Inlaying Techniques: Everything You Need to Know

Interested in unique art techniques? From sculpture to decorative arts, learn everything you need to know about the history of inlay in art and inlaying techniques.

What is inlay in art?

Inlay is an artistic technique commonly represented in furniture, decorative arts, and even musical instruments. To achieve a collage-like image on a flat surface, the craftsman cuts into the surface of wood or stone and inserts stone, metal, resin, wood, or other precious materials into the cut-out space. These inserted pieces then become flush with the surface of the wood or stone, creating a unique two-dimensional image made of various materials.

As a staple feature of fine art and fine woodworking, inlay processes have evolved throughout the centuries. Inlay work can be created using either machinery like a lathe, or hand tools, such as a bow saw. The differing mechanisms allow for expansive varieties of shapes, creating geometric, intricate or simple designs. Far from an archaic art, inlay has a rich history and has made a lasting impact on the art and design world. Though technology has progressed to streamline the inlay process, inlay remains a highly technical and intricate art that is still practiced today.

Stone inlay techniques

Grand Ducal Pietre Dure Console Tables. 17th Century. M.S. Rau.

Grand Duke Ferdinando I de Medici, one of the most important personages in the annals of art history, established the famed Grand Ducal workshops in Florence in 1588. By refining the ancient art of opus sectile, the workshop specialized in the art of pietre dure, giving rise to the most luxurious and detailed examples of hardstone inlay artistry ever produced. Its patrons were the nobility and clergy of Europe, and the quality of the objects produced in the workshop is without equal.

Typically, due to the high level of workmanship the art form requires, pietre dure plaques were crafted in small sizes. The technique was both expensive and time-consuming, requiring not only precious materials but also highly skilled craftsmen. As a result, true pietre dure works are very rare, highly collectible and stand as works of astonishing beauty.

Here is a quick guide into the pietre dure process, a craft still being executed in the Paci Workshop in Florence.

Grand Duke Ferdinando I de Medici. 16th Century.

Historic Pietre Dure Workshop Museum. 2013. Firenze.

How Pietre Dure works:

1. Colorful stones are collected. In Florence, the famous pietre dure stones are hand-selected from the banks of the Arno River. To most craftsmen, this is the most difficult step. In order to make the image come alive, the hue, texture and line of the stone need to be perfectly precise.

2. A traditional bow saw is used to cut the stone into 3-4mm slices. This meticulous process, done completely by hand, is often arduous, as the skill of using the bow saw requires years of refined muscle memory.

3. The stone is glued to a piece of backing slate to strengthen it. This is the reason pietre dure tables crafted over three centuries ago are still in pristine condition— they were built to last.

4. The design is traced onto paper and the most difficult-to-craft flower motifs are made first. Each shape is then cut out of paper and glued to the stone.

5. The stone is cut using the bow saw at a 30-degree angle so that when the individual pieces are put together, only the edge of the finished surface needs to be filled.

6. The pieces are placed face down and the space at the back is filled first with a mixture of glue and chalk, and then with glue.

7. The background stone is made using the same tracing and sawing techniques as the colorful stone pieces. Using paper shapes, the outline of the design is marked out on the background stone. The edges are then filled and the mosaic pieces are glued into the background stone to create a beautiful inlay design.

8. The glue is removed from the back and substituted with gesso.

9. The back is polished to level it and it is glued to a sheet of slate.

10. The mosaic front is polished by hand first using agate, a hard stone, and then successively finer grades of emery.

11. Optimal shine is achieved through wax application and subsequent buffing.

Source: Victoria & Albert Museum with Paci Workshop.

Metal inlay techniques

Eastern Origins

Chinese metal inlay flask. 3rd Century BCE. Smithsonian Institute.

Metal inlay, though similar to stone inlay, was its own unique and sophisticated art that was developed and perfected in East Asia. One of the earliest masterpieces of inlay is observed through a study of a 3rd-century BCE Chinese ceremonial flask made of bronze inlaid with silver, now held in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.

Metalwork at Mosul

“The Homberg Ewer.“ Signed by Ahmad al-Dhaki al-Mawsili, Mosul. Circa 1242. The Keir Collection of Islamic Art, on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art.

In the 13th century artisans in Mosul, Iraq, further elaborated metal inlay techniques and the city became renowned for masterful metalwork and Islamic art. The craftsmen of Mosul used bronze and brass inlaid with silver and gold, and further decorated with elaborate designs and religious inscriptions. In a feat of technical innovation, the workshops of Mosul would place strips of precious metals on undercut pieces of brass and bronze in such a way that no irregularities were apparent. This technique was later brought to Damascus where it was further exalted. From the trade routes at Damascus, the European metalworkers adopted, adapted and exalted Islamic metalwork technique, making it the gold standard for metal inlay.

Techniques Spread

Toledo Damascene Urn, Zamboanga Style. Circa 1880. M.S. Rau

This beautiful damascene (named after Damascus) urn was created by a Spanish craftsmen emulating the style of metalwork that originated in Syria/Damascus. The incredibly fine oxidized steel with gold inlay is congruent with the organic motifs used by craftsmen in the Zamboanga Peninsula of the Philippines. The Spanish first arrived in Zamboanga in 1521, establishing a colony that supported troops and missionaries and effectively gave Spain a foothold in Asia. Once the metalworkers in Toledo, Spain, discovered the area was already known for its rich deposits of steel and other metals, they soon made their way to the colony, bringing with them their world-renowned damascene techniques. This style of metalwork flourished in Zamboanga, along with other aspects of Hispanic culture, so much so that even today the area is coined as "Asia's Latin City."

Modern Adaptations

Silver and Copper Niello Pitcher by Tiffany & Co. 19th Century. M.S. Rau.

Even today, modern firms, such as Tiffany & Co., have created intricate metalwork in homage to the great artisans of the past. This pitcher, for example, features an intricate wave motif, serving as a prime example of the influence of Edward C. Moore, the notable head of Tiffany's silver who was greatly inspired by Asian decorative arts. The darkened coloration of the copper is thanks to the inlay technique known as niello, where a blackened copper mixture is added as a powder or paste between the engraved silver, creating the desired contrasting effect.

Wood inlay techniques

Andre Charles Boulle (1642-1732) was a French cabinetmaker who undeniably revolutionized the craft of wood inlay, though his monumental impact on the decorative art world cannot be understood as a purely innovative stroke of genius. Boulle famously studied the many different cultural adaptations of inlay, combining them into a unique furniture marquetry that would define western furniture decor for centuries beyond his time.

The Royal Boulle Marquetry Commode by Blake. Circa 1820. M.S. Rau.

Boulle’s art of wood inlay, also known as marquetry, involved thin sheets of brass, copper and other metals, as well as opulent materials such as tortoiseshell, ivory and mother-of-pearl, to create intricate designs, a common style in the Baroque era. Boulle's work was highly sought after in his time and his influence as an inlay artist can still be seen in the works of many contemporary artisans. Here is a quick guide to Boulle's revolutionary marquetry art technique:

Veneers are cut (typically brass or tortoiseshell) into strips that were slightly thinner than the thickness of the wood he used as a base.
The design is cut with a marquetry knife into the veneer strips. Much like with the pietre dure technique, these pieces ultimately fit together with little to no gaps––like a flat puzzle.
The veneers are secured with a thin but strong wood glue on the base wood.
Veneer edges are trimmed on the base wood, creating a flush two-dimensional surface.
The marquetry is made to shine by both sanding and sealing the wood.

Inlay vs. Marquetry

Although this distinction may seem simple, it is often confusing. Marquetry is a form of inlay, but the main difference between inlay and marquetry is that inlay involves cutting into the surface of the wood and inserting individual pieces of precious materials into the cut-out spaces, while marquetry involves laying flat pieces of veneer onto the surface and cutting them into the desired shape to create a picture. Both processes have been refined throughout the centuries and elicit a similar product, but the technique themselves are the inverse of one another.

Types of Inlay:

French Louis XVI Floral Marquetry Side Table. 19th Century. M.S. Rau.

Pietre Dure Plaque by Tito Francolini. 1900. M.S. Rau.

Japanese Komai Damascene Cigarette Case. 19th Century. M.S. Rau.

Collector’s Quick Guide:

Inlay artwork is a decorative technique that involves embedding one material within another to create a pattern or design.

Do your research: Are you interested in stone, metal, resin or wood inlay? Reach out to an expert to help you understand the inlay material you want to both acquire and admire.
Focus on quality over quantity: Some of the most magnificent inlay artworks are micromosaics and intricately created pieces of art. Don’t overlook the little guy.
Consider provenance: The decorative technique of inlay has a deep and rich history, so be sure to pick an item that is both sentimental and specific to you.
Look for signs of damage: Unlike paintings, an inlay piece of artwork is subject to specific chipping or mortar deterioration. Make sure you inspect your work for damage, it is easier to restore items when the issue is small.
Consider your environment: As with any work of art, it is best to store your inlay piece in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight or heat.

Interested in inlay and other rare art and antiques? Browse our extensive collection. And if you’re interested in other intricate art forms, discover everything you need to know about enameling techniques.

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