How is this inlay done?

[stuckinthemud]

So, I have some limited practice inlaying simple shapes into a curved surface and it is not easy. How was this done, do you think?

 

[Adam W.]

Is it not just made from solid ivory with a carved motif?

 

[recipio]

I'm guessing it's a kind of Intarsia ,done with a 'Donkey ' which is a kind of large fretsaw. You follow a pattern while cutting layers of veneer.
It was often used on the backsplat of Regency chairs. As in the above post it might also have been carved from the solid.

 

[stuckinthemud]

The crossbow stock is a fruitwood . The top could be an ivory overlay but the side pieces, intarsia is possible, maybe combine intarsia with inlay?

 

[Droogs]

It's not inlay but marquetry and is done on a chevalet de marqueterie - donkey (see below), probably using whale or walrus ivory and some precious metals (can't see too clearly in the pic) using the Boule marquetry technique. The image for each side is sawn out and assembled on a flat surface and then ironed onto the bow. The veneer will be around 2-3mm thick and they probably used rabbit glue or fish if they also inlaid any metal. Nowadays it would be sawn on a scroll saw - the donkey's modern replacement.

 

[stuckinthemud]

Thanks, presumably the glue would be a hide glue to be heat activated? Must admit I have not had much joy with ironing veneers over gelatine. I use heat bending often but those compound curves are scary