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AAarquetry

Craig Vandall Stevens

The idea that one can paint a picture using the natural colors of wood, precious mecals and gems is an ancient one. Artifacts enriched wich colorful designs were left behind in che tombs of the Egyptians. By modem definition, chese surface decorations are morę closely relaced to inlay. In the mid ióth century, Italian crafcsmen began using marquetry as a fumiture decoracing art. Marquetry is a cechnique where different colors of wood veneers are carefully cut to fit precisely together, creating a design in a single sheet. This veneer sheet or picture is then glued to a solidy stable surface.

The art of marquetry as a means of decorating a surface has become one of the most rewarding aspects of Craig Vandall Sceven's work as a fumicuremaker. Using a technique called che double-bevel cut, The Art of Marquecry takes the novice to the advance woodworker through a fully illustrated step-by-step process from design to the finish. Hundreds of color photographs in the book demonstrate ho w to saw your own veneers out of solid wood planks, che tools and materials required, using the scroll saw and the fret saw_y choosing woody design, shading with hot sand, and finishing.

Pattems for four different projects are included as is a gallery of variacions and applications to inspire the marquecarian in you.