Which of the following is an Italian Renaissance inlay process?

• A. Certosina
• B. Pastiglia technique
• C. Cartouche
• D. Savonarola Chair

Answer: (A)

Inlay work on Italian Renaissance furniture uses tiny pieces of contrasting materials set flush into a wood surface to create intricate patterns. Certosina is the Italian Renaissance inlay method where small pieces of ivory, bone, or shell are fitted into a dark ground, producing delicate mosaic-like designs. This technique is characteristic of Italian workshops in the 15th–16th centuries and emphasizes precise, tiny inlay work that changes the surface color and texture.

Pastiglia, by contrast, involves applying molded plaster or gesso in relief on the surface and often gilding or painting it, not embedding materials into the wood. Cartouche refers to a decorative motif or shape rather than a specific technique, and the Savonarola Chair is a chair style from the period, not an inlay process. Thus, certosina is the example that identifies an Italian Renaissance inlay method.