Piece-by-piece marquetry

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PIECE-BY-PIECE 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 the student to the most precise and advanced marquetry technique. It was developed during the nineteenth century and is the result of continual improvement in working practises, materials, techniques and tools.

Each element composing the marquetry design is cut individually in packets of 8 to 12 veneers. With this technique, up to 12 marquetries can be produced at a time. However it requires great precision and is only achievable with some practice on the marquetry donkey. One of the greatest advantages of this technique is the greater flexibility of selecting exactly the veneer that looks best, including specific grain patterns. Mastering this technique will open many new artistic avenues. Additionally, furniture restorers can learn a lot from this technique. How to select veneer, prepare a packet and to accurately cut are all areas of knowledge essential to furniture restorers.

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 them 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.