Three beautiful girls recline upon dark marble stairs before a giant wooden door that’s been most probably hand made in - wait for it - Swat Valley. Oh the irony! The same Swat Valley that’s been so mercilessly raped by the barbaric Taliban is actually a serene idyllic place renowned for its natural beauty and ancient civilization. Swati woodworkers are highly skilled artisans that have been practicing the art of woodworking for centuries. Using their own traditional tools, they carve wondrous works of art out of the region’s famed deodar wood.
The dark marble comes from Baluchistan, the largest province by area. Baluchistan is rich in all kinds of mineral resources, and Baluchi marble is used all over Pakistan to decorate facades and veneers of all kinds of buildings. Colors ranging from black, white through to green and even pink make Baluchi marble a low cost yet versatile building solution. What is it with the female form and marble? Indic poets often tend to metaphorically compare feminine beauty with the smooth, luxurious feel of marble. Smooth, yes, but definitely not as cold!
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