The image on the cover of this box was made using the technique of marquetry.

Tilt-top table veneered in parquetry pattern by Isaac Leonard Wise, circa 1934.

Marquetry (and parquetry too) differ from the more ancient craft of inlay, in which a solid body of one material is cut out to receive sections of another, to form the surface pattern.

Materials

The veneers used are primarily woods, but may include bone, ivory, turtle-shell (conventionally called "tortoiseshell"), mother-of-pearl, pewter, brass or fine metals. Marquetry using colored straw was a specialty of some European spa resorts from the end of the 18th century. Many exotic woods as well as common European varieties can be employed, from the near-white of boxwood^[1] to the near-black of ebony, with veneers that retain stains well, like sycamore, dyed to provide colors not offered in nature.

The simplest kind of marquetry uses only two sheets of veneer, which are temporarily glued together and cut with a fine saw, producing two contrasting panels of identical design, (in French called partie and contre-partie, "part" and "counterpart").

Marquetry as a modern craft most commonly uses knife-cut veneers: the knife used is therefore of paramount importance. Other requirements are a pattern of some kind, some cheap (i.e. not very sticky) clear sticky tape, PVA glue and a base-board. Finishing the piece will require sand-paper or wire wool, possibly with a sanding block. Either ordinary varnish or the techniques of french polish can be used to seal the piece.

See also

• Parquetry
• Woodworking
• Lath Art
• Khatam
• List of furniture designers
• Tunbridge ware

References

1. ↑ Boxwood turns golden-tan as it ages.

External links

• The Marquetry Society of Canada
• The Marquetry Society of Great Britain
• A Dunn & Son, Marquetry & Boulle since 1895
• Example of Contemporary Marquetry Artists
• Another Example of Contemporary Marquetry Artists
• Yet Another Example of Contemporary Marquetry Artists
• Examples of contemporary marquetry
• More History and examples of contemporary marquetry
• More contemporary marquetry and description of methods
• LathArt How to and Patterns LathArt is similar to Marquetry, but more rustic
• A Short History of Marquetry Includes a glossary.
• Flooring Marquetry
• Examples of marquetry as fine art that can be hanged on a wall

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