Marquetry (wood inlay) is a very old method of decorating furniture with floral and pictorial designs formed by combining thin pieces of exotic woods, precious metals, and organic materials such as mother-of-pearl. These designs originally were cut with a hand-held fretsaw and then fixed directly to the surface of the furniture.

Marquetry was first practiced in Germany during the 16th century where it flourished and later spread to France in the 17th century to find its place in many royal palaces. Under the patronage of King Louis XVI and the aptness of Jean Henri Riesener the wood inlay craft became a highly appreciated art and acquired its present denomination as Marquetry. Italian craftsmen of the Renaissance period have also been acknowledged as some of the worlds finest marquetry artists.

By the mid-19th century mechanization replaced the use of many of the hand-held tools. Machines enabled craftsmen to make paper thin sheets of veneer which could then easily be cut to very specific size and shape with a knife. This simpler form of marquetry eventually led to the loss of the age old skills and techniques employing the fretsaw. In time the appreciation for veneer as an art medium also declined and the fine art of marquetry almost vanished.

As we approach the 21st century the art of marquetry and its techniques are known only to a handful of skilled and highly talented artists. The recent revival of old fashioned techniques by replacing veneer with 1/8th inch thick wood stock and reestablishing the use of the hand-held fretsaw by artists Jack Hebner, Christopher Raymond, and Eddy Newsom has truly revitalized the art of marquetry and brought about new and exciting prospects in contemporary home decor.