Pacchikari, or Parchin Kari, is the art of inlaying precious and semi-precious stones into marble. The term originates from the Italian word ‘pietra dura,’ referring to embedding. Masterful work makes the stones to appear to have grown naturally from the marble, without any visible incisions. One can find exquisite examples of this art form at the Taj Mahal and tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah in Agra.

In the 17th Century, Persian artisans brought pietra dura to India under Emperor Shah Jahan’s patronage, when he commissioned the Taj Mahal’s construction. The craft has been passed down generations of local artisans and still thrives in Agra, explaining the Persian influence in motifs over Roman aesthetics.

The labour-intensive process includes shaping stone slivers into delicate petals, leaves, and stems using manual emery wheels. These pieces are meticulously inlaid onto marble to create floral designs. A single flower may consist of up to 40 parts and take a week to complete. The artisans use brass templates to shape the designs precisely with chisels, but without a hammer or mallet. A coating of red earth adds contrast to aid the chiselling, and white cement fills gaps in the inlay.

The process involves specialised artisans for different steps like designing, cutting, gluing, and finishing. This style also appears on on medallions, animal figurines, jewellery boxes, and even tabletops and coffee tables, as these are stain-resistant and durable. Certain hotels engage artisans to offer live demonstrations and workshops to tourists.

During the 2022 G7 Summit, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi gifted his Italian counterpart, Mario Draghi, a marble inlay tabletop. It took five artisans from Gokulpura more than six months to craft. The artefact features 12 precious stones and over 700 semi-precious stones set on a black marble base.

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