This gorgeous marble offering has been handcrafted by artisans from Agra, a city known for the architectural marble wonder, the Taj Mahal. Featuring stunning inlay work done with colored semi-precious stones, this coffe table top is artistry at its best. Marble inlay is a closely protected art form of North India, done only by a few skilled hands. The delicate process involves cutting and engraving intricate designs by hand and embedding the grooves with carefully cut stones. White marble is sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan, the marble mecca of India known for its wealth of superior quality stones. Once the inlay work has been completed, the offering is polished with a stone bar, giving it a shine that lasts decades. Inlay work on delicate precious stones began in the workshops of Florence in Italy around the end of the 16th century. This was known as Pietra Dura, which means hard (dura) stone (pietra). Indian emperor Shah Jahan, the greatest patron of arts in general and architecture in particular was floored by this craft and build the Taj Mahal as a tribute to his wife, a colosseum that showcases the beautiful confluence of Mughal art and Italian pietra dura