Hyderabad’s stone inlay work, also known as Parchinkari, is known for its exquisite beauty and craftsmanship. The name comes from Persian for feather work, owing to the finely cut stones that resemble soft feathers. Parchinkari artisans meticulously arrange an array of semi-precious and precious stones like agate, lapis lazuli, jasper, and mother-of-pearl in their designs. They are inspired by floral, geometric, and calligraphic patterns, akin to Islamic art. 

The art of adorning gemstones over different materials surfaces came up in India during the Qutb Shahi dynasty in the 16th century. It eventually became popular among the Rajput kings and the Nizams of Hyderabad. It reached its pinnacle during the 18th and 19th centuries under the patronage of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Noblemen commissioned numerous elaborate stone inlay pieces to embellish their palaces, like the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. Other outstanding instances feature in landmarks such as the Chowmahalla Palace and the Charminar.

Parchinkari involves embellishing furniture to jewellery, even architectural structures. It begins with a design cut-out on a metal sheet following a traced pattern on a marble surface. The parts of coloured stones are laid into the carved-out areas of the marble and stuck using an adhesive. The craftsmen use simple tools like chisels and a set square.

The tomb of Sir Asman Jah in Hyderabad showcases exquisite stone inlay work. It was once adorned with a semi-precious gemstone that changed colour with the seasons. Sadly, this gemstone went missing.

Any information on this page is anecdotal and based on publicly available details. If you're interested in learning more, click here.