in·lay | (ˌ)in-ˈlā
verb
A decorative technique, in which part of the surface of a piece of jewelry, furniture, or ceramic is cut away and a stone, mother of pearl, or some other substance is embedded into the hollowed-out area so that it is level with the surface of the piece
Inlay is a special technique, decorative for the surface of an existing piece of jewelry. The term can also refer to ceramics or furniture that have had the same voids or negative space created for inlay. Some part of the surface is cut away from these pieces and a precious stone or another material is added to the channel that is created. This can be a gemstone, mother of pearl - very common for furniture and common household items - or some other decorative substance. The resulting filled channel will be level with the rest of the piece, making it appear smooth and edgeless in many cases. The channel is often cut and designed to hold the inlay material in place.
