Nature Themed Inlays

The easiest way to explain inlay is that it’s like a puzzle. Artisans carve out certain holes and shapes in a wooden box and then fill those holes with wood pieces of contrasting materials. Using this inlay technique, boxes can feature nature scenes, animals, flowers, abstract designs, and much more. Typically, our inlay boxes will have three or four different types of wood. The inlay itself is made of high-quality wood as well. While most inlay uses the natural color of the wood to create the contrast between the background and the scene it depicts, you can find painted inlay with bolder designs.

Never! We only stock special keepsake boxes of extremely high quality. We work with the top factory in Sorrento, Italy. These have been around since the mid-20th century and create a work of art for each and every music box they manufacture. However, these boxes will not fit together perfectly during the crafting process, so artisans typically pack gaps with sawdust and glue to ensure we receive a perfect music and jewelry box.

Wood inlay is believed to have originated during the 18th century in ancient Persia, but there is evidence of antique inlay from all over the world, including India and China. Once inlay became popular, people applied it to all sorts of decorative purposes, including jewelry, furniture, and, of course, music boxes! The origin of wood inlay for music boxes can actually be traced back to Italy and the town of Sorrento. There, generations of highly skilled artisans have been crafting inlay music boxes since the 19th century. Another area in Italy that is well known for its quality music boxes is Ercolano. We stock both varieties in our store.