- Sulphur inlay
Sulphur inlay is a rarely-used technique for decorative surface
inlay in wooden cabinetmaking.The technique originates in the 18th century, but was only used for a short period. Between 1765 and around 1820, German immigrant cabinetmakers in
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania used it to decorate the surface of chests. The Deitrich chest of 1783 is now in the Smithsonian.cite book
title=Treasure Chests: The Legacy of Extraordinary Boxes
last= Schleining |first= Lon
isbn=156158651X
publisher=Taunton Press
date=2003
url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kOHS2418gQYC]Commercial reproducers of such chests may rarely re-create this inlay technique as well.cite web
title=Commercial chest maker, recreating the technique
url=http://www.acanthus.com/Sulphur_Inlaid_blanket_chest.html]Technique
The inlay technique is simple. A small groove is carved into the surface of the wood, then molten
sulphur is poured into the groove. Once cooled and hard, the surface may easily be scraped flush. cite web
title=Recreating sulphur inlay techniques
url=http://quercus.livejournal.com/27709.html
date=2003]Sulphur is used as it has a low-melting point, which may be easily achieved on a hotplate. This also reduces any risk of charring the wood. On cooling, sulphur also expands slightly, locking it into place.
The colour of the sulphur inlay is a pale yellow or off-white. Overheating the sulphur causes it to darken to brown, along with noxious fumes and the risk of fire. When studying historical examples, antiquarians unfamiliar with sulphur inlay have mistaken it for varieties of
beeswax orwhite lead .Related techniques
*
Pewter may be inlaid by a similar process, albeit rather hotter, giving a silvery metallic inlay.Wood's metal has also been used as a low-temperature alternative.* Sulphur has also been used as a historical hot-melt glue for setting ironwork into stone, or for bonding stone together.cite web
title=Slate box, glued with sulphur
url=http://quercus.livejournal.com/140588.html
date=2006]*
Niello uses the darkening effect of sulphur compounds on silver.References
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