Marquetry

A decorative veneer made up of shaped pieces of wood in different colours that are pieced together to form a flowing pattern or picture.

The technique was perfected by the Dutch, who produced fine examples of floral marquetry during the 16th century. In seaweed marquetry, used on chests of drawers and cabinets in the late 17th century, richly figured timbers, such as holly and boxwood, were used to create a seaweed effect.

Abstract geometrical patterns formed in the same manner are known as parquetry.