An Introduction to Marquetry
Course Programme


DAY 1 (workshop open at 08.30 for 09.00 start)
Making A Test Piece
Saw tables.
Tools for cutting marquetry.
Techniques for cutting by hand.
Cutting a test piece.
Shading techniques.
Heat shading individual pieces of marquetry.
Assembling the cut design.
Glues. Baseboards.
Laying assembled design onto a baseboard

Project Work
Choosing a design.
Selecting and assembling veneers.
Further cutting techniques including template work.

DAY 2
Project work - Restoration techniques
Outline transfer by projection
Replacing missing marquetry/ parquetry
Brass into wood
Brass into tortoiseshell
Pre-oxidising and colouring new work to blend with original surfaces
'Marquetry and furniture' - illustrated lecture

Project work - Parquetry
Jigs for parquetry
Tools for parquetry
Assembly techniques

DAY 3
Project work
Scraping and abrading veneered surfaces.
Tools - Preparing and using a cabinet scraper
Abrasives

Finishes
Protecting your work with: Modified oils, Waxes, Varnishes, Shellac

Other materials
Plastics. Horn and Bone. Abalone and Mother of Pearl. Brass and Copper

Course finishes at 4.30 p.m. All tools and materials for this course will be supplied by the school.

Please bring the following items with you:
• Notepad, sketchpad and pencil
• Reading glasses if you have difficulty focusing closer than 30 cm. (12")
If you have them, please bring:
• Craft knife or scalpel
• Design ideas
• Marquetry to restore or copy
• Piercing saw
• Surface to be decorated

N.B. This course is not designed to teach 'Pictorial marquetry' using the window method. Veneers will in most instances be sawn in composite form unless parquetry or template designs are being built.

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