When you place bone inlay furniture or décor items in your home, you are enjoying the results of traditional knowledge acquired over many generations and the fine skills of individual craftspeople applied during weeks of painstaking work.

Zohi Interiors’ collection of bone inlay products is carefully crafted in Rajasthan, India. Delicately carved pieces of camel bone are set on fine timbers or metal – mosaic style – and filled with resins in a range of colours.

Because they are handcrafted in this way, with the slight flaws and imperfections of all natural materials, no two pieces are alike. Add the artisan’s individual creative touches and you have a unique product – quite literally a ‘one of a kind’ feature for any room.

As with all beautiful objects, you will want to take the best care of your bone inlay items. It’s easy, if you follow these simple tips:

Things you should do

• Dust all surfaces regularly. Use a soft, clean slightly dampened cloth
• After dusting, use a dry cloth to remove any trace of moisture
• In case of drips or spills, blot them with a soft absorbent cloth, then wipe the surface with a dry cloth
• Heat, cold or moisture can leave marks on bone inlay surfaces. Protect them by placing cork-backed coasters or placemats under glasses, cups, plates or vases
• Try to keep your bone inlay furniture in stable, moderate temperatures, with low humidity
• To avoid scratching and damage from lamps, boxes and other decorative items, always use mats with a soft backing.

Things you should not do

• Avoid placing anything wet or damp on your bone inlay furniture
• Never allow bone and resin filled pieces to be soaked in water; this will weaken the adhesives
• Do not allow hot objects to come into direct contact with bone inlay surfaces
• Do not subject bone inlay products to extreme heat or cold – such as heaters or coolers; this can cause the intricate pieces to expand or contract and damage the surface
• Keep your bone inlay out of direct sunlight; exposure to UV rays will cause fading and damage
• Never clean bone inlay with products that contain abrasives, acetone, bleach or other chemicals; these will damage delicate surfaces.

Things you should know

• Your bone inlay product is made from natural materials, with individual and varied characteristics. With age and exposure to light, it will take on a ‘patina’ and change colour. This mellowing effect often gives it an added richness
• Bone inlay surfaces are porous and will absorb water. The best protection is natural furniture wax –clear ‘virgin’ beeswax is ideal. It will act as a waterproof barrier, and also protect the resin filling from drying out
• Bone inlay products can be scratched and chipped if not handled carefully. Treat them gently and use clear beeswax polish on any minor surface scratches

You can be confident Zohi Interiors bone inlay products have been sourced from animals that died of natural causes. All items are produced following sustainable and responsible work practices, endorsed by Australian and Indian Government agencies.