Marquetry

Marquetry is the art of decorating pieces of wood veneer by inserting materials such as other woods, mother of pearl, brass, silver, pewter or shells of different colours to form intricate patterns such as flowers or scrolls or other decorative motifs.

The technique found it origins in 16th century Florence, where the art of inlaying solid marble with designs formed of jaspers, semi-precious stones and other marbles was perfected. This work was called ‘opere di commessi’ or ‘pietra dura’ in English, after the hard stone that was used. A fine example of this type of work can be found at the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo in Florence.

Wood marquetry techniques were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish luxury cabinet making centres during the early 16th century. The technique was imported into France during the middle of the 17th century as furniture of unprecedented luxury was being made by Gobelins, the royal manufacturers, to furnish Versailles and other palaces of Louis XIV.

The early masters of French marquetry were Pierre Golle from Flanders and his son-in-law Andre Charles Boulle who was the founder of a royal cabinet making dynasty. Boulle gave his name to a particular form of marquetry where shell and brass with pewter is inlaid in intricate foliate (arabesque) designs.