This guide describes how to choose a proper Pietra Dura (Marble Inlay) item for your home and garden.  Pietra Dura or Marble Inlay is an art form which involves inlaying of Marble Stone with semi-precious stones to create motifs for medallions and tabletops.  This art form probably first originated in Italy, however it reached its peak during the construction of the Taj Mahal where Indian artisans blended Arabic and Persian designs with Italian traditions, creating superfine designs and masterpieces in stone.  The biggest and most popular artifact in this art is the magnificent Taj Mahal itself, where this art has been liberally used.  In this guide, we will look at how you can use this beautiful, traditional art form to decorate your home and garden to make it stand out.  Remember that pietra dura items are available crafted on green, white and black marble (see the accompanying photos).

- What items are available in Pietra Dura?
Tabletops, medallions, dinner tables, jewelery boxes, candle stands, coaster sets, ash trays, planters, sofa sets, garden furniture and plates are some of the items that are available.  Pietra Dura Medallions and TableTops stand out for their beauty in this art.

- What can these items be used for?

These items find a wide variety of usage.  These items are robust and rugged and can easily withstand daily usage.  Tabletops, Dinner tables, Coffee Tables, Wall Medallions, Plaques, Jewelery boxes, candle stands, coaster sets, ash trays, planters, sofa sets, garden furniture (Sofa sets and center tables) and plates are some of the usage options.

- What exactly is Pietra Dura?
This is an art in which semi-precious stones like Malachite, Agate, Jasper etc are polished and cut into shape, and then embedded on the surface of the marble stone to denote patterns and designs.  This is a specialized art form and is majorly practiced in Agra, India due to its history with the Taj Mahal.

- What is the price range of these items like?
It depends solely on the quality of the workmanship.  A finer pattern may be much more labor intensive and thus costly, while a larger pattern may have lesser detail and thus be cheaper.

- Why should I even consider Pietra Dura artifacts?

1. You can avail of customization in designs and sizes from traditional artisans.  This gives you the flexibility of choosing something which is exactly what you need in terms of color, design patterns and shape. 
   
2. You can impart a unique, elegant and royal look to your home and garden.  Your home will stand out for its uniqueness and grace and surely you will have a lot of visitors curious about the item you have decorating your house. Remember - no departmental store in the US will offer such a rich range of quality and design for home decor.
   
3. These items are pretty robust and can withstand rough daily usage as dining tables, coffee tables etc.  The Taj Mahal, which is a classic example of this art, is testimony to the long life and beauty of this craft.  Imagine the pristine beauty of the art of the Taj Mahal in your home! 
4. You can also consider this as an investment in art - many pietra dura items are resold after use on eBay for attractive prices.

- What are the things I should keep in mind while buying Pietra Dura?

• Try to see if the patterns and designs are to your liking.
• Try to think of the long term value of the item you are purchasing.  A jewelery box may not be very convenient to use, but will stand out on your dressing table.  Similarly, a tabletop used as a dining table or a coffee table will last a long time.
• Marble is pretty robust, but heavy.  See if this is the kind of material you want to use.
• Make sure you buy from genuine people.  You can only get fine and quality designs if you buy from traditional artisans. 
• If buying on ebay, see if the item is not chipped, in good quality and not stained/cracked.

- What are the qualities of Indian Marble used in Pietra Dura?

• It is stain-proof, any kind of drink like highly acidic Coke, Wine, Whiskey, Tea and Coffee will not stain it and it will remain functional.
• It is "Washable" with soap and detergent. Cleaning of Marble with Inlaid stones is no problem.
• Contact the experts if you still have unanswered questions.

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