Jewelry Boxes: Suave Look in Stone and Gem Inlay

Stone jewelry boxes can be really heavy, but they will always be one of the most ornate objects you own. Jewelry boxes like these beautify the place they are kept in. They are a gorgeous way of storing your jewelry pieces as well.

Jewelry boxes made of stone come in several shapes and sizes. There are also a number of stones from which they can be created. Every one of these stone boxes can be enhanced further with several decorative techniques like carving and gem inlay work. The exclusivity of these boxes depends on how intricate the work is. Marble is one of the most popular stones used in the making of stone jewelry boxes.

Boxes of Indian origin have significant cultural importance attached to them. Kashmiri and Lucknowi brides are given their jewelry in large marble cases meant especially for this. North Indians also use such decorative marble boxes to hold religious books like the Ramayana and the Koran.

{In the making of these boxes, the marble is cut to the size needed and then polished to bring forth a natural sheen.|When making these boxes, they are cut down to the size required and then polished to bring out their natural sheen. Emperor Shahjahan and the artisans behind the Taj Mahal inspired marble boxes that were made up in gem inlay work.

Beautiful floral patterns are created out of gemstones like carnelian, lapis lazuli, jasper as well as reconstituted turquoise. In small boxes, up to 500 gemstones can be used in the creation of a design. A combination of a number of natural minerals and coupling agents is what makes Incolay which is actually derived from the words “in-layers-of color”.

Gorgeous variegations are formed when the different strata of natural stone then come together. Artwork in white is then done to further enhance it. The artwork made is usually of scenes or flowers. Some of the designs are the likes of a windblown ship at sea or jumping dolphins or even families of penguins.

Another popular style in India are boxes made of Gorara stone. Metamorphic rock is where this soap stone comes from and it is used in the making of sculptures. Perforated ornamental designs known as ‘jali’ work are done on these and are also common in Indian architecture. There are a few artisans who choose their stone based on the kind of work they want to do on it.

Some artisans choose the very fragile Huamanga stone for the creation of religious motifs. After the detailing, they are sanded over to get that natural finish. Another popular material is sandstone that is used in the making of jewelry boxes. Also prominent in India, they are available in a range of colors like the Dholpur Beige or the Bansi Paharpur Pink. Other colors available are Karauli or the Agra Red and the Jaisalmer Yellow.

Gem inlay is largely done on marble and onyx boxes but lately an innovation has been the use of crushed gemstones in inlay work. Gemstone nuggets are manually crushed to get a range of textures. This is filled into crevices that have been carved. Turquoise, malachite and coral are among the common stones used this way. The textures too range from beach sand – fine to coarse flakes and even chips of stone.

So don’t let anything hold you back from getting yourself or a loved one a thing of beauty. Go on ahead and get yourself or a loved one a box to enhance your collection or theirs.

This article was written by Ruth D’Souza Prabhu of MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes show unique wood grain patterns and colors assembled into beautiful designs of breathtaking beauty. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!