EST. 1974

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Handcrafted Heirloom Furniture

Udaipur in India, also known as the ‘white city’, is home to a magical tumble of temples, palaces, countless rooftop-dwelling monkeys and the workshop which produces our signature inlay furniture. We’ve been commissioning inlay furniture since Jamie and his mum, G&G founder Antonia Graham, first visited the workshops of Udaipur in the 1990s. Today we still work with the same workshop, which employs more than 350 craftspeople, some of them third- or fourth-generation Master Craftsmen working from their own studios in the surrounding villages.

Artisan hand crafts a mother of pearl inlay chest of drawers Artisan hand crafts a mother of pearl inlay chest of drawers
The craftsmanship of our mother-of-pearl and bone inlay furniture
A stylish bedroom nightstand with a white and green inlaid design, featuring two drawers with circular knobs and tapered wooden legs. The nightstand is adorned with a textured terracotta lamp with a straw shade, a small green plant in a ceramic pot, a decA stylish bedroom nightstand with a white and green inlaid design, featuring two drawers with circular knobs and tapered wooden legs. The nightstand is adorned with a textured terracotta lamp with a straw shade, a small green plant in a ceramic pot, a dec
Zarina Green Stripe Bone Inlay Bedside Table
A close-up of a stylish bedside table with a white and green bone inlay pattern, featuring a round, white knob. On top of the table, there is a modern, textured ceramic pot with a lush green Pilea plant, and two amber glass bottles with droppers in the baA close-up of a stylish bedside table with a white and green bone inlay pattern, featuring a round, white knob. On top of the table, there is a modern, textured ceramic pot with a lush green Pilea plant, and two amber glass bottles with droppers in the ba
Details of the Zarina Stripe Bone Inlay Bedside Table

How is Bone Inlay Made? 

Each of these exquisite, heirloom bone inlay and mother-of-pearl pieces takes weeks of painstaking and highly skilled work. First, a wooden frame is crafted and the pattern design is drawn onto this frame to work out positioning. Then each detail of the inlay pattern – which can be minuscule – is individually carved from mother-of-pearl or bone and sanded into shape. This is the hardest part and requires expert attention-to-detail, particularly when using mother-of-pearl, which is thin and prone to breaking.

 

Once all the inlay pieces are fixed to the frame, coloured resin is pasted around the pattern to form the background. Specially hand-mixed for each piece, the slightest variation in quantities (or even the weather) can result in slight changes to the colour or texture of the resin, making every inlay item subtly unique. Once the resin is dry, the furniture is sanded to make sure the levels and finish are even. The process is repeated and repeated, until finally the inlay pattern begins to emerge in the resin.

What makes Bone Inlay so special?

For us, the beauty of inlay is the flexibility to create completely different patterns on the same furniture designs. We work with talented artisans to create a variety of designs, from traditional inlay patterns found in Rajasthani palaces to more contemporary geometric designs inlaid into boldly coloured resin. Although all designs require the expertise of craftsmen who have passed down techniques through generations, it is often the more contemporary geometric designs that are the most challenging to execute, as expert precision is required for the sharp lines and methodical design.

A beautifully styled interior featuring a three-drawer chest with an intricate yellow and white bone inlay pattern, standing on tapered wooden legs. The chest is adorned with green glass vases holding pink flowers, a brass lamp with a bold red shade, and A beautifully styled interior featuring a three-drawer chest with an intricate yellow and white bone inlay pattern, standing on tapered wooden legs. The chest is adorned with green glass vases holding pink flowers, a brass lamp with a bold red shade, and
Jaipur Bone Inlay Chest of Drawers
A close-up of a chest of drawers featuring an intricate yellow and white bone inlay pattern with geometric star motifs. The drawer has a carved white knob, and the chest stands on a wooden tapered leg with a brass-capped tip. The piece rests on a light-coA close-up of a chest of drawers featuring an intricate yellow and white bone inlay pattern with geometric star motifs. The drawer has a carved white knob, and the chest stands on a wooden tapered leg with a brass-capped tip. The piece rests on a light-co
Details of the Jaipur Bone Inlay Chest of Drawers
A beautifully detailed green and white bone inlay chest of drawers featuring intricate floral patterns and multiple drawers with round, carved knobs. The chest is styled with a glass-based green lamp with a velvet shade, a potted plant, a decorative lemonA beautifully detailed green and white bone inlay chest of drawers featuring intricate floral patterns and multiple drawers with round, carved knobs. The chest is styled with a glass-based green lamp with a velvet shade, a potted plant, a decorative lemon
Jade Green Floral Bone Inlay Small Double Chest of Drawers
A close-up view of the leg and lower section of a green and white bone inlay chest of drawers, showcasing intricate geometric and floral patterns. The leg features delicate inlay work with a symmetrical cross motif.A close-up view of the leg and lower section of a green and white bone inlay chest of drawers, showcasing intricate geometric and floral patterns. The leg features delicate inlay work with a symmetrical cross motif.
Close up of the Jade Green Floral Bone Inlay Small Double Chest of Drawers

How to style bone inlay pieces within your home

These beautifully intricate pieces add colour and texture to any space. The magic lies in the delightful contrast of polished inlay and colour. The polished bone has a gentle lustre, while mother-of-pearl, originally from oyster shells, has a wonderfully varied iridescence. Depending on whether the resin used is a soft white or vibrant green, the result can be one of joyous bohemian pattern or understated elegance. Beautiful, handmade and unique, few things say ‘India’ like inlay.

 

Click here to explore our full range of beautiful, hand-crafted mother of pearl and bone inlay furniture and home accessories.