In India, the lotus rises clean from still water, and it has long stood for beauty, light and new beginnings. That makes it a fitting centrepiece for Diwali, when homes are swept, lit and made ready to welcome good fortune.

This platter is cut from a single slab of white marble and shaped by hand into a soft scalloped arch. A carved groove traces its edge. Within it, a fine line of brass is set into the stone and polished until it catches the light. At the centre sits a crimson lotus with its stem, leaves and two closed buds. Each piece of [semi-precious stone] is cut, shaped and fitted into the marble by hand. This is parchin kari, the same inlay craft that adorns the Taj Mahal, passed down through generations of artisan families in Agra.

Use it to serve mithai at Diwali or to hold diyas and flowers for puja. Between festivals, let it sit on a console or coffee table as a piece in its own right.