THE PRACTICE
Stonemasonry is one of the oldest occupations of human civilization. From the ancient stone cairns piled up by the hands of Neolithic people whose purpose we can only guess at, to the intricate stonework that we see around us in modern cities. The practice of working stone and using it to build is something humans have been doing since time immemorial.
History of Humanity in Stone
The history of humanity is recorded in stone. Standing stones to denote places of social and religious importance gave way to early stone buildings, often with religious significance. Monuments created by the ancients still stand today, a testament to the hands that formed them. The ancient pyramids of Egypt, the architectural innovations of the Greeks and Romans, the temples of the Incas… much of the imagery that we have come to associate with a time or place comes from the lasting monuments produced by the culture.
The stonemason, then, has one of the most important jobs in any society, and perhaps more so in a world that is quickly losing many of its traditional skills. Those who mine the stone, work the stone and build with the stone are responsible for creating something that exists beyond their lifetime; a monument to civilization, a lasting memorial to the skill of the stonemason.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the work of the Ustaji. Working with the pure brilliant white marble of Makrana, known for its resilience, strength, and longevity, the Ustaji elevate stone from the earth to the level of Art. The wonder of Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, the Jain Dilwara Temple or the Birla Temple of Jaipur stand testament to the skills of the Ustaji ancestors.
This is the calling of the stonemason; to transform the stone under our feet into the buildings and monuments that tower over our heads and those of generations yet to come.