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Marquetry

Marquetry is frequently called the art of ‘painting with wood’. And indeed it is, as furniture makers and artists have been using this technique to produce beautiful pictures with wood for hundreds of years. Examples can be seen in many 18th, 19th and 20th century pieces of furniture. The course will concentrate on the saw cut marquetry techniques used in the 18th century by using two exercises; the Boulle technique, using brass and pigmented horn. A floral design in wood veneers using, the piece by piece method. There will also be the opportunity for the participants to use a marquetry donkey and electric scroll saw.

Each day will begin with a short lecture then; a series of group demonstrations will be given on the techniques and procedures for each project. Each participant will carry out the two exercises, working at their own pace; the exercises will get progressively more complex as the week progresses.

Each participant should at the end of the week have two marquetry panels attached to brown paper for ease of transport, which they can glue onto a substrate of their choice following the course.  Of course, if time permits, these can be glued to a substrait in the class.

The tutor, Paul Tear, MBE,  has been working with marquetry furniture for well over 35 years. First he was the head of conservation at The Wallace Collection, then course leader of the Furniture Conservation Course at Bucks New University in High Wycombe. During that time, one of his primary specialties has been in the restoration and creation of marquetry furniture and design.