In spite of the huge use of metals and other materials, the use of stone in utility items and decorative articles are still in demand. In India, stone art has gained immense prominence as an expressive form of architecture and sculpture. In Indian sculpture, several figures are exemplary of the tradition and the deft of this stone art. Historical evidence unfolds that the stone art in India came during the Maurya dynasty. The centre of Maurya dynasty was in Bihar. It was in Bihar, for the first time the artistry of carved stone was introduced.

The stone art in India was the preferred mode for giving form to the deities in the early centuries of Christian era. At that time Vedic beliefs gave rise to Hinduism. The initiation of the Gupta era gave rise to the classical era of Indian sculpture from when the usage of deities are formed in stones and are found in an umpteen numbers. During the thirteenth century, the Cholas initiated the era for sculpture in the South India. During the ninth to fourteenth century, temples in India were built keeping in mind the sculptural advancement. Just not the stone art, then a matchless union of marble work was also seen. The temples of Khajuraho(Madhya Pradesh), the temples at Konarak (Orissa) and the temple of Dilwara temple at Mount Abu(Rajasthan) ,which is exemplary for its elegance in marble work remain legendary for their fabulous sculptural deft.

A more contemporary approach in stone art is seen with the introduction of the soapstone art. Soapstone which is another material for the creation of sculpture is found in different places in India. Soapstone is largely used for making tourist souvenirs and small items of decoration and pots. The craft of soapstones are found in ample amount basically in Varanasi and in Gukulpura , the suburb of Agra.