Carved Mother of Pearl Bench "Small"

Traditional inlay can be found in the Islamic world as far back as the 9th century. Traditional inlay usually involves materials such as tin thread, shell, and different wood types, most commonly walnut. Historically in Syria, the shell would come from the Euphrates river, but artisans working in inlay today source their shell from further afield.
Many artisans specialize in a single step in the inlay process, meaning that one inlaid piece can involve multiple people. In Jordan, many of those who practice this craft are originally from Damascus. They are very few but are preserving their craft by nurturing a new generation of young apprentices.