marquetry

noun

mar·​que·​try ˈmär-kə-trē 

variants or less commonly marqueterie

: decorative work in which elaborate patterns are formed by the insertion of pieces of material (such as wood, shell, or ivory) into a wood veneer that is then applied to a surface (as of a piece of furniture)

Illustration of marquetry

• M marquetry

Examples of marquetry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After making your rounds at the market, visit the genuinely interesting Wood Museum, where exhibitions showcase Revel's marquetry and furniture-making heritage as well as contemporary pieces. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2026

The custom carpet was woven in Iran with patterns inspired by the decorations of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, while the marquetry on the consoles was created by Aliette de Montlaur. —Serge Gleizes, Architectural Digest, 19 May 2026

The company, founded in 1985 by David Linley—2nd Earl of Snowdon and son of the late Princess Margaret—has grown from a wood-marquetry specialist into a full-scale lifestyle outfitter. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 May 2026

One of six Grande Suites on the train (each inspired by and named after a European city), Prague is tricked out in garnet reds, maroons, and gold, the wood glossy and the marquetry intricate. —Rebekah Peppler, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French marqueterie, from marqueter to checker, inlay, from marque mark

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above