Precision and patience
Not to be confused with inlay, which is inserting one material into a carved recess of a different material, marquetry is the ancient art of painstakingly conjoining wooden veneers into a tapestry of various colors and textures. The result is a "painting" without the paint.
Although around for millennia, marquetry gained global popularity during the Renaissance. It was during this time when the wealthy and the Church commissioned artists to create the astonishing works of art in their homes and cathedrals that we still enjoy looking at today.
Though not a lost art, the number of artists practicing marquetry today is small. The combination of precision, patience, and knowledge required to create beautiful compositions that can rival the masters of old takes a lifetime of dedication and sacrifice, and few are up to the task.
