Family of Four Elephants Under Palm Trees Rosewood Inlay

This Rosewood inlay depicts a family of four elephants walking under palm trees

Different shades of rosewood have been used for the inlay work to create this piece of art. Each rosewood piece is unique as the size and shape of the wood can vary. Also, while the motif that is depicted might be consistent, the grain of the wood, its shades and texture will always vary. So you can rest assured that when you buy a rosewood inlay, you are buying a one of a kind piece.

It is crafted by artisans in Mysuru, Karnataka. They decorate the surface of a smoothened piece of wood by setting in pieces with contrasting colours such as ivory, bone, plastic and woods with other shades.

Rosewood inlay developed into an art form under the patronage of Maharaja Jayachamraja Wodeyar Bahadur from the Wodeyar dynasty in the princely state of Mysore. According to some sources, a master craftsman called Mir Shokat Ali came up with the innovative technique of using pieces of rosewood, with different shades, to create stunning countryside scenes that were different from the earlier geometric patterns. This was in addition to the technique of using elephant ivory that was inlaid into the rosewood base.