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

The Orient Express Apartment has a monumental sculpted fireplace, wood marquetry floors, and 18th-century mirrors, while the Cherubini Suite is crowned by a 1958 chandelier by Carlo Scarpa and frescoes depicting cherubs. —Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2026

Each piece of wood, in varying shades and shapes, was plopped down one by one to bring the piece to life, resulting in an almost hypnotic design that shows off true marquetry mastery. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

Karen Roos and Koos Bekker of The Newt in Somerset, the eccentric country resort nearby, transformed this 1921 British Pullman into an elegant tea salon last year, polishing its mahogany marquetry and brass fixtures to a period gleam for a mix of Newt guests and village locals. —Adam Erace, Time, 12 Mar. 2026

These references can be simply evocative of ideas associated with luxury and the Roaring Twenties, or more subtle, through the use of techniques such as straw marquetry, dark woods and enveloping ensembles. —Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above