20 Jul 2015 Marble Handicrafts of India
The art of sculpting marble along with inlay work arrived in India from Europe four hundred years ago. The Mughals were fascinated by the beauty of this art form and immediately set upon adapting it to their tastes. Rajasthan is a well known state not only in India but all around the world for its well developed marble products.
When you take a close look at the marble figurines, you will be amazed at the incredible detail and complexity of craftsmanship. They are hand sculpted with incredible detail and polished to give a shiny look. Each marble figurine created is a piece of art as unique as the spirit of its creators. Sculpting marble is a craft that has been passed on from generation to generation. Creating an inlay marble artwork is a long and extremely time consuming process for any skilled craftsmen.
To begin with, the artist starts by shaping the marble to the shape of the artwork. Slowly and carefully he then hand cuts the inlay design pattern into the marble. Using very fine instruments he then chisels the pattern into the depth needed. All marble inlay items are very popular mainly because of their aesthetic beauty and durability. They are very good for gift also. One cannot help but admire the intricacy of marble inlay work.
The reasons why Indian marble items are preferred across the world are because of its stain-proof quality and that they are washable with normal soap or detergent. Even if it is inlaid, cleaning it is no problem. Be it the beautifully hand crafted decorative elephants or hand carved turtles, which has become the life of the living room, your friends and neighbors are sure to love the range of marble crafts that you pick from the innumerable marble figurines available.
A beautiful marble show piece will take pride of place in your home. A hand carved marble show piece make unique and rare addition to any decorative show piece collection. Thus a skillfully carved marble figurine embodies the craftsmanship that is deep rooted in the remote corners of India. The figurines are sturdy and long-lasting, and provide the charm to relive the centuries old lifestyle. To sum it all, the Indian marble handicrafts command a global appeal and sit proudly in the commercial and home environment.
By: Pushpita, a freelance writer on world handicrafts and lifestyle. Pushpita holds a Masters in English literature and is a rich media professional.

