
• Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, and
• The Taj Mahal at Agra

6. TYPES OF MATERIAL USED
Marble , semi precious stones, red oxide ,traditional glue, hand operated
emery wheel, chiselling tools (tankiya and narzi) .
Indian marble, black marble, indian green marble (baroda green) .
TYPES OF MARBLE USED
Type of semi-precious stones used: lapis lazuli, malachite, turquoise,
coral, cornelian, paua shell
TYPES OF SEMI-PRECIOUS USED

7. MARBLE INLAY PROCESS
•Each project is meticulously planned by the
master artist, who begins with a crisp
understanding of the project and creation of
a concept according to customer’s
specifications.
• He then lays foundation of the entire
process by dividing the marble panel
in symmetric sections using traditional
geometric tools, and making a final
sketch of the selected design on 1:1
scale.

8. This entire drawing is traced on a
brass sheet, which is cut out
accurately by a specialist, to make
templates of every component of the
design.
Now:-
• This leads to one of the most important
phases of planning, which is the selection
of gems and semiprecious stones for the
motifs.
• Specially selected gem stones and
precious materials such as Amethyst,
Coral, Turquoise, Tiger’s Eye, Lapis
lazuli, Malachite, Abalone Shell,
Cornelian and Jade etc. are used to create
an effect which is equivalent to“ Paint
with Hard Stones”.

9. 1. The Marble is cut into the desired shape as per
the final product (decorative item ) to be made
such as table top, coasters, plates, ashtray, etc.
2. A design (flora , fauna , sceneries etc) or
geometrical motif is conceptualized and
drawn on the red oxide layer
3. The chiseling tools called tankiya & narzi are
used to create grooves / inlays on the marble
surface as per the required design
4. Hand Operated Emery Wheel is used to shape
the Semi precious stones as per the design viz.
of flowers, leaves, animals, birds etc., as
grooved on the marble.
5. The semi precious stones are temporarily put on
the inlaid area to see whether the grooves are
made right, otherwise the grooves / inlays are
modified as required.
6. The traditional glue applied which is used to
stick the semi precious stones cut in desired
shape in the inlays

10. 7. After the glue it has dried, smoothening is
done, by rubbing the stone inlayed marble
surface with very fine sand paperthe surface
and edges are polished to give a shiny finish.
8. Smoothening of the surface of the marble
inlay work is done with the help of a sand
mapaper and/ or diamond.The purpose of
smoothening is to give a perfect finish to the
inlayed surface.
9. Then the inlayed surface and edges are
polished to give a shiny/ glossy finish. This is
done with the help of wax polish and a piece of
soft cloth.Both smoothening and polishing are
done purely by hand and no machines are used.
10. This process complete removes even the
traces of lead oxide present on the surface. This
completes the making of the work and the
product is ready for market.

11. MODERN PROCESS OF MAKING MARBLE INLAY
The long manufacturing process of polychromatic Scagliola inlay begins with the develop of the
design on the work surface. The artist draws the pattern and then cuts out a space of few
millimeters deep.
Then he goes on filling of the caved parts with the paddy made of colored scagliola. Scagliola
mixture is composed by Selenite powder mixed with pigments and natural glues and it is inserted
in the caved parts using a spatula. The high experience of the artist allows to direct the chromatic
effect and to imitate the veins of the naturals precious stones.

12. When the scagliola mixture is dry the artist smooth the surface with the water lapping machine to
remove the surplus parts of the scagliola. At this time, according to the type of decorations, the cycle
of incision, sealing and smoothing may be repeated more than once.
At the completion of all steps, the surface may be shined by applying oils and waxes or another
protective transparent coating.

13. MARBLE INLAY IS USED AS:
BUILDING MATERIAL,
MONMUMENTS,
TABLE TOPS,
PLATES,
BOXES,
TRAYS,C
OASTER SETS,
CHESSBOARDS,
BACKGAMMON BECK GAMMON BOARDS,
PEN HOLDERS,
CARD HOLDERS,
ASHTRAYS,
PAPER WEIGHTS,
VASES,
WINE CUPS,
ELEPHANT STATUTES,
BATH ROOM TILES,
BORDER TILES, ETC

14. THANK YOU
SUBMITTED TO:
SHUBAM JAIN
SUBMITTED BY:
RUPINDER KAUR