DESIGN DICTIONARY: Marquetry and Parquetry
Parquetry floors
If you are going to walk the walk, you should talk the talk.
What is the difference between marquetry and parquetry?
When using the terms marquetry and parquetry, remember that marquetry applies to furniture and parquetry applies to floors. Marquetry is usually pictorial, and parquetry is usually geometric, but that is not always the case.
MARQUETRY: Wood veneers inlayed to elaborately decorate furniture, typically involving pictorial designs and many species of woods. When it comes to furniture, it is never correct to refer to decorative wood inlays as parquetry.
A fine pair of George III with marquetry attributed to Christopher Fuhhrlogh, c. 1770
Detail of George III commode showing marquetry. c. 1770
A rare swedish marquetry cabinet in satinwood and birch by Carl Malmsten. c. 1935
Close up of the marquetry on the Carl Malmsten cabinet.
PARQUETRY: Wood inlays used to create or decorate flooring, typically using different wood species or stain colors. Usually, but not always, parquetry is inlayed in a geometric pattern.
A modern bathroom with pretty parquetry floors.
My home
I enjoy both marquetry and parquetry in my house in Pelham NY.
The entire first floor is decorated with parquetry.
Geometric parquetry design in walnut, maple and oak on the floors. Photograph by Ellen McDermott.
Detail of parquetry in my Pelham house.
And one of my favorite pieces of furniture is a desk decorated in marquetry in the Arts and Crafts style.
Marquetry decorates this Arts and Crafts style desk. Photograph by Ellen McDermott
Detail of some of the Arts and Crafts style marquetry.