What is Intarsia?

Intarsia is an ancient form of wood art originating in the 13th century in Italy.  It is defined as "the making of decorative and pictorial mosaics by laying precious and exotic materials into or onto a groundwork of solid wood."  It inspired both marquetry and inlay.

How is it made?

An intarsia picture consists of transferring a pattern to wood that has been specifically chosen for color, grain direction and design.  The pattern pieces are then individually cut to fit with the next adjoining piece.  They are raised or lowered to create the depth and dimension desired.  The next step is to sand and shape each piece using different sanding techniques to create a 3-dimensional effect.  After fine sanding, the pieces are glued together onto a solid backer.  No stains or dyes are used in our pieces.  Only the beauty of the natural grains and color of the wood are enhanced by a clear finish.