Wooden Jewelry Box: Intricate Marquetry with Bird’s Eye Cherry Veneers

Marquetry is an interesting craft of applying pieces of thin layers of contrasting materials to form decorative patterns and designs on artworks and more functional items such as a unique jewelry box. The use of wood is the most commonly used technique in marquetry but other artists find more interesting textures and patterns from mother of pearl, tortoise shells, bark, bone, and ivory. This craft was widely popular in 17th and 18th century Europe but research tells us that it was practised in Egyptian and Roman times as early as 300 BC.

The popularity of this art form reached its height by the end of the nineteenth century and at that time marquetarians were much sought after by royalty and the nobility. With the refinement of tools and techniques used in marquetry, this art saw a revival in the interests of artists, designers and hobbyists by the early twentieth century. Today, marquetry for the most part still uses traditional techniques with extensive use of artificial products like plastics and stained wood to create contemporary works of art.

Another interesting woodworking technique similar to marquetry is called intarsia. Instead of pieces of veneers, intarsia uses varied shapes, sizes, and types of wood fitted together to create art works similar to mosaic but incorporating the illusion of depth. Similar to marquetry, intarsia is also widely used in creating distinct decorative and functional art pieces.

Types of wood commonly used in contemporary marquetry range from locally available wood such as cherry and maple to more exotic types like satinwood, mahogany, and rosewood. The use of varying types of veneer creates spectacular patterns and designs making them ideal in creating works of art. Pieces of lavishly designed furniture, stringed instruments, clocks, automobile trimmings, jewelry boxes and other wood products can also be created from beautiful pieces of veneer.

Cherry wood is considered one of the most popular choices of artisans in the production of elegant marquetry. Furniture makers find cherry wood easy to work with either by hand or with the use of machines and power tools. Properly cut, stained and polished pieces of cherry wood are perfect in creating elegant pieces of wood crafts, trimmings for furniture and automobiles, and inlays for various musical instruments.

Distinct and elegant, the color of cherry wood is popular to craftsmen and artisans because it darkens to a lovely shade as it ages. When freshly cut, the heartwood is light pink to almost white with streaks of multiple colored flecks. And as the wood ages, it darkens revealing deep red hues with yellow to light brown undertones.

A special type of figure found on cherry wood called bird’s eye makes the wood more valuable especially in making furniture and other woodcrafts. Bird’s eye cherry is very expensive – up to several times the cost of ordinary cherry wood, but collectors love pieces made from this type of wood. This is the reason why fine pieces of wooden jewelry boxes made from bird’s eye cherry are perfect gift items for men, women and children alike.

This article was written by Oliver Ocampo of MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes show unique wood grain patterns and colors assembled into beautiful designs of breathtaking beauty. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!