Carved Marble Jali (Screen) Door with Geometric and Floral Motifs
Date1935-1938
MediumMarble, sandstone, bronze and steel hardware
DimensionsOverall: 90 x 48 x 3 1/2 in. (228.6 x 121.9 x 8.9cm)
ClassificationsStonework
Object number41.7.1a-b
DescriptionThese perforated marble screens, or jalis, filter natural light into Mughal Gallery of Shangri La. The pattern of ten-pointed stars interlocked by hexagons containing five-pointed stars creates a cohesive, geometric pattern. The heavy screens slide back and forth, creating a contrast between a private chamber and airy space, opening into the garden.These screens were expertly carved by Indian craftsmen in the 1930s. Their design is based on jali screens from the upper story of the tomb of Itimad al-Daula in Agra, India. Completed in 1628 CE, this marble mausoleum is frequently referred to as a “jewel box,” and elements of its design are considered a precursor to the Taj Mahal.
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