INLAYING. The art of decorating flat sur faces by time insertion of similar or different materials of a different color. It is usually made level with the surface. but sometimes in slight relief. When wood of one color is deco rated by inlaying with others of different eolors, the term 'marquetry' (q.v.) is now generally applied. The art was well known to the an cients; it made great progress in Italy in the fifteenth century, where it was used in furniture, developing from the use of small geometric pat terns into elaborate representations of archi tecture and figures—the so-called Tarsia work. During the sixteenth century it was introduced into France and Germany, where it attained high development during the eighteenth century. The French artist Charles Andre Bottle (1642 1732) was celebrated for his use of tortoise-shell and brass, known as buhlwork—a new develop. meat of marquetry.
:Metal of one kind is inlaid with other kinds, and often very beautiful effects are produced. When steel is inlaid with gold or brass, it is usually called damaskeen - work. One variety produced in India is called kuft-gori. In this the inlaid metal, usually gold. occupies more of the surface than the metal forming the ground. Another beautiful variety of Indian inlaying is called tutenagtie or bedery-work, which consists in making the article to be inlaid, most fre quently a hookah-bowl, of an alloy consisting of copper one part to pewter four parts. Thi. is hard, but is easily cut; the pattern is then engraved, and little pieces of thin silver cut to the desired forms are dexterously hammered into the spaces thus cut out to receive them.
In the art of stone-inlaying the Florentines have long held the palm; their favorite work is black marble. with inlaid figures of brilliant colored stones; this work is called pietra dura. or Florentine work. Very beautiful work of this kind is now made in the Imperial works at Saint Petersburg. where the art has of late been sedulously cultivated by the Russian Govern. ment. This was always a favorite art in Delhi and Agra. where some of the most ex quisite work is still produced. It was, however. originally introduced from Europe by the French artist Austin de Bordeaux, who decorated the Taj Mahal. Usually, in the Indian work, white marble forms the groundwork, and the figures are formed of carnelian, jasper, agate, jade, lapis-lazuli. and other costly stones. No stone inlaying has ever surpassed the inlaid marble walls of the celebrated Taj Mahal. The designs are very artistic, the execution almost marvelous, and the harmony of color produeed by the differ ent stones employed is most beautiful. Many other materials than those mentioned are used for inlaying; and there is a style of inlaid work in which small squares of colored stone. glass. or pottery are made to form pictorial and artistic decorations; this is called mosaie-work.