Conic Marquetry

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CONIC MARQUETRY 3 days

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Note: Completion of Boulle marquetry course (Stage 1) is required before joining this course.

This three-day course will introduce students to a fast and precise marquetry technique. It was developed during the eighteenth century and was practised by makers such as Jean-Henri Riesener and David Roentgen, who both worked for royal patrons.

The technique is very similar to Boulle marquetry, with the two veneers stacked on top of each other in a packet. The two veneers are cut together using the marquetry donkey fitted with angled jaws. The resulting pieces of veneers have a slight conic shape that guarantees perfect fitting. Understanding the technique is challenging but the results are guaranteed. This is the most precise marquetry technique available and no other technique matches the tight joining of the marquetry elements resulting from this technique.

One of the greatest advantages of this technique lies in possibility of selecting exactly the veneer that looks best, including specific grain patterns. Mastering this technique will open many new artistic avenues.

The student will produce a small panel over the 3 days, using extra thick saw cut veneer of contrasting colours. You will select the materials, learn how to assemble and cut them, learn to shade the wood using the “sand shading” or scorching technique and then turn it into a marquetry.

Below is an example of marquetry made by our students.

This course will be taught and hosted by Yannick Chastang in his Kent workshop. Course size is limited to 1 student to enable the close supervision that such finely detailed work requires.

All tools and materials are provided. Each student will be assigned a donkey. Donkeys will be available for purchase at the end of the course.