Craftmanship Showcase Series- Mother of Pearl Inlay Masters of India

Sumptuous styles in Indian furniture traditions still celebrate the full beauty of white mother of pearl and 'blue mother of pearl' (New Zealand Paua). Today, our friends from Artecraft International take us through a brief journey featuring timeless designs as well as innovative, modern inlay creations.

Artecraft started their journey with inlay work in 1990, but the tradition of mother-of-pearl inlay in India dates back centuries. The Taj Mahal itself, completed in 1648 AD, where semi-precious stones and mother-of-pearl are intricately inlaid in marble, is testament to the profound history of this craft.

Another striking marvel is the Fatehpur Sikri near Agra - Grave of Hazrat Salim Chisti . Blue Mother Of Pearl (Paua Shell) is used in 1478 along with wooden pillars.

These monuments were a great source of inspiration for the creator of Artecraft, whose work carries great respect for Indian craftsmanship. In India, inlaid furniture pieces, often adorned with Mother of Pearl and Ivory, were once prized possessions of Royal families. Here, inlaid furniture is synonymous to intense sensitivity and skilled craftsmanship. This ancient art form is not only a tribute to the past but a promise for the future.

Classic & Modern Creativity Within the Same Brand

'Artecraft (Est 1985) have sealed their respect for tradition, including when designing modern styles, by creating ANVI LIFESTYLE brand in 2001. 'The inlays are modelled on subjects inspired by the major eras of the past: even now they are entirely handcrafted and up to several dozen different essences are used. In many cases, they are embellished with mother of pearl.
All other phases in the production cycle are carried out mainly by hand. This precise and minute process ensures that each single piece is a work of art.'

Jewelry Cuts For Furniture Inlay

'Everyone at Artecraft International works passionately with mother of pearl.
In our furniture designs, we’ve incorporated various intricate cuts of mother-of-pearl, much like in fine jewellery. We approach furniture making as crafting jewels, ensuring that each piece exudes the elegance and sophistication of jewellery. We began with the flat cut, a simple and plain mother-of-pearl surface, which is widely used across the world.'

'However, we went beyond this standard by creating the mother-of-pearl cabochon cut. This specialized jewellery cut, where each piece is chamfered on all sides, was used in a bedroom set we crafted for a Dubai Sheikh.'

Building on this innovation are mother-of-pearl fluted columns, which Artecraft supplied for the conference palace in Abu Dhabi. Such intricate work requires the highest quality mother-of-pearl.

Today, Artecraft create a Language of Luxury® in collaboration with designers all over the world to create Master Pieces of Furniture in Interiors. Swarovski Crystals are now incorporated in the Mother of Pearl with a goal to reach new height in luxury and artistry.

New Zealand Abalone -Paua- is also featured in tradition inspired furniture pieces.

From a Rich Ornate Style to Modern Geometric Inspiration

Today, the inlay can be more subtle and beautifully contrasted with dark colored solid timbers and leathers. The history of luxury styles designed for royal families is still there, but some pieces are accessible to a larger audience choosing mother of pearl as an accent, inspired and shaped by more modern lines.

Convivial features can now become just an attractive reminiscence of former glory in royal styles

The Advent of Mother of Pearl Veneers Provides Similar Beauty With Simpler Craftmanship.

From the days of cutting every piece of shell manually into an exact shape, the development of inlaid shell veneers is also why the larger public can now consider it for their interiors. Even the ancient art of Najeonchilgi has benefited from the use of thin & flat veneer sheets that are easy to cut, without losing its famed beauty. Shell veneers can also be tinted, adding to the many inspirations for embellishment.

We are Grateful for insights provided by Artecraft and their help in showcasing their new Anvi Collection. https://www.anvilifestyle.com/