New-York tribune., 1902-05-04
MARQUETERIE.

Marqueterie may be defined the art of ex-
ecuting designs in veneer. The foundation is al
ways wood the materials OF the design precious
woods ivory. tortoise shell. bone, coral, mother
OF pearl, gems and metals. The design is COM
peted independently of the object which It is des-
tined TO adorn. and is then applied to the construc-
tion like any other veneer. The entire surface OF
the object may be covered with Marqueterie or
the Marquetere may be used TO emphasize the lines
Of construction merely.
The art is very old; II practised in Egypt
and became the heritage OF the Orient Amer
lea imported Marqueterie both from Holland
and from England in Colonial days, and there
was very good work done here in the first half OF
the last century. The establishment of which Mr..
George II. Jones is a descendant was turning out
excellent Marqueterie in New York sixty years ago
IN the debasement of industrial and crafts fol-
lowing the Civil War Marqueterie lost ground.
but Of Marquetere tender and harmonfioas
n modelling, is rare that till his recent Visit to
Mr. Jones the writer doubted its possibility in
ceedingly beautiful designs fine. well modelled
pieces OF natural woods and many delicate and
French and English Marqueterle under the
San Reyolutio3 held at its true Value But
te h MaTG9uetre Gt eVeTywneTe Tor sale is usually Of
treatment often not of choice natural woods all
et haphazard and even colored with brush The
art is in itself so pleasing that deceived by the
bad work indeed ''
A MARQUETERIE ATELIER
visit to Mr.. Jones. No 4O7 Second-ave
who ten years ago left the business In which he
had long been established, in order TO raise the
practice Of his art TO a level with the craft as
pursued in Europe, and whose work is found in the
houses Of the best connoisseurs in the country
cleared up for the writer the limits and at the
same same time extended the possibilities of his art
design. 20 'i~~'''i0't
At the left 1t is carried out artisticalIy and
should nnd use Tor the following woods precious
prima vera, pearl figured maple yermilion am
Doyna. amaranth plum, wood stained green. saffron
oIVe green, wood stained carmine red, all shaded
with the natural Velnings of the material The
peen cheapened in every possible detail, and would
perhaps be executed In satinwood holly neari
4ots ana wood stained green and red. heavily
purned with hot sand to initiate natural effects
painting and durable. In the other the work is
coarse. crude and certain fade
1t is evident that refinement Of treatment
subtlety OF line and Of color the resources of
Mr.. Jones to be devotee OF Fart nouveau which
has provided Marqueterie with a new school Of
treatment The artist has returned to nature
and under japanese inspiration found his mo,
tifs in flowers, leaves and animals in their
natural colors. In designing of this kind The
refinement Of the line is of paramount importance
The effects are limited rather than expressed and
the subject Is delicious in its suggestion.
NO common workman possibly produce such
work There is no American school of Maroneteria
which trains the artist craftsmen who devote their
lives to Its ever growing skill and artistic insight
These men must be taught in France and Holland
where the secrets Of craftsmanship have heen
handed down from century TO century Mr. Jones
with indefatgabe resolution, has succeeded in col.
ectng MS workmen. genuine artists and in attach
ing them to his employment These men earn