Marquetry vs Parquetry & How These Decorative Techniques Are Used In Antique Marquetry Dining Tables, Bookcases, Furniture & Other Items

Have you ever admired those beautifully patterned wooden floors that are often seen in older, grander buildings, public buildings and occasionally in private houses?

The patterns are almost always geometric and are almost always made from high quality hardwoods such as Mahogany, Oak, Lime and Walnut.

True, lower cost modern versions are available, often manufactured in easy to lay sheets, and are still in frequent use today although the cost when compared to other types of flooring, makes them unaffordable for many applications.

This type of flooring is often referred to as a “Parquet” floor and, once laid, can last for many years with only minimal maintenance. The name is a shortened form of “Parquetry” which is the decorative process used, involving the careful placing of shaped pieces of wood into the design.
Parquetry is not confined to floors however and the term is also used to describe the geometric decoration of furniture and other items made primarily from quality timbers.

Marquetry, on the other hand, is a process used mainly to decorate furniture and other items such as storage boxes, jewellery boxes and chests with different wood veneers. The process is largely the same as with Parquetry but the significant difference is in the type of design that is produced.

Whereas Parquetry is used to produce mainly geometric designs, Marquetry is used to decorate items with an intricate non-geometric design, motif or picture.

Marquetry is also usually performed with fine timber veneers but it is not uncommon to see items, especially caskets, chests and items of furniture decorated with bone, ivory, brass and other metals, sometimes precious metals.

The decorative qualities of fine marquetry is often applied to items of household furniture that are used both functionally and for display. Antique marquetry dining tables are a typical, popular, example and antique dealers will often offer these for sale in both restored and un-restored condition.

If you are looking for an antique dining table then you may wish to see the range of antique marquetry dining tables on offer at London-based Regent Antiques, here are a few examples – just follow the links to find out more.

Large, Victorian Extendable Marquetry Dining Table in Walnut.

This large table measures Height 2 feet, 7 inches x Width 16 feet, 3 inches x Depth 5 feet, 11 inches – When fully extended and is on sale at £14950. See more pictures and further information here.

Another excellent example of an antique marquetry dining table is this Antique Victorian Marquetry Loo Centre Table 5ft c.1860:

The table measures – Height 2 feet, 5 inches x Width 5 feet, 0 inches x Depth 5 feet, 0 inches and is on sale for £5750. For a full description please click here.

If a marquetry dining table is not for you, take a look at these other examples, including this fine Antique Walnut Marquetry Occasional Games Table which dates from around 1880.

This fine piece is availble for just £1550 and you can find out more here.

Another popular use for marquetry was the decoration of bookcases and other items of furniture, such as this superb Antique Mahogany Dutch Marquetry Bureau Bookcase which was made around 1800.

It measures – Height 7 feet, 11 inches x Width 4 feet, 9 inches x Depth 2 feet, 4 inches and is offered for sale at £14750, once again, full details are here.

For the widest choice in antique marquetry dining tables, bookcases and other items, visit the Regent Antiques website or call in at our London showroom.