Vol.1 No.6
10 April 2002

• The Difference Between Parquetry and Marquetry
• This week's Q & A: Pearwood or Boxwood source

The Difference Between Parquetry and Marquetry

Julian Biggers

Q. What is the difference between parquetry and marquetry? Is one inlaid
and the other not?

A. Parquetry and marquetry as furniture decoration go back to the days
of the Pharaohs, but it was after the Renaissance that they saw wide
spread use. By the end of the 18th century, the work of Italian, French,
and English furniture makers had reached great heights of artistry and
skill in both forms of decoration.

Parquetry uses geometric patterns such as squares, diamonds, triangles,
etc., for decorative effect. The arrangement of the wood grain or color
of different woods adds to the effect. Chessboards and parquet flooring
are examples. Decorative stringing is also in the parquet family.
Marquetry is much freer in design with scrolls, bunches of flowers,
vases, etc., as decoration. Marquetry is like painting a picture with
different color woods; whereas, parquetry is more like quilting in
wood.

Both parquetry and marquetry can be inlaid in a core wood or veneered on
the surface of the wood. The manner of application to the core does not
distinguish between parquetry and marquetry. The French often used a
parquet background such as the "Tumbling Block" design to cover the body
of the piece, and then inlet marquetry designs to complete the
decoration of the furniture.

Note: You may run into the word "Intarsia". (Drop that into your next
conversation.) It refers to the earliest form of inlaying decoration
when wood thicker than modern veneers was used. Cabinetmakers of 200
years ago would marvel at today's veneers. They were used to using wood
that was 1/16" to 1/8" thick or thicker as veneer.

This example is a piece that Geoff Wonnacott, Fellow, will be teaching at The Guild School in Castine ME this June