The story behind the creations

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The first stage of an IRM creation starts with the master  carpenter meticulously shapes the  main components. Sawing, carving,  and turning the wood on a  traditional lathe. The canvas for  intarsia masterpieces is prepared,  each piece a testament to the  craftsmanship required to breathe life  into the ancient Islamic motifs. 

The second stage, AL-Dagg, marks the beginning of the carving process. Here, the artisan hammers and chisels to create exquisite patterns inspired by Islamic wood carving mastery. The tools become extensions of the artist's hands, carving delicate and intricate details that tell stories.

 The third stage is called (AL-tasdeef) which sees the selected shades  of mother of pearl and exotic African  wood carefully cut into smaller  segments.With precision, scroll saws  and traditional sanding wheels ensure  a perfect fi t into grooved motifs,  creating a harmonious blend of  materials. 

 (AL-alfatah) unfolds as junior  artisans collaborate to sand  away edges, blending the inlay  materials into seamless shapes  of mosaic-like patterns. The  patient hands of (al-Hafafeen)  smooth and round embossed  wooden veins, transforming each  piece into a lush, soft, silk-like  tactile masterpiece. 

(AL-Birdakh) marks the  transportation of pieces to a  specialized workshop. A two-step  process begins with (Bardakha), staining the deepest areas with darkwalnut stain. Repeated applications  and drying create a deep charcoal  color, reflecting the native walnut dark grain.

 (AL-tagsheet) is the fi nal  polishing stage, a task strictly  undertaken by skilled  women, passing down the  polishing technique through  generations. Craftswomen in a  village gather to etch away outer  layers, revealing a breathtaking  multi-tonal, shiny layer of  mother of pearl and metal.