Art & Design Aesthetics

MARBLE CARVING
From Agra
 HISTORY

Marble Carving is one of the oldest art form involving the creation of three –
dimensional forms from marble. Before painting started the art of carving shapes
from stones started. There are the records in the history stating that the art of
carving statues and sculptures existed from ancient times. Carvings of marble
enjoying a distinct statues in the world of art. Marble carving is the art of the
stone sculpting is also dedicated for religious purposes like a number of idols and
statues of architecture are crafted from marble.
Marble stone holds a great excellence of patterns and style. The art of marble
carving was known to Indians and widely prevalent even before the rise of the
Mughals in the country. The fall of the Mughals also paved for the decline of the
art of the marble work which also led to the diminish of the craftsmen. But
however the industry has regained its strength to produce excellent marble inlaid
work of late.
 EVOLUTION

Marble is one of the most cherished crafting stone with innumerable

properties which can never be paralleled by any other stone craft.

The white marble from makrana, possess a finer grain when compared to
its other alternative craft stone, making the surface ideal for rendering
minute details for various decorative works. White marble which came
from the famous makrana quarries was extensively used by the Mughals
for the construction of various monuments.
The Jali or Jaali as called in Hindi, is a fine filigree of marble, carved to
represent fretted surface of stone lattices with delicate and intricate floral
and geometrical patterns.

Carved work on marble, whether it is in the form of architectural

ornament, fountain or garden group, memorial tablet or statue always
lends an atmosphere of distinctions to its setting.
 TOOLS, MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

The various tools used for carving can be listed as

below:-
Tools:-
1. Flat Chisel (chheeni):- It is one of the most tool
used in the carving to carve out the fine details on
the surface of the marble.

2. Cold Chisel (tanki):- It is also one of the tools

used in the carving it helps to cut through the raw
marble slab to get the basic shape of the desired
product like a box or a spherical lamp on which
the designs would be carved.
3. Hammer (hathora):- It is also another tool used in the carving. This tool is used to
drive the chisel through the raw marble for both sculpting and carving.

4. Files:- It is also a tool used for the carving. It is used for the fine tuning the
designs

5. Pen drill (barma):-It is also a tool used for the carving. It is used to make rough
outlines of the patterns on the surface of the marble, this tool is also used for carving
the designs.
6. Dividen (prakaar):- This tool is used for the carving, it is used to draw the
outlines in the form of concentric circles for geometric patterns

.
7. Buffing machine:- It is also a tool which are used in the carving, this tool
polishes the carved surface to make it smooth.
 These are the raw materials which are used in the carving are as follows:-
1. Makrana Marble:- It is one of the most raw materials which are used for
carving.
This is a kind of white marble is quarried from Rajasthan.

2. Alabaster:-It is also a one of the type of raw materials which are used in
the carving. Basically gypsum and black alabasters are used for carving

TECHNIQUE
S:-
Cutting:- It is the most dusty of all processes. The stone is first sliced into slabs
using an electric saw. Then shapes are marked with a pencil and cut out
according to the size of the product required. These are stuck to metal grips
with araldite and then put onto the machine where they are shaped using
chisels and filing tools.
 Carving:-

1.Hollow:-
Firstly, rough outlines of the pattern to be carved
are etched on the stone as guidelines and basic
holes are drilled. Then the fine carving work
begins and textural detailsare added. Carving is
done using a hand held drilling machine. Since
the piecesare hollow, the amount of pressure
while carving is crucial - a little bit extra and the
piece would break.

2.Solid:-

Pure white Italian marble is used

extensively to makeidols of worship. These
are carved without a flaw and each piece
takes more than a day to finish.
 Paintings:-

The carved TajMahal, coasters and plates

are painted upon with poster colors. Colors
are applied one at a time. Animals like
elephants, camel, peacock are the most
common ones to be painted.

Buffing:-

Lacquer polishing and buffing is done with a

machine to give a gloss to the stone and also
make the paint ‘pakka’. This makes sure that the
paint doesn’t wash off or fade easily.
 SOCIOCULTURE

As everyone knows about the famous city Agra. This is very famous for the
monument Taj Mahal. But most of the people do not know that there is a different
type of marbles are available in the Agra. This is also famous for the marble
handicrafts.

Taj Mahal is one of the famous masterpieces in the world. As it is made from the
white marble which is very famous all over the world. Marble handicrafts are
available in the different and attractive designs. It is famous for various art and
craft.
Agra has been a centre for marble carving even since the Taj mahal was built.
In fact, craftsmen carve tiny replics of the Taj mahal. But their real skill lies in
carving intricate jaalis, floral and geometrical lattices. The crisp open work of
the jaalis is an extension of the beautiful jaalis in monuments in and around the
city. The geometric jaalis are intertwined with floral motifs.

Amongst various stone crafts, marble is one of the most cherished crafting stone.
Agra, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, has been a
centre for marble carving ever since the Ta jMahal was built. Infact, tiny replicas
of the Tajare a huge hit with the foreigners who have Agra on the top of their
places-to-visit-in-India.
 PRESENT STATUS

Agra has been a centre for marble carving even since the Taj mahal
was built. In fact, craftsmen carve tiny replics of the Tajmahal. But
their real skill lies in carving intricate jaalis, floral and geometrical
lattices.

The skills of the craftsmen today, are best seen at the ornately carved
radhaswamy temple, memorial of the foundar of the Radhaswamy sect.
Pure white arble is also carved into three dimensional idols. Those meant
for worship are carved without a flaw. .
Thank you