To Figure or inlay with Figures any thing that is made of Wood.

THis is done with Mother of Pearl, by breaking the Shells, and cutting them according to the Figures you design, inlay∣ing them after you have with Gouges cut your Wood; thus may you imitate all sorts of Fruits, for you will find some Purple, o∣thers Blew, Green, Yellow, so that if you would imitate a black Grape, the Leaf of a Tree, or other Fruit, you have a suitable Colour; make a small hole through every piece, pinning it with a small piece of Silver Wier to make it stick fast, then take Linseed Oyl and Orcanet, rub it well, and wipe off the Oyl clean, when dry, varnish it with the drying Varnish hereafter mentioned, also (not Page  313oyling it) you may make very fine compar∣timent Work in fine Threads that will look like Silver, thus make a Set of small Gonges of all sorts very sharp, with these having cut your design, take Tin, melt it, adding to it as much Quick-Silver; stir it with a Stick, being cold, put it in the palm of your hand; if it be too soft, add a little more Tin; grind this Composition with water upon a Marble, put it into a Shell, and keep this Composi∣tion to fill up the Engravings or Cuttings which you have made with your Gonges; when you have left it two or three hours to dry, pollish it with your hand and it will look like Silver. By adding more Quick-Silver, you make a thinner Composition, which with your Thumb you may rub into the Work you have cut till it be as bright as Silver; instead of Tin you may mix Leaf-Silver with the Quick-Silver, which will add to the beauty of your Work. This is com∣monly practised upon black and coloured Wood, pollishing them with a Tooth.

If you would have the Composition more beautiful, grind Tin-Glass, and wash it till it leaves the Water clear, then mix it in a Shell with some Gum, and with a Pencil fill up the Engravings; after three or four hours drying, quicken it with the Conposi∣tion of Mercury and Leaf-silver.