Intarsia
Intarsia
Intarsia is the craft of fitting precisely cut pieces of veneer from different woods into patterns or pictures, geometric or free. These pages explain what intarsia is, how patterns are planned and scaled, which pairings of wood and which contrasts work, and how to start methodically. Pages not yet translated are marked and lead to the German original.
- What is intarsia? Definition, history and how it differs from marquetry and inlay: the starting point.
- Intarsia, marquetry and inlay What the three techniques share and how they differ in the workshop.
- History of intarsia From Egyptian inlays through taracea, certosina and the studioli of Urbino to Augsburg, Eger, Boulle, Roentgen and yosegi.
- Symmetry and mirroring Mirroring, rotation, translation and glide reflection, book-matched and slip-matched veneer, and when asymmetry is stronger.
- Planning geometric patterns Grids, symmetry and proportion for repeating patterns.
- Scaling veneer patterns Rules for small objects and what scale does to joint width, contrast and readability.
- Contrast and colour temperature Strength of contrast, visual hierarchy and colour temperature in pairings of wood.
- Grain direction in intarsia How the direction of the fibres changes reflection, readability and rhythm.
- Wood combinations for intarsia Contrasting pairings of wenge, oak, ash and walnut compared on seven criteria.
- Avoiding mistakes in intarsia Avoiding errors systematically, from planning through cutting and assembly to the finish.
- Intarsia for beginners A complete learning path in twelve steps for getting started.