Stone carving and inlay
The ability to create a light and airy jali screen from a solid piece of marble or sandstone takes patience, skill and years of practice. A master carver will take decades to perfect his technique before passing the wisdom along to the next generation.
Above: Scrolling floral arabesque carved in deep relief, Federal Territory Mosque, Kuala Lumpur.
Main banner at top: Three stages of inlay from the Meccan minbar dome: sliced turquoise, engraving and final polish.
Of all the types of workmanship in stone, the most demanding is inlay. Saray master artisans are descended from the same families who carved and created the magical decoration of the Taj Mahal in the 17th century. Virtually any design, from a monogram to a garden of flowers, can be created in stone inlay using marble, wood, sandstone, semi-precious stones like malachite or lapis lazuli - even precious stones like rubies or emeralds. The result is a work of art made to last for generations.
Carving and inlay being set with precious stone.
Inlay designs for table tops and wall panels.