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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Designs and patterns from Taj Mahal interiors

Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, is strikingly beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Here are some of the designs and motifs from inside of the Taj Mahal.

Various methods were used to decorate the walls and doors and domes. Paint, stucco, stone inlays, patterned tiles as well as carvings were used. As Islam does not allow human or animal forms, decorative calligraphy and abstract, geometric or plant patterns and motifs were used. The method depended on the surface of the area to be decorated.
designs on red sandstone at the Taj

White inlays were used in on red sandstone buildings and dark or black inlays on the white marble backgrounds. At times designs were created using contrasting paints, creating geometric designs.

Taj door and wall designs

Motifs of plants and flowers were used to create intricate designs above doorways and arches.
plant motifs on Taj doorway

Taj arched doorway designs

On floors contrasting tiles or blocks created striking patterns.
taj tiles

Here is an example of a ceiling of a dome of a sandstone building where the   incised art (cut into the surface) created intricate geometric patterns.
Taj ceiling art

Marble was carved into pretty flowery shapes.

marble carvings at the Taj


These are the two huge marble doors/windows at the Taj. The photo is taken from the outside.
Taj marble window

The painstaking work involved becomes clear when one sees the enormity of the Taj Mahal and the various arches, doorways, ceilings and floors which were decorated.

artistry on white marble at the Taj


carved marble at the Taj

In the pictures below two different designs from different areas have been included in one image.

In the picture below the design on the left is a close-up of the marble design seen in an image above. The dark metallic pattern on the right is part of a doorway.

close-ups of taj designs

The brown and black design on the left is a close-up of the geometric pattern used to decorate the marble. The sandstone slab on the right shows flowers and leaves with a geometric border on a red background.
close-ups of taj patterns

Here again are close-ups of two different designs. The first image is a part of a wall, at the bottom of it, and looks like a high ledge. The image below that  is a marble design on the wall of the Taj.
close-ups of taj art

For pictures of the outside/exterior of the Taj Mahal: The Taj Mahal at Agra



For more examples of Islamic Art: Designs from the Red Fort Agra or Agra Fort
or Designs from the Blue Mosque, Istanbul or The Great Mosque of Xian, China

Photo credits:  Pur-pler
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