Marquetry is the art of creating pictures or patterns by fitting together thin pieces of wood veneer, like solving a jigsaw puzzle where you create the picture yourself. A craftsperson cuts different types of wood into precise shapes and glues them onto a surface to form intricate designs. Because different woods have different natural colors (some are nearly white, others golden, reddish, or almost black), an artist can create remarkably detailed images without using any paint or stain.

You might see marquetry on fine furniture, jewelry boxes, or musical instruments. A tabletop might show a scene of birds and flowers, all made from dozens of carefully shaped wood pieces. The technique requires patience and precision: each piece must fit perfectly with its neighbors, and the artist must plan which wood colors will create the right effect.

Marquetry became especially popular in Europe during the 1600s and 1700s, when furniture makers competed to create increasingly elaborate designs. Unlike intarsia (where wood pieces are set into carved-out spaces in solid wood), marquetry involves gluing a complete picture made of veneer onto a flat surface. Master craftspeople can create marquetry so detailed that it looks almost like a painting, with shading and depth achieved through the natural grain and color of wood.