Jalies are a very little known and extremely under-appreciated architectural art form in America. The medieval churches of Europe utilized jalies, especially in stained glass configurations. From Morocco to West Bengal, they are often used as shade screens, security grills, dividing walls, banister screens, fence lines, window screens, table plates for glass tops, and in buildings where there is a need for ambient lighting or temperature control. Traditionally seen in foyers, patios, courtyards, or gardens, we have an extensive photo catalog with over 350 designs, (on catalog CD)  showing how they can be used ornamentally and architecturally. We can carve them in a design of your creation. For more examples, please also see our temple section.  Jalies can incorporate art nouveu, art deco, Mediterranean, and a host of other design motifs, apart from the more usual Persian geometric themes. Often they are at least two inches thick, and cannot be broken easily. The stone is structurally stronger than cement, and it would take a very forceful hammer to crack the pattern. A dramatic context for jalies is a setting where sunlight or nightlight shadow patterns are stretched along the floor and opposing wall of the light source.

This romantic effect is well worth the effort of creating a dividing wall or balcony screen out of this material.

Many examples of grilles can be shown as attractive walls. See Building Projects for examples.