Description
A decorative inlaid pattern made from thin layers of wood, ivory, metal, mother-of-pearl, straw, or tortoiseshell, veneered to another surface, usually furniture. Wood marquetry techniques were developed in Antwerp in the early 17th century then imported to France where elaborate luxury pieces were made with very intricate patterns. By the 18th century, workshops in northern Europe and England were known for this specialized technique. The simplest marquetry uses two different color sheets of veneer, temporarily fastened together then cut into a pattern with a fine saw. This created two contrasting panels of identical design (in French called partie and contre-partie, "part" and "counterpart"). Marquetry using colored straw was a specialty of some European spa resorts from the end of the 18th century.
See also niello, and pietre dure.
Synonyms and Related Terms
inlay; intarsia; marqueterie (Fr.); mfurniturearketierte (Deut.); markieteria (Pol.); marquetería (Esp.); tarsia (It.)
Additional Information
° P.Ramond, R. Bonnefond, 'La marqueterie' Metiers d'art, 27 (no. 26), October 1984.
° Patrick Edwards, 'Current trends in conservation of marquetry surfaces' Postprints of the Wooden Artifacts Group (AIC), 1997.
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Last updated on: 8/9/2009 11:16:40 AM
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