In marble inlay work, semi-precious stones are carefully chosen, cut, and shaped to form intricate floral and geometric designs. Skilled artisans carve fine grooves into the marble surface and place each stone with precision, ensuring a perfect fit. Stones like lapis lazuli, malachite, carnelian, jasper, and mother of pearl are used to bring vibrant colors and natural brilliance, with each shade representing petals, leaves, or decorative patterns. Once polished, the marble and stones blend seamlessly, creating a smooth surface that highlights the beauty of traditional craftsmanship and gives the artwork a timeless elegance.
Stone
Stone Collections
Zareen Marble Handicrafts
Zareen Marble Handicrafts
Our
Stone Collection
| Stone Name | Common Source (city/region) | Used In | Typical Use in Inlay / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lapis Lazuli | Badakhshan (Afghanistan) — imported | Both (Inlay & Imarti) | Deep blue petals, large background panels, high-value highlights |
| Malachite | Imported (DRC, Russia) / traded | Both | Rich green veins for leaves and decorative bands |
| Mother of Pearl | Coastal ports (Mumbai, Chennai) — sourced from shells | Both | Pearly highlights, fine floral details, contrast on white marble |
| Agate | Khambhat / Bhavnagar (Gujarat) — common in India | Both | Striped/varied tones used for petals, borders, outlines |
| Carnelian (Coral) | Khambhat (Gujarat) / imported | Both | Warm orange-red elements, flower centers, accent pieces |
| Jasper | Rajasthan (Bikaner area) / imported | Both | Opaque reds/browns used for background & geometric motifs |
| Onyx | Pakistan / Iran / some Rajasthan sources | Both (often borders) | Black or banded onyx for strong outlines and contrast |
| Turquoise | Iran / Afghanistan — commonly imported | Both | Blue-green highlights for floral or geometric motifs |
| Quartz (rose / clear) | India & imported sources | Both | Translucent pieces for subtle fills and accents |
| Sodalite | Imported (Brazil / Russia) | Both | Deep blue alternative to lapis for accents |
| Amethyst | Imported (Brazil / Uruguay) | Both | Purple tones for small focal elements in designs |
| Tiger's Eye | Imported (South Africa, Brazil) | Both | Chatoyant browns/golds for textured effects |
| Chalcedony | Various (imported / India) | Both | Soft blue/grey fills and subtle background tones |
| Serpentine | Rajasthan / imported | Both | Green shades for foliage and stems |
| Marble (colored varieties) | Makrana (Rajasthan) & other quarries | Both (base + inlay pieces) | Colored marbles used as both base and inlay pieces (reds, blacks, greens) |
| Geodes / Polished stones | Varied / imported | Imarti (often) | Used as larger statement pieces in imarti-style panels |
| Other semi-precious (onyx variants, chalcopyrite, etc.) | Domestic & imported sources | Both | Used depending on color palette needed |