Rajasthan, India is famous for its magnificent temples and palaces, as well as its unique tradition of creating elaborate inlay designs. It’s no wonder that this part of the world has inspired so many designers over the centuries. Taking its cue from this rich history, Eric Brand, the parent company of Juniper, has created several custom pieces – each one distinctly unique – that utilize intricate shell inlay patterns.
Most of the inlay materials in Eric Brand consist of Mother of Pearl (MOP), Capiz, and Pen Shell. MOP is silvery white in color, and is the most common inlay material which displays subtle rainbow colors when turned in the light. This is the best material for engraving and stands out wonderfully in any dark wood. Capiz is typically milky with a pleasant sheen, and Pen has a thin but highly iridescent inner layer that yields an array of attractive hues.
To create these captivating pieces of furniture, specialty craftsmen and artisans delicately carve and shave pieces of shell into fanciful shapes. They then painstakingly affix these pieces onto wooden furniture frames in elaborate patterns, and lastly, fill in around the materials with various protective layers – most commonly consisting of resin (whether it’s black or pink or white). After which, the freshly-made furniture is left to dry outside before one final polish is added.
In the case of Eric Brand furniture pieces, additional protective layers include: natural polish without resin coating for Hard Shells, and a resin coating for more fragile Capiz and other Soft Shells. When all is said and done, the process to make a single piece of inlay furniture can take hundreds of hours. They are labor-intensive products of precision, inspired by ancient techniques. Every detail, every shape and pattern, results in a mesmerizing piece of design more akin to art than furniture.
Visually stunning as they are, inlay pieces are also pretty versatile, as they fit perfectly into Moroccan, bohemian and Indian-inspired homes, in addition to more contemporary interiors. Our advice is to keep the rest of the styling simple in order to let the shell inlay really shine. Incorporating these designs into your home doesn’t have to be a large – or expensive – undertaking to create maximum visual impact. A little inlay goes a long way when it comes to mirror frames, side tables and other decorative accessories. There is really something for every home and budget depending on how subtle, or bold, you want your space to be. The mix of patterns, textures and colors that inlay provides automatically enhances any room it’s in.
When it comes to caring for your alluring inlay furniture, one must keep in mind that these are living materials. That is why we generally put a natural polish or resin on top of the shell so the moisture inside can escape without discoloration or cracking the exterior finish. Additionally, items manufactured with these natural materials should not be exposed to direct sunlight, extreme temperature changes, and heat or moisture, as the finish can delaminate or discolor over time.
To find out more about how to care for your Eric Brand pieces, you can refer to our FAQ for tips.
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ERIC BRAND
Founded in 1996 and based in San Francisco, Eric Brand offers custom-styled furniture and worldwide sourcing along with exquisite materials and finishes, specifically for the high-end residential design market and hospitality industry.
JUNIPER
Named after the fog-licked Juniper trees on the hills of San Francisco, Juniper is an in-stock furniture collection by Eric Brand that pays homage to timeless materials, techniques and silhouettes – brought to life through expert craftsmanship.