marquetry

American  

[mahr-ki-tree] / ˈmɑr kɪ tri /

Also marqueterie

noun

plural

marquetries

1. inlaid work of variously colored woods or other materials, especially in furniture.

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marquetry British  

/ ˈmɑːkɪtrɪ /

noun

1. a pattern of inlaid veneers of wood, brass, ivory, etc, fitted together to form a picture or design, used chiefly as ornamentation in furniture Compare parquetry

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Etymology

Origin of marquetry

1555–65; < Middle French marqueterie inlaid work, equivalent to marquet ( er ) to speckle, spot, inlay (literally, make marks < Germanic; mark ¹ ) + -erie -ery

Example Sentences

A massive Ruhlmann sideboard, first made in 1920, is inlaid with an ivory marquetry pattern that suggests—to me, least—soap bubbles.

From The Wall Street Journal

With a background in music and a passion for precision, woodworker Eric Blackwell creates intricate marquetry, clocks and guitar stands that combine functionality with artistic flair.

From Los Angeles Times

Blackwell also began exploring the art of marquetry, creating works that often feature inlaid patterns of trees, mushrooms and geometric shapes.

From Los Angeles Times

Sculpture, furniture, a fruit bowl and even jigsaw-puzzle-shaped storage boxes inlaid with marquetry are beautifully displayed around his home, yet no two pieces look the same.

From Los Angeles Times

Renaissance masters from the 1400s-1600s created elaborate marquetry works for palaces and churches in Italy, Germany and other areas of Western Europe.

From Seattle Times