intarsio

inlay

noun een-TAR-syoh Rare

Origin: From Arabic tarsi, meaning inlaid work.

Also means

marquetry

Usage Note

Intarsio refers to the decorative craft of cutting and fitting pieces of wood, stone, or shell into a surface to form a pattern — marquetry or inlay. It is characteristic of Italian Renaissance furniture and church choir stalls (cori lignei). The word is also used loosely for any decorative inlay regardless of material. The plural is intarsi.

Examples

"Il mobile è decorato con intarsi pregiati."

Natural Translation

The piece of furniture is decorated with fine inlays.

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