Alexandra’s designs are canvases for meticulous marquetry detailing, with playing surfaces and boxes showcasing the distinctive, decorative beauty of this heritage British craft.
What is Marquetry?
Dating back to the 16th century, marquetry is an ancient art form, traditionally used in cabinet-making, that has found a new creative expression at Alexandra Llewellyn. By inlaying a surface with a mosaic of wood veneers — often thousands of miniature pieces — our marquetry artist brings intricate shapes, forms and patterns to life.
THE MARQUETRY PROCESS
Discover the different stages of craftsmanship required to bring Alexandra’s designs to life in wood.
1. drawing the design
Working from her studio in Belgravia, London, Alexandra dreams up never-before-seen designs in wood inlay, sketching each new creation by hand.
2. BRIEFING THE CRAFTSMAN
Each inlaid product is created in close conversation with our marquetry artist. With close to 40 years’ experience, he has an innate understanding of how the different woods will enhance a design.
3. selecting the woods
Together, Alexandra and the marquetry artist choose the woods that best describe the different elements of a design from an incredible archive of wood veneers.
4. CUTTING THE WOODS
It takes years of training to laser cut wood to the standard required for Alexandra’s designs. For organic shapes, pieces are cut by hand to achieve a softer silhouette.
5. HOT SAND SHADING
Individual pieces of wood are dipped in scorching hot sand to create the illusion of depth and perspective for a three-dimensional ‘trompe l’oeil’ effect.
6. Assembling the Woods
Like a fiendishly difficult jigsaw puzzle, the individual wood veneers are joined together, with each piece cut for a specific space in the design.
7. pressing
When Alexandra is happy with the composition, the marquetry is fastened to a stable hardwood board and pressed under extreme weight and heat.
8. finishing touches
The marquetry product continues its journey to other workshops in the UK, including a leather artist and specialist polisher, who seals the inlay work with lacquer to accentuate the colours of the woods.
I often say that marquetry is like painting with wood. We are painstaking in our selection process, choosing veneers for their colour, texture, tone and grain, and how they complement each other.
ALEXANDRA llewellyn
Personalise Your Game
From laser engravings to semi-precious stone playing pieces, make your Alexandra Llewellyn product even more personal with custom engravings, all available at checkout.
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