8 Marvels of the World | Taj Mahal, India
Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum. An elaborate miniature painting graces the white marble dial. It depicted the architectural details of the Taj Mahal. The dome rests on an inverted lotus-shaped drum. It is surrounded by smaller secondary domes, as well as four free-standing minarets. They have an octagonal base and a tapered cylindrical body. Vertically, the minarets are divided into three parts by two different balconies.
In front of the Taj Mahal, the turquoise part evokes the water of one of the garden’s canals. A polished and rhodium-plated grid is affixed to the dial. It gives the work a depth effect and is adorned with ornamental motifs reminiscent of the moucharabieh windows found in traditional architecture.
The case is hand-engraved with ornamental representations of the Taj Mahal and Indian mandala patterns, complemented by an engraving of a Mughal motif on the bezel. The subtle work on the upstrokes and downstrokes creates a pleasing decorative contrast.
