Length : 20 cm


Khatam means "complete", or "thorough", and Khatam-kari , "complete work" , and refers to a thorough and complete covering of a surface with incrustation geometric patterns made of wood (ebony, teak, ziziphus, orange, rose), brass (for golden parts), camel bones (white parts). Ivory, gold or silver are also used for high quality luxurious objects. Narrow and delicate outlines of a design pattern are assembled in triangular beams made of ivory, assembled and glued in a strict order to create a cylindrical work surface. The main motif, usually a six-pointed star which is included in a hexagon is then assembled. These cylinders are cut into shorter cylinders, and then compressed and dried between two wooden plates, before being sliced for the last time, in 1 mm wide tranches. These sections are ready to be plated and glued on the object to be decorated, before lacquer finishing.