The forming of ornaments in relief upon any substances, whether by sculpture, casting, stamping, or any other means. One pleasing species of embossing is that by which the leather covers of books are now so richly ornamented; this is effected by means of a metal plate on which the pattern is engraved, and which, being heated, gives the impression to the leather by the action of a powerful fly-press. The following method of embossing on wood, invented by Mr. Straker, is extracted from the Transactions of the Society of Arts; it may be used either by itself, or in aid of carving, and depends on the fact, that, if a depression be made by a blunt instrument on the surface of wood, such depressed part will again rise to its original level by subsequent immersion in water. The wood to be ornamented having first been worked out to its proper shape, is in a state to receive the drawing of the pattern; this being put in, a blunt steel tool, or burnisher, or die, is to be applied successively to all those parts of the pattern intended to be in relief, and at the same time is to be driven very cautiously without breaking the grains of the wood, till the depth of the depression is equal to the subsequent prominence of the figures.

The ground is then to be reduced by planing or filing to the level of the depressed part; after which the piece of wood being placed in water, either hot or cold, the parts previously depressed will rise to their former height, and will thus form an embossed pattern, which may be finished by the usual operation of carving.