Inlay - intarsia - marquetry - parquetry

In woodworking, Inlay is a technique in which small pieces of wood, veneer or other materials, often with varying grains and colors, are glued together within a solid piece. Intarsia is the Italian word for Inlay. Marquetry is mosaic pieces of Inlay that form a pattern, and Parquetry is Marquetry with a geometric pattern. Herter Brothers, a 19th-century New York furniture making and decorating firm, were famous for skillful Inlay work, especially Marquetry, sometimes with mother of pearl. During the Depression of the 1930s, this type of decorating was uncommon, but in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, it is having a resurgence. Source: Nancy A. Ruhling, 'Making Its Mark', "Art & Antiques", December 2006. (LPD)