HBL Analysis: Marquetry and the intelligence of the hand

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Detail from a cabinet at the Rijksmuseum,Amsterdam



The resurgence in popularity of craft in design has seen many young designers rediscovering forgotten production techniques, favouring skilled, handmade, and often time-intensive processes over artificial materials and machine production. WGSN-homebuildlife's latest trend analysis examines the revival of marquetry and inlay techniques, and talks to the designers who are using and updating these historic crafts for the 21st century.

Industry series by Studio Job
Toby Winteringham, designer of the Phase sideboard (below) in collaboration with Patternity, explained the appeal of marquetry: "I do think that, as people become more home-centred, they tend to look inward, making their interior spaces more personal. They like to invest in heritage pieces rather than intangible more liquid assets. Marquetry is a traditional technique and, to some extent, a medium in its own right, which links high quality craft, design, and visual imagery into a single piece."

Phase sideboard by Toby Winteringham and Patternity

WGSN-homebuildlife subscribers can read the full report here.