Term for the Day: Inlay

Mother of Pearl inlay on a table and an inlaid paper knife

A decorative technique used in a variety of arts, inlay is the process of pieces of contrasting materials of different colors into a base object in order to create patterns. Common materials used in inlay are mother of pearl, horn, shell, bone, ivory or exotic woods. Pietra Dure is a type of inlay involving the insertion of colored stone into a neutrally colored marble. Marquetry refers to the assemble of differently colored wood veneers to create a pattern. The art of inlay has been practiced for many centuries and is still employed today in the creation of furniture, decorative items and musical instruments.