Fun House Furnishings & Design: The Buzz on Bone Inlay

As I was flipping through the June Issue of Elle Decor and admiring all of the beautiful pictures, something made me stop in my tracks: a beautiful bone inlay chair. Designers Jon Call and Alexa Hampton talked about the perks of incorporating bone inlay into projects and Elle Decor listed their "Top 10 Bone Inlay Pieces," all of which were stunning. Because I think any kind of inlay is so great, I was inspired to dig a little deeper.

Although some may think bone inlay is a relatively new trend, in reality it has been an art practiced for centuries by artisans in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Bone inlay is also known as intarsia, which is derived from the latin word "interserere," which means "to insert." Intarsia involves inlaying sections of wood with either bone, ivory, or shell. An illusion of depth is created between the wood and the bone. In the past, due to the painstaking process, bone inlay was only something that people who belonged to an elite class were able to have in their homes. Nowadays, sometimes plastic or resins are substituted, making the pieces less expensive. It is important when buying pieces of inlay to make sure they are from a reputable source, because bone, shell, and ivory hold up a lot better than plastic or resin.

My sister, and fellow co-worker, Margaux, recently graduated from High Point University (the furniture capital) with a degree in interior design. When I showed her the piece in Elle Decor, she told me that bone inlay is also similar to a practice called marquetry. Marquetry is the art of applying pieces of veneer in order to create patterns, deigns, or pictures on a solid surface. Wood is the primary veneer used in marquetry, however bone, ivory, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, pewter, brass, or fine metals can also be used.

Examples of Marquetry:

When Jane and Jennifer attended the New York Gift Fair in August of 2011 they ordered a spectacular hot pink inlay chest of drawers from Manglam Arts, a company known for their unique designs, creativity, and innovations in the furniture field. This chest took us a full year to get, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. When it finally arrived in the Fall of 2012, we couldn't resist putting it in the very front of our store next to a fabulous pair of white and hot pink Century Hoop Back Arm Chairs. It was impossible not to notice that chest when you walked through the doors of Fun House. Because this is such a special piece, it takes a specific customer whose home has just the right space for it. I have fantasized about putting this chest in a white foyer, or even a bedroom to add a great pop of color. Wherever it ends up, it will most certainly be a conversation piece, and an heirloom that will be treasured for years to come.