inlaid

Inlaid describes a decorative technique in which pieces of a contrasting material are set into a base surface so that the top of the inserted pieces lies flush with the surrounding material. The inserted elements are typically cut to precise shapes and fitted into cavities or channels, then secured with adhesive and sometimes reinforced with bindings or pins. Inlay is used with a wide range of materials, including wood, shell or mother of pearl, ivory, metal, stone, and ceramic.

Two related terms often appear in discussions of the craft: inlay and intarsia. Inlay refers to the practice of creating a design by inserting pieces into a base surface, producing a continuous, flush plane. Intarsia generally builds a picture from many small pieces assembled as a panel; marquetry, by contrast, uses veneer cut and laid on the surface to form patterns rather than cutting into the base.

Historical use of inlay is widespread. In antiquity, objects in Mesopotamia and Egypt featured inlaid stone and shell; Islamic metalwork and architecture employed inlays of precious metals and stones; in Europe, wood inlays flourished in Renaissance, Baroque, and later furniture. Pietra dura, a stone-inlay technique associated with Italy, uses colored mineral slabs cut to shapes and fitted into a matrix.

Today, inlay remains a respected craft in furniture making, musical instruments, architecture, and decorative arts. Modern practice blends traditional handwork with modern tools, and can incorporate synthetic resins and new materials. Restoration and conservation also rely on understanding inlay techniques and the materials used.