Inlay

Inlay, the process of setting small pieces of material into a solid background to create a decorative design. Inlay frequently consists of materials such as wood, brass, ivory, or tortoiseshell set into wood or metal. It depends for its effect on the contrast of colour and texture between the inlaid materials and the base; exotic woods, or a combination of ivory and subtly coloured woods, for example, produces designs of great beauty and delicacy. Niello is a type of inlay used on metal, particularly silver.

The usual method involves cutting the material to be inlaid into the shape of the desired design, which may be geometric or pictorial. It is then placed on to the background material and its outline traced with a sharp blade. A shallow recess is cut into the background material and the inlay glued into place. The resulting surface is usually, although not always, plane.

Inlay was generally used to decorate furniture, musical instruments and small wooden items such as trays and boxes. Particularly fine examples of inlay are found in Chinese furniture from the Ming dynasty (1368-1628) and furniture made in India for the European market in the 17th century and later. In Europe, inlay was used notably in the 16th and 17th centuries, the late 18th century and in the early 20th century in furniture influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement.