WHEN PASSION BECOMES PURPOSE
The artists who create art are a part of the art itself. Their own emotions, their struggles, their joys and their love are hidden in every piece of art they create.
I was a struggling artisan. A Pietra Dura Artisan. Back in those days, artisans were never paid a fair amount for the work we did. The middleman would take up most of the profit and we were left with only a small amount to help make ends meet. One day, one of our fellow craftsmen told me about ETSY and asked me to contact them.
“And since that day, I have never turned back.”
For Me, Marble Inlay (Pietra Dura) is a family affair, a skill I learned from my own father and has now taught to my son. In fact, the art form is so entwined with my own family legacy, that I believe it has been passed down through the generations, tracing its history all the way back to the 16th century.
Marble Inlay work adorns one of the most recognizable and important buildings in the world — the Taj Mahal. Yet its origins are humble and functional. A traditional art form with just a few master experts left, Marble Inlay is a delicate process that involves carefully cutting and engraving marble shapes by hand.
The process of Inlay involves the skill of several specialists for ach time-consuming step. The pre-etching process involves the shaping of the marble, the composition of the individually created design and the coating of the marble with geru, a red mineral colour that allows for the etched lines to stand outing contrast. Inlay work begins with a design that is cut out on a brass sheet, which is then placed on marble and drawn. Next, the marble is carved out, using the most basic of tools - a set of chisels and a set-square. Slices of coloured stones (precious and semi-precious) are then delicately laid into the marble with adhesive. Before laying in the stone the etched is filled with cement, the marble is lightly heated and the stones set.
The semi-precious stones, including Lapis Lazuli, Agate, Malachite, Carnelian, Jasper, Mother of Pearl, Coral and others, are ground and shaped on a hand-operated emery wheel to form the delicate elements of the pattern. Once the Inlay work is completed and has dried, it is time for the surface and edges to be polished and shined. The more skilled the artisan, the more precise and detailed the ornaments he creates.
Today, I preserves this ancient art form — and the rich heritage of the Indian Mughals — in the shape of Marble Tables, Agate Table, Bathroom accessories, Jewel boxes, Coasters and much more which are full of imagination, raw talent, and a lifetime of perfecting his craft.
