Marquetry
Marquetry is simply the inlay of wood and other materials to form a decorative pattern. Being an ancient craft, it had its origins in Egypt. Marquetry consists of designs composed of wood veneer and other materials, usually cut by a marqueter's saw along a rectilinear or curvilinear pattern. However the use of inlay only began in England during the second half of the 16th Century.
This method was simpler than the later marquetry technique. Small shaped pieces of wood, about 1/8 inch thick, were separately cut and their outline traced onto the surface of wooden panels into which they were inlaid. Specially shaped chisels and gouges were used for the process. After the correct depth was achieved, and the pieces glued, the whole surface was planed.
The later discovery of marquetry, around 1670 in England, enabled the entire process to be executed in veneer, the elements being cut with a fine saw, and the parts interchanged. (No gouging required.) This technique lent greater scope to the creation of very fine intricate designs, many of which were repetitive. The use of a wide range of materials was incorporated into designs, such as brass, tortoiseshell, Ivory, pewter, as well as many exotic woods like ebony, amaranth, tulipwood, kingwood boxwood, sycamore and satinwood. Please refer to images produced by Classic Antique Restoration as examples of some of this work.
A vast learning curve lies ahead for all who would reach the heights of this superior craft. In the words of distinguished French Marqueter Pierre Raymond- "the evolution of marquetry with its research, trials and revival comes alive in the work of an artisan who knows through experience all the complexities of his craft, and not simply one specific method." Raymond's decisive analysis is the guiding principle of the work ethic at Classic Antique Restoration.
