The Taj Mahal Scarf

The floral arabesques of the Taj Mahal Scarf are inspired by the semi-precious stones on the walls of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India

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More about the Taj Mahal and its marble interiors...

The floral arabesques of the Taj Mahal Scarf are adapted from the richly colored designs that are intricately and profusely inlaid across the marble interior of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

These inlaid patterns are extraordinarily extravagant, incorporating around 30 types of precious stones such as jasper, malachite, amethyst, coral and lapis lazuli from as far away as Egypt and Tibet. In a process known as pietra dura, precisely carved gemstone chips are meticulously inlaid into sockets in the marble walls to form delicate intertwining floral tendrils and geometric designs. Honeysuckle, lilies and fuchsias bloom profusely across every surface, representing the fields of paradise. Each flower is created from as many as 60 pieces of stone giving a luminescent, almost 3D effect, described as 'embroidery on stone'. Indeed, the patterns appear to have been created with a delicate brushstroke, rather than a chisel.

The floral arabesques of the Taj Mahal Scarf are inspired by the semi-precious stones on the walls of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India

The floral arabesques of the Taj Mahal Scarf are inspired by the semi-precious stones on the walls of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India

The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Arjumand Banu Begam. It was completed in 1653, after 22 years of construction. As his own mausoleum, Shah Jahan planned to build a mirror image of the Taj Mahal in black marble, the two buildings linked by a bridge over the River Yamuna. Sadly his wish was never realised.

The art of marble inlay continues to thrive in Agra where, inspired by Mughal masterpieces such as the Taj Mahal, exquisitely inlaid items such as tables, chess boards and jewellery boxes are produced.