Marquetry: what it is, how it is made and how to recognise a handmade piece

By Tiago Reis, co-founder of Ra-Ro · View profile

About a 6 minute read

Marquetry is the art of making pictures from thin sheets of wood in different colours and grains, cut out, fitted together like a puzzle and glued onto a base. It differs from inlay, or intarsia, where solid wood is cut away so other pieces can be set into it. The French call it marqueterie, and it was in France, from the mid 17th century, that it became famous on furniture for the palaces of Louis XIV.

Marquetry in short

• What it is: a picture made of wood veneers glued onto a base.
• The word: from the French marqueter, to give a surface varied colours.
• Main difference: marquetry glues veneers onto the surface; inlay and intarsia set pieces into solid wood.
• History: revived in Florence and Naples in the 16th century and reached France in the mid 17th century.
• At Ra-Ro: panels and boxes by Jacky Cavallari, who trained at the École Boulle in Paris.

How marquetry is made

1. Design: the maker draws the composition and decides which wood goes where, by colour and grain.
2. Veneers: very thin sheets of different species are chosen. The palette is the wood itself.
3. Cutting: once done with a knife, which was slow; today many makers use a fret or scroll saw. Cutting two stacked sheets at once gives two mirror image panels, which the French call partie and contre-partie.
4. Shading: to add depth, part of a piece is dipped in hot sand for a few seconds. The wood darkens gradually and the picture gains volume.
5. Assembly: the pieces are fitted together and glued onto the base.
6. Finishing: the surface is sanded and sealed to bring out the grain and colour.

Marquetry, inlay and intarsia: the difference

• Marquetry: thin veneers glued onto a base. The whole design sits on the surface.
• Inlay: a solid piece of wood is cut away and another wood or material is set into it. It is the older technique.
• Inlay in other materials: the same idea, often used when the inserted material is mother of pearl, bone or metal.
• Intarsia: the Italian name for inlay in solid wood. It flourished in northern Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries, on church choir stalls and in the studiolo of the Ducal Palace in Urbino. From around 1620, marquetry largely replaced it in fine cabinetmaking.
• Boulle work: a French style combining tortoiseshell, brass and pewter instead of wood, linked to André-Charles Boulle.

Where marquetry comes from

Inlay already existed in the ancient world, in Sumer and Egypt, and the Romans mastered it, as pieces found at Pompeii and Herculaneum show. Veneer marquetry was revived in the 16th century in Florence and Naples and also developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centres. After the mid 17th century it moved to France, where it decorated furniture for Louis XIV's palaces. Pierre Gole and his son in law, André-Charles Boulle, were among the first great masters.

Boulle's name lives on in a school: the École Boulle, founded in Paris in 1886, still teaches marquetry among its wood crafts.

Jacky Cavallari and marquetry at Ra-Ro

Jacky Cavallari trained at the École Boulle and is one of the few living masters of marquetry. At Ra-Ro there are two families of his work: panels to hang and boxes to keep precious things.

• Bird panels: the Hoopoe Panel (€93.30) shows the bird on a branch, with the wood standing in for feathers.
• Botanical panels: the Lavender Panel (€40.90) is the entry point. The Complete Marquetry Pack (€147.24) brings together the Ginkgo Biloba, Juniper Berry, Orange Blossom and Lavender panels, 10% less than buying them separately.
• Boxes: the Rockrose Box (€99.20) carries the white hillside flower on its lid and the Hummingbird Box (€240.90) shows a hummingbird with open wings.
• A pair of boxes: the Marquetry Pack: Botanical Boxes (€149.22) combines the Lavender Box and the Orange Blossom Box, also 10% less.

For ideas on where to place these pieces, see How to decorate your home with Portuguese crafts.

How to recognise handmade marquetry

• Real grain: each piece has its own grain and tone. In a printed imitation, the pattern repeats or looks the same across the surface.
• Joint lines: look closely and you will see the joins between pieces, fine but real.
• Light: tilt the piece and each veneer catches the light differently, because the grain of each runs another way.
• Gradual shading: sand shading moves from light to dark without hard lines.
• A named maker: a handmade piece has someone who signs it and can explain how it was made. More on this in What makes a piece rare.

How to care for a marquetry piece

• Out of direct sun: strong light changes the colour of wood over time and fades the contrast of the design.
• Away from heat and damp: radiators, fireplaces and bathrooms make wood move and can lift the veneers.
• Dust: a soft dry cloth is enough. Avoid lots of water and products with alcohol or silicone.
• Shine: before applying wax or oil, check what finish the piece has.
• Boxes: open the lid gently and do not load it with weight.

Frequently asked questions

What is marquetry?

The art of making pictures from thin sheets of wood in different colours, cut out, fitted together like a puzzle and glued onto a base.

What is the difference between marquetry and inlay?

In marquetry, wood veneers are glued onto the surface of a base. In inlay, solid wood is cut away and another wood or material is set into it.

What is intarsia?

The Italian name for inlay in solid wood. It flourished in northern Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries and, from around 1620, was largely replaced by marquetry in fine cabinetmaking.

What is marquetry called in French?

Marqueterie. The word comes from the French marqueter, and it was in France, from the mid 17th century, that the technique became famous through masters such as André-Charles Boulle.

How do you clean marquetry?

With a soft dry cloth. Avoid lots of water, products with alcohol or silicone, direct sun and sources of heat.

Where can I buy handmade marquetry?

At Ra-Ro, with panels and boxes by Jacky Cavallari, who trained at the École Boulle, from €40.90.