intarsia

[ in-tahr-see-uh ]

noun

1. an art or technique of decorating a surface with inlaid patterns, especially of wood mosaic, developed during the Renaissance.

intarsia

/ ɪnˈtɑːsɪə /

noun

1. a decorative or pictorial mosaic of inlaid wood or sometimes ivory of a style developed in the Italian Renaissance and used esp on wooden wall panels
2. the art or practice of making such mosaics
3. (in knitting) an individually worked motif

Other Words From

• in·tar·si·ate [in-, tahr, -see-eyt, -it], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intarsia¹

1860–65; alteration (influenced by Italian tarsia ) of Italian intarsio, derivative of intarsiare to inlay, equivalent to in- in- ² + tarsiare < Arabic tarṣīʿ an inlay, incrustation; tarsia

Word History and Origins

Origin of intarsia¹

C19: changed from Italian intarsio

Example Sentences

The choir is a five-sided apse, round which are the canons' stalls of good intarsia work.

From Project Gutenberg

The open stalls in the choir have some extremely good intarsia work.

From Project Gutenberg

The intarsia doors of the palace at Urbino are among the most famous examples of this form of decoration.

From Project Gutenberg

At the south end is one of the finest examples of intarsia, or inlaid wood-work, in Italy.

From Project Gutenberg

The choir stalls are very finely carved and decorated with superb intarsia work.

From Project Gutenberg