Inlay is what?

Often in the books or articles you can find the words "inlaid" or "incrustation". Often, furniture and various art objects are said to be "encrusted with gold," or "silver," or "precious stones." But what does this mean? You will find the answer in the article, and in addition, you will learn how to perform the inlay yourself.

What does this mean

Inlaying is a kind of mosaic, when on a wooden basis by means of embedding are applied patterns from plates of other material, most often precious metals. The name of this art form comes from the Latin word incrustatio, which in translation means "cover".

Inserts with inlays should be on the same level with the wooden surface of the product. A variety of materials are used for coating:

• Metals;
• gems;
• marble;
• ceramics;
• tree;
• Ivory;
• nacre.

Inlay is a phenomenon known from ancient times and successfully developing to this day.

In antiquity

In many countries of the Ancient East, the incrustation served as a complement to the elements of architecture and decoration of statues (in particular, this technique performed the eyes).

Masters of Ancient Egypt were famous for their ability to decorate various items of ebony with insets of precious stones, ivory, blue and white faience. So it turned out richly inlaid furniture, as well as sarcophagi, chests, chests, etc.

In ancient Greece and Rome, ivory was mainly used, which was very valuable and very difficult to process the material. From it were cut vegetable and animal ornaments, sometimes human figures. Usually so decorated objects made of monophonic material.

In the Middle Ages

In the XI-XIII centuries. The era of the Italian Renaissance breathed new life into the ancient traditions of art, including the design of finished products. The masters carried out the most complicated work on the production of intricate patterns and panels, which were applied to architectural structures made of white stone. As materials for inlay, mainly used precious stones, as well as marble.

At this time there was a famous and unusually complex Florentine mosaic, in which the effect of this pictorial canvas is achieved with the help of a special combination of colors and shades of ornamental stones.

Not only metals and stones

Inlay is a multifaceted area of decor, and it has its own subspecies. These include the following techniques of decorating the surface:

• Notch (metal to metal);
• Marquetry (veneer, or single-layer facing plywood, wood);
• Intarsia.

On the last variety, we will stop separately. Intarsia is inlaid with wood in a tree. The basis is cut plates from another type of wood, which must necessarily differ in color and structure. The basis is usually the tree of dark rocks, and the decoration - light.

This technique originated in Ancient Egypt, and its heyday reached in medieval Italy. This art was used mainly for mosaic decoration of church architecture and interior decoration.

In modern decorative art, intarsia is widely used along with other types of inlay.

A separate, the most modern variety of inlay can be called decoration with rhinestones. In total, there are three methods of applying brilliant crystals:

• A solid surface (plastic, metal, glass, ceramics);
• Textiles (clothes, shoes, bags, etc.);
• Human body (crystal tattoos).

In each case, their own peculiarities and limitations, but combines all three methods of using a special glue, which is attached to the miniature crystals.

Inlaid with rhinestones is a very laborious and delicate work, for which a variety of tools are used, from tweezers to toothpicks.

Inlay ourselves

If you have an interest in art craft, you can do it yourself. A home-made inlay is not very difficult.

Wizards apply two methods, depending on the size and complexity of the insert.

The first method is for a simple drawing:

1. Determine the size, shape and location of the insert.
2. Cut out the detail.
3. Apply it to the surface of the product and draw a contour with a sharp tool.
4. According to the drawing, a notch (nest) is made.
5. They put in the insert.

The second method is for an openwork ornament, when the insertion of a small size and complex shape:

1. A pattern is applied to the substrate.
2. A shallow incision is made along its contour.
3. The cutter selects a notch with slightly bevelled edges.
4. The surface of the bottom and the back of the inserts are roughened for better adhesion.
5. Adjust the inserts according to the notches.
6. Secure the insert with a special glue.
7. The surface is carefully leveled.

Inlay on wood with your own hands can be done without any special tools. But the process is not easy and time consuming. The result is not disappointing: you get an unusually and stylishly decorated product, whether it is furniture, cooking utensils or decorative objects.

Often artists perform imitation of inlay - when the grooves in the wood are applied color pastes, mixed with glue. Thus, you can create the effect of a tortoise shell, ivory, ebony, and also precious stones: malachite, turquoise, etc.

Craft inlay, originated in the Ancient World, remains relevant and in demand in contemporary art of decor.