Decorative details MARQUETRY

People often get confused about the terminology used to describe various decorative and craft-related techniques – marquetry is one of them. Rather like the difference between cloisonné and champlevé –the particularly oriental process of enamelling metal – the nuances of cutting into a medium and inlaying rather than applying a decorative layer to the surface, is one that is often misdescribed.

In reality, it’s quite easy to differentiate. The process of cutting into a solid base of wood and then filling those shapes with another material is known as ‘inlay’ or ‘intarsia’. Marquetry is different in that the process requires a smooth surface that is generally, but not limited to being, flat, and will accept a veneer of varied materials, generally wood but including metals, ivory and, meaning to variegate.