Indian Soapstone Box | Mother of Pearl & Stone Inlay | Rajasthan | c.1970s

Someone in Rajasthan sat down with a piece of soapstone, a set of tiny chisels, and an extraordinary amount of patience, and made this. The result is a beautiful oval keepsake box in hand-carved grey-green soapstone (steatiet), decorated in the pietra dura tradition: flowers inlaid in mother of pearl petals, black stone stems and leaves, and a burst of orange and purple semi-precious stone for the colourful bloom on the left. The lid sits perfectly on the base, which is carved through on all sides in a delicate Moorish lattice pattern — interlocking trefoils and hexagons, all cut by hand.

Soapstone carving has been a Rajasthani craft tradition for centuries. This piece is a fine example of the tourist-quality export work produced in the 1970s — which, despite the label, was often genuinely skilled and beautiful. This one certainly is.

• Origin: Rajasthan, India
• Material: hand-carved soapstone with mother of pearl and semi-precious stone inlay
• Style: pietra dura floral inlay, Moorish lattice sides
• Period: c.1970s
• Dimensions: 10.5 x 8 x 3 cm
• Weight: 235 grams
• Condition: vintage, consistent with age

WARNING: Place this on your bedside table and you will immediately feel the need to fill it with something worthy — rings, secrets, or at minimum a very good piece of chocolate. Maison de L'oro accepts no responsibility for any subsequent obsession with Rajasthani craftsmanship or the urge to redecorate your entire bedroom in jewel tones.