Marble inlay work, globally related to the Italian technique pietra dura, originated in 16th-century Rome and Florence as an elite decorative art. Through gifts and cultural exchange, the technique reached the Mughal Empire, where it evolved into a uniquely Indian expression known as Parchin-kari or Pachchikari. The most iconic example of this craft is the Taj Mahal, where floral motifs, calligraphy, and semi-precious stone inlay transformed Mughal architecture.