What it is

• GI-protected craft. “Mysore Rosewood Inlay” is a registered Geographical Indication of Karnataka, India (GI App. No. 24; registered 07-Feb-2005).
  
• Technique. Artisans scoop shallow cavities on a rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) surface and inlay contrasting materials—traditionally differently-coloured woods (and today also metal wires or shell)—then sand and polish until the surface is flush.
  
• Mysore signatures. Motifs frequently depict the Mysuru Dasara procession, Mysore Palace arches, floral/creeper borders, and Hindu mythic scenes; the look relies on the deep brown of rosewood against pale inlay. (See images above.)
  

Exports

Exact line-item exports for “Mysore rosewood inlay furniture” aren’t published; buyers benchmark against two official buckets:

1. Handicrafts – “Woodwares” (which includes inlaid wood articles).
   India’s FY2024-25 (Apr–Feb) provisional exports for woodwares were ₹7,326 crore (≈ US$ 868.15 mn).
   
2. Furniture (overall, all materials).
   India exported US$ 3.5 billion of furniture products in 2022 (CAGR ~15% since 2018).
   

HS codes you’ll use

• Furniture (tables, chairs, cabinets, etc.): HS 9403.60 “Other wooden furniture.” India’s trade statisticians list 94036000 under “other wooden furniture.”
  
• Smaller inlay articles (panels, boxes, marquetry pieces): HS 4420 “Wood marquetry and inlaid wood … statuettes and other ornaments.” (GST/CBIC schedule lists 4420 as marquetry & inlaid wood.)
  

Quality — how to spec & inspect

Wood & construction

• Species declaration: Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) is the classic base. Logs/sawnwood export is banned from India (finished goods only), so insist on finished-goods only sourcing with species named on documents.
  
• Moisture & stability: Target 8–12% moisture in finished furniture (kiln-seasoned components) to prevent movement/cracking in temperate climates.
  
• Joinery: Mortise-and-tenon or dowelled frames; tops and aprons all-solid or thick veneer over stable core. Ask for exploded photos/CAD and QC checks at pre-shipment.
  

Inlay work

• Materials now used: coloured woods; acrylic/other legal substitutes for old “ivory” whites; brass/copper wire; occasional shell. (Ivory is illegal—see compliance below.)
  
• Finish: hand-sanded, sealed, and polished to leave inlay flush with substrate; look for continuous lines (no gaps), clean recess edges, uniform sheen, and corner protection during packing.
  

Typical buyer spec sheet (use/adapt)

• Wood species & origin (D. latifolia, Karnataka)
  
• Moisture certificate for finished parts
  
• Inlay bill of materials (no ivory/horn; list acrylic/metal/shell/colored woods)
  
• Finish type (PU/NC/wax; declare VOC where required)
  
• Hardware & load tests (tables/chairs)
  
• Packaging (edge guards, anti-abrasion interleaves over inlay)
  

Compliance — what to know before you book

CITES (rosewood)

• Dalbergia spp. (except D. nigra) are CITES Appendix II with Annotation #15. Permits are required for most parts/derivatives unless the shipment qualifies for an exemption. Exemptions include:
  
  • Finished products if the wood weight per product is ≤ 10 kg per shipment, and
    
  • Finished musical instruments/parts/accessories.
    For furniture (which almost always exceeds 10 kg of wood per product), assume CITES permits are needed from India’s Management Authority.
    

India-specific rosewood rules

• Export of Indian rosewood logs/sawn timber is banned under Indian law; finished handicrafts/furniture can be exported subject to above CITES controls.
  
• Wood legality due-diligence: DGFT authorizes EPCH’s “VRIKSH” certificate to attest the exporter’s due diligence on legally sourced wood—commonly requested by overseas buyers.
  

Absolute prohibition: ivory

• Trade in ivory in India is completely prohibited under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (and upheld by India’s Supreme Court). Any “white inlay” you see today must be legal substitutes (e.g., acrylic).
  

Why Mysore

• Heritage depth: patronage from Mysore’s rulers; historic benchmarks include inlaid palace doors and Srirangapatna examples—today codified by GI protection for the Mysore craft.
  
• Distinct aesthetic: dark Mysore rosewood base with pale/metallic inlays and Dasara/palace-style iconography—instantly identifiable and hard to imitate outside the region.
  

Institutional channels: Government-run Cauvery Handicrafts (Karnataka State Handicrafts Dev. Corp.) and GI-focused retailers provide vetted sourcing and continuity of craft.