Design Dictionary: Marquetry

Posted on 12. Aug, 2011 by Josephine Butler in Design Dictionary

Marquetry is a term often used in the fine furniture world, but what, exactly, does it mean? While its exact origins are unknown, it is believed to have first appeared in Egyptian palaces around 350 B.C.

This intricate technique involves cutting a design out of a veneered surface and then inserting and gluing a contrasting material, such as woods of a different grain, figure or color, to appear flush with the surrounding surface. Our Holloway Chest of Drawers from our Et Cetera collection is a fine example of this highly-involved craft.

And while we’re on the letter M, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our design philosophy of mixing and melding. In our last blog post, we gave you a sneak peek at our newest ad in the September issue of Architectural Digest featuring pieces from our Dalliance and At Home in the Wine Country collections. If you haven’t seen it, be sure to check it out here!