Marquetry

Marquetry is a technique whereby small pieces of coloured wood or other materials are inlaid into surfaces, primarily for the decoration of furniture. The marquetry technique is used to create delicate decorative patterns, designs or pictures, which are usually of high quality and extensively detailed. One highly prized and especially detailed style of marquetry is known as Boulle marquetry, after the celebrated French cabinetmaker Andre-Charles Boulle, and uses brass and tortoiseshell to create intricate designs.