How to Identify Authentic Mother of Pearl Inlay Furniture Online

Purchasing mother of pearl inlay furniture online can be a skilful process. With so-called "professional" photographs, "expert" copywriting, and prices that seem too good to be true, it is very easy to be convinced into buying poor quality items. The craft of inlay is centuries old, yet the online market is flooded with cheap, inferior imitations that contain plastic, resin, or printed materials instead of real mother of pearls. 

In this post, we will look at the ways to distinguish the real from fake when purchasing mother of pearl inlay items online so you can purchase a true heirloom that will keep its style and value for generations.

Understanding the Craft: An Appreciation for Authenticity 

Before making that purchase, it is necessary to appreciate what makes mother of pearl inlay furniture online so special. Traditional inlay work goes beyond: 

• Hand-cutting natural shell pieces,
  
  

• Carving the exact patterns into wood or bone,
  
  

• Careful embedding of the shell pieces,
  
  

• Hours and hours of polishing and finishing to achieve a smooth and seamless feel and finish. 

Real craftsmanship will yield luminous and iridescent designs that take on a different quality depending on how light hits it from a different angle. Fakes often rely on printed or molded patterns or substances to recreate the luminescence but will not have the depth or sparkle of a true piece. 

Inlay furniture may be compared to wearable art in the home. You would not purchase a diamond that you wanted to check the cut and clarity; so, similarly, you will want to inspect not only the material used for your inlaid furniture but also the detail of your design and the finish. 

Real inlaid furniture is an investment, and craftsmen have the capacity to produce long lasting pieces that appreciate over time; substitutes will eventually tear, peel, and fade quickly.

Distinguishing Genuine Materials vs Fakes

One way to tell true mother of pearl inlay furniture while online shopping is to look at the material more closely:

• Real Mother of Pearl: Subtle and ever-changing iridescence that shifts color in light.
  No two pieces will ever be the same shape or color.
  
  

• Plastic / Resin fakes: Flat color, repeating pattern, and no real shimmer.
  
  

• Printed Design: Looks extraordinary in the picture, but up close will be perfectly 2D with no depth.

Some online sellers will intentionally distort product photos or use filtered lighting to hide flaws. Always ask for high-res close-up photos if you question the legitimacy of a piece.

For example: In a 2022 survey of consumers for a leading interiors magazine, approximately 35% of buyers purchasing cheap inlay tables online ended up purchasing printed MDF which started peeling in less than six months.

If you already have a piece and are skeptical if it is real or fake, here is a quick test to perform at home. Taking a coin, gently tap the surface of the furniture. Real shells will have a higher and glassy sound, while resin will be a duller sound.

evaluating Craftsmanship Details

What separates the real mother of pearl inlay Furniture is just the human touch. A few days are spent by an artisan in completing a single design. This very labor-intensive process produces of: 

• Irregularity: Small variations in spacing or shapes are indicative of hand-cut shells.
  
  

• Depth: Real inlay is not just pasted over; it is set in so that it is flush with the wood surface.
  
  

• Smooth Finish: Once a texture is there, you are never going to find sloppy glue lines or gaps. 

Now, imagine the same thing with machine replication, where that so-called "inlay" is simply a sticker or laser-printed laminate. Real craftsmen do not want sterile perfection; they want living beauty.

You can also think about it as: If you were to buy a Persian carpet, machine-printed ones look perfect at first sight. However, the real artistry and story, along with lasting value, lie in the handknotted original.

Investigating the Reputation of the Seller

Here is where you channel your inner detective. When buying mother of pearl inlay furniture online, your biggest lead is who you buy from.

• Check for reviews: Constant approval of quality and craftsmanship will be your review. Beware of recurrent complaints of peeling designs or fake materials.
  
  

• Question the process: Buyers are presumed to ask true, well-thought-out questions about the materials, processes, or origin of the product; a valid seller should be able to answer.
  
  

• Demand transparency: Vendors serious about authenticity promote their artisans and may also show pictures of the artisans at work or certificates of authenticity for reference.

Online marketplaces tread on somewhat dangerous waters, considering solvents can vanish overnight. Prefer to purchase directly from trusted brands. These brands publish their phone numbers or addresses for verifications and have clear return policies.

Real example: Finally, one buyer reports ordering an inlay console from a mass-market site costing $200. On arrival, the arrangement ended up being printed, and the "shell" just came off on touch. It backfired because he couldn't return it as the seller had already deactivated his/her account.

Price as Quality Indicator (But Not the Sole One)

Price is not everything, but it does give some clue. Genuine inlay work cannot in any way be cheap mass production. Therefore, the higher price having to do with:

• Time of a skilled artisan
  
  

• Materials that are gathered by hand, usually natural ones
  
  

• Fine hardwood bases

Of course, in conjunction with reason, a really high price does not really guarantee authenticity. Scam artists make another sale because people simply equate "expensive" with "authentic"; so always combine price analysis with the other steps found in this guide.

If you ever spot a $99 shipped worldwide side table with very fine inlay, it probably is not genuine. A reference to artisan workshops selling fairly similar things at $500-$1500; it is not just paid for the fun of mark-up-the money is for labor and the skill involved.

Conclusion: Buy with Intellect and Invest in Art 

Mother of pearl inlay furniture shopping via the Internet is about more than just bargains. It can be an investment in culture, beauty, and meticulous craftsmanship. Genuine inlay work is not just decoration; it is heritage to hand down.

Take your own time. Check with the brand. View photos. Ask questions-and do not buy cheap imitations that promise art and then give a plastic copy. 

For authentic and trusted inlay furniture that stands for artisan-made craft, check out Lakecity Handicrafts. They offer the transparency, craft, and commitment that ensure you receive mother of pearl art instead of mass-produced fakes.