Wood Veneer

By Arne Thomsson

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MATCHING FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS

Special matching, marquetry inlay work, etc. present possibilities for creating artistic effects that are limited only by the imagination and skill of the veneer worker. Through the years, several types have established themselves as more or less standards. Included in this group are the diamond, reverse diamond and sunburst.

1 Diamond

This is generally done with a straight grained veneer. If a rectangle is divided into four quadrants, the veneer is matched at an angle to the quadrant lines, and the grain forms a Vee at these lines. The result is a diamond shape formed by the grain directions.

Diamond Match

2 Reverse Diamond

Again, this is commonly done with a straight grained veneer. A rectangle is again divided into four quadrants. The grain direction is from the center point to the outside edge in each quadrant. The resulting appearance is that of a series of Vees formed by the grain match at the joint lines, and pointed in towards the center point.

Reverse Diamond Match

3 Herringbone

Veneer strips are used and matched to both sides of a center line, at an angle to it. The resulting appearance is reminiscent of the bones in a fish as they are attached to the backbone.

Herringbone

4 Sunburst

Most commonly done with a crotch or other highly figured wood, and generally on a round, oval or octagon shaped panel. Successive leaves of veneer are clipped into pie shaped pieces and then book-matched. The result will be grain pattern repeats which seem to grow out and expand from a center point.

5 Inlay

Often, the cabinet maker framed a highly decorative wood grain with a plainer grain to accent it. To delineate it, he often cuts in a narrow strip or dark or patterned veneer just at the joint line. This technique is called inlay. It grew to mean cutting patterns into the basic veneer as well.

6 Marquetry

Veneer faces of various kinds were made up with small segments of veneer cut into patterns and fitted together. Often many different species and grain patterns are used. These can be made into pictures or just designs. This face is then glued to a substrate as in any plywood manufacture.

These special effects are generally used in furniture manufacture and can be quite ornate. Many of the most exotic grains are utilized.

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Last Updated: Friday, April 5, 1996
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