Skilled craftsmanship, timeless visual appeal, and ultimate comfort, these are the hallmarks of a well-crafted furniture. As there is no home without furniture, the journey of creating these utility pieces is worth noticing. In this informative post, you will learn how a bone inlay, mother of pearl, and wooden hand carved furniture pieces are crafted by artisans and craftsmen, and how these units become an integral part of our everyday lives. Let’s take a trip down the manufacturing process of furniture- from raw materials to fine furnishings. Let’s get started!
Design and Conceptualization
The manufacturing process of furniture units involves some stages, and designing is its first stage. In this step, the furniture designers create sketches, 3D models, or digital renderings to visualise the final piece. Besides comfort and ergonomics, there are other aspects needed to be taken care of, such as functionality, aesthetics, and use of the right materials. Keeping all these factors in mind, the craftsmen can initiate to move on with the next step.
Selection of the Right Materials
Once the design is finalised considering all the essential factors in mind, the next step is to select the right materials. From the type of wood to the finish, fabric, and even carving tools, every material should be picked, depending on the style, design, and purpose of the furniture. For instance, if the company is making a bone inlay furniture chest of drawers, then while selecting the material, it is important to opt for the camel or buffalo bones which are cleaned and sanitised, high-quality solid wood like teak or mango, adhesives, finishing and polishing tools, etc. The choice of materials affects the appearance, durability, and cost of the final product.
Sourcing Raw Materials
The raw materials are carefully handpicked to craft special mother of pearl furniture. To make a beautiful piece of this furniture, mother of pearl, often known as ‘nacre’, a substance harvested from the inner lining of seashells, is sourced from various species of oysters and mollusks. On the other hand, if it is a wooden hand carved furniture, then many brands even import the supreme-quality oak wood to ensure high durability. In addition, for creating intricate designs, craftsmen use excellent carving tools and finishes.
Shell and Bone Preparation
To transform these raw materials into the finest pieces of art, the furniture manufacturing team takes necessary steps of preparation. For instance, a mother of pearl shells are properly cleaned, and the inner lining is meticulously extracted. Coming to the bone inlay furniture raw materials, the bones of camels and buffaloes are vigorously cleaned, sanitised, and after drying them, they are prepared to be used for inlay work.
Template Creation for Inlay Process
What makes an inlay piece or a wooden hand carved furniture the most timeless addition to your home? Well, it is the striking design formed by the intricate patterns which make these furniture units so desirable and exquisite. Created by highly skilled artisans, these captivating designs with finest detailing are inspired by the age-old cultures and traditions of various nations, such as India, Egypt, Morocco, China, and Mediterranean areas. With designs ready in hand, artisans move to the most essential step of the inlay work.
Carving and Shaping
Whether it is a bone inlay furniture or a mother of pearl furniture unit, now the craftsmen will prepare a wooden base or frame of the furniture. Using the specialised tools, such as gouges, mallets, and rasps, the chosen wood is carefully cut, shaped, and carved according to the design. It needs to be carefully done so that the inlay work can be carried out properly. Most of the brands use hardwoods like teak, oak, mango, and rosewood as these types of woods ensure durability, longevity, and withstand wear and tear over the years. In addition, the raw materials prepared for the inlay work are also processed by cutting and shaped in accordance with the created design. The precision of these processes is crucial to ensure that components (bone pieces or shells) fit into the wooden surface seamlessly.
Inlay Technique Process
This process turns an ordinary wooden frame into something magical. During the inlay technique, the craftsmen and artisans arrange the meticulously cut and shaped pieces of bones or shells into the carvings, bringing the design to life. It is not an ordinary arrangement of pieces, but a technique which requires attention to detail and efficient use of specialised tools, such as chisels and small saws to create cavities in the wood. Each fragment of shell or bone is individually glued into these cavities using string adhesives, and then the surface is sanded and polished until it’s smooth and seamless for a refined appearance.
Sanding and Smoothing
This step is essential during the making of any type of wooden furniture. By so doing, you give a refined, even, and smooth finish to the surface of the furniture. After which, the piece looks aesthetically pleasing. But how do furniture companies do it correctly? Well, first an appropriate sandpaper grit is required to remove the imperfections, and any excess material from the wood. It levels the uneven areas and smooths rough cuts and shapes of the wood to the desired contours. After sanding, smoothing is done with a hand tool to achieve a glass-smooth finish on the surface of the wood. This tool has a sharp blade that shaves off the thin layers of the wood. This step ensures that the surface is uniform and free of any rough edges, achieving a flawless finish that beautifully highlights the intricate patterns.
Finishing Touches
Inlay work is surely a delicate, intricate process which requires a strong layer of protection. Thus, to enhance both the appearance and durability of the inlay work, the finished piece of furniture is treated with a protective finish. There are several types of finishes available to choose from. However, the commonly-used finishes include lacquer or resin, which add a glossy sheen to the mother of pearl furniture. Also, these are used to preserve the beauty of the colors and patterns of the bone inlay furniture.
Hardware Installation
If the wooden hand carved furniture requires some hardware components, such as drawer pulls, handles, or hinges, then in this stage, the proper placement of these attachments are done to complete the unit.
Final Quality Check: Before sending the furniture pieces to the brand stores for sale, every item is thoroughly checked. Only after the final inspection, the product is considered ready for sale. In this stage, the quality team ensures whether or not the finish is uniform, there are no visible defects, and all components are in place.
These meticulously-crafted pieces reflect the fusion of artistic talent, precision, and dedication of craftsmen. Hence, let’s not call them ordinary pieces of furniture, rather they should be called the marvellous work of art. They are not only functional and visually appealing but their presence in your space celebrates the centuries-old traditions and cultures, ensuring that they are still alive. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to add the flavour of elegance and timelessness to spaces that crave attention.
Luxury Handicrafts is a brand which is strongly committed towards making our classic traditions alive, ensuring that these age-old techniques continue to beautify our homes for several years to come. Check out our stylish collection of mother of pearl, bone inlay, and wooden hand carved furniture items and let your home tell an intriguing story of ancient cultures.
