CustOM iNlays

Inlays are a time-honored decoration on fine musical instruments. We can take just about any concept and design a masterpiece on any scale, be it a single fret position, spanning the fingerboard, or crowning the headstock.

Sunflower inlay in white & black mother of pearl, agoya, and silver

Harp Unstrung inlay in Koa, Maple, abalone, mother of pearl, silver, and gold

Saraswati's Dance inlay in white, gold, and black mother of pearl with opal, silver, gold, and Indian Rosewood

Wyvern inlay in black and white mother of pearl, abalone, silver, and red pearloid

Earth inlay in abalone and gold lip mother of pearl

Singapore dragonfly inlay in black and white mother of pearl and red pearloid

Claddaugh inlay in mother of pearl, recon turquoise, lab opal, and silver

Rose inlay in mother or pearl and abalone

Top Hat inlay in black mother of pearl and red pearloid

Queenbee inlay inlay in black, white, and gold mother of pearl and agoya shell

Simple Stealie in mother of pearl, red and blue pearloid, and silver

Moon and Fairy inlay in white and gold mother of pearl, abalone, and Vietnamese river oyster

MORE ABOUT CUSTOM INLAYS

Custom inlays are miniature works of mosaic art. Each example above started with a conversation and a concept pencil sketch. Once approved, we develop the idea into the exact artwork for our inlay artists, the first of many steps and hours.
Next, we sort through our vast material stash and select just the right piece for each separate inlay component. Maximum yield is not a thought here — we are looking for the best artistic fit for the design. Mother of pearl has interesting swirls and figuring that suggest more than the color, so something like a tail can have more of a 3D look by how you orient the shell.
All cuts are done by hand with a jeweler’s saw. This slow, meditative process connects the inlay designer, the inlay artist, and ultimately the player of the instrument who had the original idea.

Red alchemical symbol for the Spirit of Wood