Vol 3. | June 23, 2023

Welcome to Running with Chisels, or welcome back. 

This month we are keeping things quite short – it’s summertime, Dave has been teaching and traveling non-stop, and we are tidying up the shop behind the scenes. We return to our full slate of topics in July, with part 2 of the Federal Fan and an important announcement (as long as our webmaster stays on schedule.)

In this edition of Running with Chisels:

• Ask Dave: Why does Parquetry get no love around here?
• Events & Classes: Student Survey

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Ask Dave: Why does Parquetry get no love around here?

A: Recently I was talking with another jewelry box maker, who is interested in learning parquetry. This is a traditional technique where all the pieces are cut with templates – mostly straight lines. Louis cubes are an example (show below).

I call this style of work Geometric marquetry. Parquetry is a French word which in English is often understood as related to Parquet floors, constructed using similar techniques but from solid wood pieces instead of veneer.

So, why does parquetry get no love? It is typically covered briefly in most marquetry and veneering books, though I recall a substantial section in Ramond’s Marquetry book translated from French. There it is also called Jeux de Fond, background games, because that is how these patterns are often used. 

It is an interesting technique with a lot of potential, and is a way to make patterns like stained glass windows or quilts using small pieces of wood such as in the 66th Street cabinet above. 

I use the techniques alone or combined with others, and it needs more love.

Student Survey

Calling all former students!

We don’t take lightly the time or money that you’ve chosen to invest with us, and we’d love to know what you think of your experience(s).  

We’ve created a quick survey we would love anyone who has taken a class with us to fill out – we want to hear the good, the bad, the hopefully-not ugly!

Please click here to take the student survey via Google Forms.