A legacy carved in inlaid wood
- Nino specialises in wood inlay with metal and stone
- She works with a unique marquetry technique she developed with her father
- Her pieces feature traditional Georgian vine and flower motifs
Nino Misriashvili shapes wood and inlays colourful stones with care and intent in her Dusheti workshop. Although she studied economics, her true calling lay in the craft pursued by her father Zurab Misriashvili, a doctor by profession, who devoted years to experimenting with wood and other materials. They developed a distinctive incrustation technique using thin metal partitions between wood, stone and other natural elements, bringing structure to every ornament. “I carried out the delicate carving and inlay while my father assisted with the heavier stages of the work,” Nino says. Today, after his passing, she continues the legacy they shaped together. “However complex the ornament, one principle remains constant: every detail must meet the highest standard of quality,” explains Nino.
INTERVIEW
I grew up watching my self-taught father working with wood in a small workshop at home. When I was 22, he drew a complex ornament and asked me to bring it to life. I crafted the piece myself, and from that moment on, I never wanted to leave the workshop.
My father developed the incrustation technique while experimenting. It involves inserting thin metal partitions into wood, stones and other materials. The metal separates colours and textures and gives the ornament clarity and structure.
The form of the object suggests the ornament. When I look at a bowl or a surface, the pattern begins to form in my head. I often work with vine motifs, flowers and other forms inspired by traditional Georgian decoration.
I focus on quality in every piece I make. If you work with patience and care, development comes naturally. I believe an artisan should never stop learning, and one day I hope to share this knowledge with others.
