Marquetry
Marquetry is an art form that can be traced back to early Egyptian and Assyrian craftsmen
and is essentially decoration achieved by creating patterns or pictures from veneers of
wood or other materials.
The Zenith of marquetry was in the late 17th and early 18th Century when the craft
reached the status of high art through royal patronage in France. The arrival of William
of Orange with his wife Mary and their Court in 1689 established the fashion for this
highly decorative craft in England. It had an immediate influence over furniture designers
and Longcase clock cabinetwork in particular. For the first time furnishings for the home
became aspirational, driven by fashion and the highest standards of design inspired by
technical education and classic architecture.
Comitti’s craftsmen continue to produce marquetry to these high standards using
traditional techniques and fine and rare woods. The time taken to create these intricate
panels is measured in days and every piece is unique.
