Product Information
The art of bone / mother of pearl inlay is specific to the Udaipur region of India, where this meticulous skill is handed down from generation to generation. Three craftsmen are employed to make a piece of inlay furniture: the first hand-carves camel bone / mother of pearl into delicate shapes; the second affixes the pieces onto a wooden frame in intricate patterns; while the third fills in around the bone with the coloured resin background. The entire process takes about 3 weeks. There will be natural variations in the colour of bone / mother of pearl used in any one piece of furniture. In addition, there may be some colour variation in the resin surrounding the inlay work. This is more apparent where the pattern is spread out.
To clean your bone inlay furniture, wipe with a slightly damp cloth. Harsh cleaning products should never be used. Bone Inlay furniture has a porous surface, so items in high-use situations – such as coffee tables – should be sealed prior to use. Grout sealant (available from any hardware store) is suitable for this task. We also recommend putting a small amount of furniture wax / Vaseline onto your inlay piece from time to time to ensure that the coloured “filler” does not dry out.
Silver Anatole furniture is created by affixing thin sheets of a silver metal alloy over a wooden furniture frame.
Flat sheets of metal are smoothed onto the surface with hand tools, creating unique scuffing and 'distress' marks on the surface, rendering each piece completely individual.
Care Instructions
Your Silver Anatole furniture should not tarnish beyond a slight 'antique' look, which many people find attractive.
Anatole furniture can cleaned and polished by buffing with 000 grade steel wool (found in the paint section of hardware stores) or using regular silver cleaning products.
Almost any mark or discolouration can be removed with vigorous buffing and polishing, and there is no chance of the silver finish rubbing off, as this is a solid sheet of metal, rather than 'silver plate' type finish.
Care Instructions
Your copper furniture should not tarnish beyond a slight ‘antique’ look, which many people find attractive. It can be cleaned and polished by buffing with 000 grade steel wool (found in the paint section of hardware stores) or using regular metal cleaning products like Brasso. Almost any mark or discolouration can be removed with vigorous buffing and polishing.
Please note, some of our earlier copper pieces were lacquered, for 'easy care.' If yours is lacquered, just dust or wipe with a soft dry cloth. Please use coasters if placing drinks or food on the top.
Our Vintage Upholstered range includes chairs, ottomans and sofas, upholstered in eclectic recycled fabrics. Suzani chairs and sofas are upholstered in vintage Uzbek Suzanis. These unique bedspreads are created as dowry offerings by young wives-to-be in Uzbekistan.
'Kantha' chairs are upholstered in vintage Indian Saris, and finished with traditional linear 'kantha' hand stitching
Care Instructions
As these pieces are upholstered in genuine vintage fabrics, small marks, stains, holes or patches are often encountered. These should not be considered faults; rather, they are an inherent part of a vintage piece of furniture. If you require your item as imperfection-free as possible, please arrange for the piece to be inspected before despatch.
As fabrics can be up to 50 years old, extreme care should be taken when cleaning. We recommend you consult an experienced upholstery professional, as the fabric on each chair is different in composition and age.Ruby Star Traders’ cushions are made from natural wool, linen and cotton.
All cushions are sold with an insert - depending on the style and price-point of a cushion, this may be either a 50% feather, or 100% poly-fill insert.
Our Chainstitch cushions are made from 100% NZ wool. Every square centimeter of these cushions is covered with a continous chainstitch, hand-stiched by villagers in rural Kashmir.
Our range also includes hand block-printed cushions, quilts and tablecloths. To create block printed fabric, a wooden block - usually no more than 20cm square - is repeatedly dipped into a tray of fabric dye, then onto the cotton fabric, then back in the dye, until the whole length of fabric has been printed. Such a traditional and labour intensive process naturally creates small variations throughout the print.
Care Instructions
Washing and care instructions can be found on the individual labels of our soft furnishings. Some items are dry clean only, while others are machine washable.
One of Ruby Star's most popular products is our brightly painted range of stainless steel tumblers, jugs and bowls. Sourced from the Kashmir region of India, these items are made from quality stainless steel (not tin!), which is then hand-painted using traditional methods and food-safe paints.
Being virtually unbreakable, these pieces are perfect for outdoor entertaining, or for use by children.
Care Instructions
Tinware items cannot be placed in the dishwasher or microwave. Please hand wash in warm water. Be aware that they can get very hot when filled with hot liquids or foods.
Please do not stack tumblers together, as the hand-painted finish may stick to the next tumbler. We recommend placing a small buffer between each tumbler (like a piece of scrunched up paper), or storing them individually.
Our tribal horn bowls, plates and frames are made of made from natural water buffalo horn.
In India, water buffalo are not wild animals – they are either domesticated to plough fields or pull carts, or they are farmed for meat and leather. Once the buffalo are deceased (through old age in the case of domestic animals, or slaughter for meat or leather), the horns and bones are utilised in handicrafts, ensuring that the whole animal is used, and nothing goes to waste.
Horn is made of keratin - the same material as our fingernails – and is a completely natural and biodegradable material. If buried, for example, horn will decompose completely within a matter of weeks.
Because it is a natural, flexible product, horn is very easy to work with – strips of horn are dampened, heated, and moulded into shape.
Care Instructions
Because of its delicate nature, some special care is required. Horn is very easy to scratch. It can become brittle and flaky if it dries out, or misshapen and smelly if it gets wet!
Horn should therefore be stored in a cool, dry place, away from extremes of temperature and humidity. It should never be submerged in water, and should be occasionally nourished with a little almond, coconut or olive oil. Do not use sharp utensils (eg, knives on plates), as horn is easily scratched.
It’s best to clean your horn with a dry cloth or tissue. However, items used with food can be wiped with a cloth dipped in warm soapy water, and then wiped clean with a wet soap-free cloth. Never soak or immerse the item in water. Bowls, plates, salad servers and other utensils used for eating, should be rubbed with a little almond, olive or coconut oil after cleaning to maintain their condition.