Bone inlay furniture is wood furniture with a hand cut pattern of bone chips set into its surface. Each chip is cut, shaped and pressed by hand into a resin base spread over a carved wooden frame, then sanded and polished flat. The craft comes from Rajasthan and northern India and predates machine tooling entirely. A single nightstand can hold several thousand individual pieces.

Yes to both. We use real water buffalo bone and real mother of pearl shell, never printed film. The bone is a by-product of the meat industry in India, so no animal is raised or killed for inlay work, and we never use ivory. You can spot an imitation because a printed pattern repeats exactly and has no depth. Real bone has grain and tonal variation. Real shell shifts colour as you move past it.

Bone is opaque and ivory white. Mother of pearl is the iridescent lining of a shell, so it shifts colour as you move past it. Bone suits dense floral and geometric patterns and reads warmer in a room. Mother of pearl catches light and works better in darker or lower lit spaces. Both are set into wood the same way, by hand. Browse both collections.

Yes, for both materials. Domestic water buffalo is not a CITES listed species, so bone inlay is not covered by ivory bans. Our mother of pearl is farmed or food industry shell, also unrestricted. Every shipment travels with an invoice and a material declaration, and we supply any additional document your customs office asks for.

You do, and here is what to expect so it is not a surprise. Your country's customs authority charges import duty and tax on furniture arriving from India. DHL collects it from you before delivery, usually by a text or email link a day or two before the crate reaches you. It is separate from what you pay us, and it goes to your government, not to Ikkaza.

You send us the size, the colour and the pattern you want, along with a photo of your room if you have one. We quote you and send a drawing for approval, usually within a day.

Yes, usually at no extra charge. Send the width, depth and height you need, and a photo of your wall, bedding or a paint code for the colour. If you are fitting an alcove or matching a bed height, send a photograph with a tape measure in the frame and we will work from that. We can also make most traditional patterns you have seen elsewhere.

Standard production takes 2–3 weeks (15–20 business days) before dispatch. Transit takes 5–15 business days after dispatch, depending on destination. Nothing is held in stock, because every piece is built for you. You get photographs of your finished piece before it is crated, so you approve it before it leaves, and a tracking number the day it ships.

If your order arrives damaged or is not what you ordered, contact hello@ikkaza.com within 48 hours of delivery with your order number, a short description, and clear photos of the parcel and item. An unboxing video is recommended but not required. We will usually arrange a repair or replacement, and may offer a refund if neither is practical. We will confirm the remedy with you. You do not need to return the item unless we specifically ask you to do so.

No. Bone is boiled and cleaned before cutting, and shell is cleaned and cut wet. Both are sealed under several layers of resin and polish before the piece leaves the workshop. A new piece may carry a faint resin and polish smell for a few days, which airs out on its own.

Dust with a dry or barely damp cloth. Avoid alcohol, ammonia, bleach and all purpose sprays. This matters more with mother of pearl, which is calcium carbonate and will dull permanently if anything acidic sits on it, vinegar and citrus cleaners included. Keep either material out of direct sunlight and away from a radiator. No wax or polish is ever needed.

Yes. Trade accounts get tiered pricing from the first order, free bone and mother of pearl swatches and container or mixed pallet shipping direct from the workshop. Just email at hello@ikkaza.com or whatsapp using the floating button.