The Art of Inlay

Inlay is the art of assembling and gluing natural materials like ivory, stone, bark, straw, shells, wood, and etc. to decorate a surface. The earliest known inlayed object is a Mesopotamian limestone bowl with some shell pieces embedded in it, dated around 3000 SC. Another early example is a shell-inlaid wooden coffin from the Yin Dynasty (1300 BC – 220 BC). Today, the craft is considered something of a dying art because very few succeed in this tedious craft as it can only be achieved in traditional techniques by hand.

The unique and traditional craft of inlay is labour intensive and meticulous as we put a huge focus on controlled quality down to the smallest detail to deliver the best product. A distinctly human touch goes into all our products adding an element of exclusivity and outstanding handiwork. The material, shell, or stone is hand-cut delicately with utmost attention to detail, down to specific measurements to fit pieces like a puzzle. They are then hand-inlayed or assembled on the surface that which the materials are applied, and then finished to quality standards and craftsmanship. The end result is a stunning surface with the highlight of the intricate details of the inlay.

The more complex the design of the product, of course, the more hours are dedicated into work. Handcrafted bespoke products such as these are often of greater value compared to mass produced furniture because one product can never be the same with another just as each stone, shell, and any natural material would differ from the other.

This traditional handcrafted technique of inlay, akin to any other works of art done by hand, gives us the benefit of tactility. It is perhaps only when we physically interact with the tangible natural materials we work with, that we sense each of the materials’ unique attributes bringing out their best qualities. Like people, natural materials have different “personalities”, shell with its luster, stone with its natural grading and color, and bamboo and coconut with its unique texture. With that we strive to make each material and its qualities stand out with the right design and pattern.