We all love to decorate our homes with unique furniture, but sometimes it can be hard to find something that is both beautiful and also functional. Bone inlay furniture is the perfect solution for anyone who wants something unique and stylish for their home. With so many options for bone inlay furniture available, you are sure to find exactly what you're looking for!

So why is bone inlay furniture so popular? If you would like to learn more, please feel free to continue reading below. 

What Is Bone Inlay Furniture?

Bone inlay is a process that involves using animal bones and other materials such as abalone shell (also known as Mother of Pearl), brass, glass or timber to create finely detailed patterns on wooden surfaces. The process for making bone inlay furniture begins with craftsmen adhering little pieces of carved material onto a timber surface in an intricate pattern. The patterns can range from simplistic geometric patterns to complex floral, arabesque, quatrefoil or interlocking elements. The patterns are inspired by a variety of cultures across the world and can include motifs from any country, making it only limited by one's imagination. Sometimes the bone is dyed a colour such as emerald or indigo.

After the inlay is in place the surrounding areas are filled with coloured resin. The colours of the resin are also as vast as your imagination. We use HEX Colour Codes or Pantone Colour Codes to pinpoint what colours are required. We normally stock black, white and grey options but you can select your true hearts desire as bone inlay can be made to order. 

As a final step in the process a matte wax is used to polish the whole piece and create a smooth finish. Polyeurethane can also be applied for an even-smoother and/or glossy finish. 

Today, bone inlay furniture is recognised as an elegant and luxurious addition to any home!

As bone inlay is made by hand, its relatively easy to tailor the dimensions, configuration or design of any piece. Have you seen something you love but its too big or too small? That's easily fixed! 

Why Is Bone Inlay Furniture Popular?

Bone inlay homewares and furniture are becoming more and more popular because they are durable, versatile and stylish. You can create beautiful pieces using bone inlay that will make any room in your house look extra classy, especially if choosing a bespoke option. It can be made to look soft and subtle or bold and dramatic  - or anywhere in between. 

Interior designers love bone inlay because they can create a truly tailored and unique look with definite designer look. 

In the past inlay was the treasure of royalty. It has a long and illustrious history. In the modern era, its still a treat yet affordable for many. In a time such as ours, when so much furniture and many household objects are machine made and confined to the specifications of a jig, bone inlay stands apart in its ability to be customised to your specific requirements and desires. 

What Is The History Behind Bone Inlay Furniture?

Bone was one of the first materials used for jewellery and decoration by early humans. They would use small pieces together with shells, stone fragments, or claws to decorate themselves after hunting game animals like deer. Over time, people began designing more elaborate items out of these decorative objects which led eventually to bone inlay being used in other applications.

Countries in the Middle East and Africa have used inlay in various forms for millennia. It really rose to prominence in India in the era of the Moghul Emperors who commissioned artists to craft magnificent buildings such as the Taj Mahal as well as palaces and gardens features which are inlaid with marble and semi-precious stones. The Maharajas of beautiful Rajasthan also had the artisans make stunning furniture and other objects in this fashion. And who could blame them?! 

one, in particular, is used for its durability, hardness, flexibility, and glossiness and can also be polished into different colours. It can be cut into thin strips or carved into paisleys or rounded pieces. It can be applied to rounded surfaces or flat surfaces. As mentioned above you can also apply protective treatments such as lacquer or varnish to prevent scratches or damage. Due to its great adaptability, inlay has evolved over the centuries and now you can select traditional and classic designs or those with a decidedly modern look and feel.      

Is Bone Inlay Furniture Durable and Long-Lasting?

Bone inlay furniture is made from a combination of different materials and techniques that offers a combination between strength and aesthetic appeal without being too cumbersome or difficult to move around.

Whilst timbers such as rosewood, teak and ebony were used in the past to craft the furniture substrate, in the modern world the industry used much more mango wood. Mango wood is used widely for timber furniture because it offers a balance between speed of growth, sustainability, cost effectiveness and ability to be worked. It is considered the most appropriate timber to use in the furniture industry. For those living in very humid environments, it is possible to order a teak substrate which quite a bit heavier and a little more expensive but will not warp in high rainfall Equatorial locations. 

On the surface, bone inlay furniture is fragile and delicate; however, when carved from durable hardwoods with a deep lacquer finish applied to it for protection, your bone inlay furniture will last for a long time.

Additionally, bone inlay furniture remains strong and long lasting due to its durability against moisture absorption. Unlike most furniture that is made entirely out of wood, bone inlay furniture isn’t prone to rotting or warping. The surface is also known to naturally resist wear-and-tear and other damage like scratches or dents caused by careless handling.

It is also worth noting that the owner should take proper care of their bone inlay furniture. This entails cleaning and waxing on a regular basis using recommended products to keep your bone-inlay piece looking its best for years to come!

What Types Of Designs Are Available?

Bone inlay furniture is known to be made with intricate designs. Some common themes are flat-patterned swirls, geometric shapes such as squares or triangles, twisted patterns, stripes, or even minimal inlay with large areas of coloured resin such as our Brass Dot range.

One of the most popular styles in bone inlay furniture has to be the traditional floral design, quickly followed by our "Celtic" geometric design. The "Celtic" pattern has become popular in all types of homewares including tiles and textiles. It is characterised by a circle inside a circle with a star shape. It works particular well in black or grey but really can be used with any colour.  Flowers and leaves are perennially popular and our lovely "Scroll" pattern gives them a modern treatment. Other striking patterns include "Wallpaper", "Arabesque", "Quatrefoil" and "Ikat".

The underlying design of a furniture piece can sport a country luxe look with provincial features or, for a contemporary look brass look legs and a square design are entirely suitable. 

Bone inlay is a sign of true craftsmanship and dedication to artistry. The intricate designs can take hours, days or even weeks for the artist to create. However, there is no way to measure their uniqueness. Every piece offers you something distinctive that not all other pieces will have. There are various styles of bone inlay furniture that you can find, all of which depend on the creator and the vision they have for the furniture.

Is Bone Inlay Furniture High Quality?

Bone inlay is one of the oldest woodworking techniques available and dates back to 5,000 years ago! Fortunately for us today, high-quality bone inlay furniture is still being made by highly skilled craftsmen. Additionally, you can find bone inlay furniture incorporated with materials such as silver, metal or Mother of Pearl. Together with the techniques used to make these stunning pieces you can be satisfied that the timber and materials used are of the best possible quality as well. 

Bone inlay furniture is popular for many reasons. It's full of history, it has a natural organic beauty that can't be replicated with other materials and it represents the hard work of skilled craftsmen who created something out of nothing. For these reasons and more, bone inlay furniture will always have an interesting story to tell about its roots and where it came from. If you're looking for beautiful pieces made by traditional craftsmen that are totally unique, check out our website or give us a call!