The technique of inlaying gold or silver into grooves gouged out of a steel surface, often favored for the decoration of sword hilts. Originated with Muslim artists of the Near East and was later adapted by Northern Italian and Spanish craftsman in the fifteenth century, from which it spread into the the rest of Europe. Steel is scored and soft gold is hammered over this area- the gold stretches into the tight recesses and undercuts made by the scoring locking the gold into place.