Mughal, North India, first half 17th century

Private collection, London, 1962.

Pietra dura is the technique of inlaying cut and fitted pieces of coloured hard stones into marble or other stone panels. Although there existed an ancient, indigenous tradition of stone carving and stone inlay in India, it has been suggested that the pietra dura technique was introduced to the Mughal court by Italian craftsmen in the first half of the 17th century. This was through European and Italian lapidaries who are known to have been working in Mughal workshops as well as with the import of European works of art decorated in the pietra dura technique. For further discussion, see Koch 1988, p.39, note 24. Known under the Mughals as ‘parchin kari’, the technique was adopted by Mughal craftsmen to create intricate geometric and naturalistic designs with flora and fauna. Coloured stones set into white marble surfaces imbued jewel-like qualities to these inlaid architectural panels.

For other comparable Mughal pietra dura marble panels sold in these Rooms, see 25 October 2023, lot 39; 24 October 2018, lot 153; 20 April 2016, lot 147, and 6 April 2011, lot 101.