INLAYING.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 280, 2 December 1870, Page 2

INLAYING.

It cannot, be regarded as other than a sign of the times when we observe the attention devoted to the capabilities of our beautiful native wooJs. We are constantly having to notice some fresh exhibition of taste and skill in artistic cabinet work ; and one of the prettiest we hare seen is a writing desk, manufactured by a joiner, connected with the Union Sash and' Door Factory. The upper surface of the desk represents a large diamond enclosing a Maltese cro?s, formed of totara mainly, with white pine and ake alec, and chaateiy bordered with the rich dark tint, of puriri. The front and back are formed of ti tree, ake ake, and rimu with the central piece of pohutikawa and striped with vertical bars of while pine. The ends are of red pine, totara, and rimu, and striped also with similar bars of while pine. But it is on opening the desk that the exquisite tasfci displayed is fully seen. The upper leaf consists of a central diamond, formed of a large kauri knot anil surrounded by Imlf diamonds of totara, rimu, puriri, ti tree, and rewa rewa, and bordered with red cedar. Tile lower leaf has, :!S central piece, a cube of half disnnords formed of box and puriri, the contrast having a very fine effect. This is bounded by a band of cubes of totara witli a fringe work of red pine and puriri ; and enclosed in a framework of puriri. Throughout every portion of the work there is the most exact, adjustment, and the blending and contrasting of tints produce a tout ensemble of exquis'te taste and beauty. The capabilities of our native woods are every day receiving new development, and the desk described exhibits their qualities in a form and combination really beautiful.