Lafuma’s article tells the tale of Jérôme Boutteçon’s quest to master his unique style of high definition marquetry. I’ll let you opt to read the article “Jérôme Boutteçon brings the beauty of wood to watchmaking” or take in these amazing images right away.

Leopard in high definition small format marquetry

Tiger in High definition marquetry

Birds in high definition marquetry

Eagle in high definition marquetry

Leopard in high definition marquetry

Here’s a soupçon of Jérôme Boutteçon’s “decisive encounter with Jaeger-LeCoutre”:

My experience with Jaeger-LeCoutre was nothing short of extraordinary… Working with the person in charge of the Atmos clocks’ design was an opportunity for me to make new progress. Working with Coralie Delmont was easy. She imagined a cabinet of ideal proportions for the Atmos clock. It forms the perfect medium for the image in which marquetry and horology reflect each other’s beauty. She has taken this objet d’art to a new level; she has given it a soul through a combination of marquetry, pigment highlights and gold leaf.

Jérôme Boutteçon

The Jaeger Lecoutre Atmos with one of several marquetry renditions of Klimt paintings

One of several marquetry renditions of Klimt paintings for the Jaeger Lecoutre Atmos

Rotonde de Cartier - 42 mm white gold watch - Bear motif - Click image to enlarge

The Rotonde de Cartier with bear motif combines marquetry and watchmaking to produce a limited series of uniquely artistic timepieces. Everything begins with the design, which inspires the marquetry craftsman to select each wood for its color, grain and texture. Ten species of natural European wood blend together to create the bear’s fur: holly, chestnut, poplar, willow, grey and pink maple, walnut and burr walnut, mottled maple and grey aningeria. The woods are deftly combined to create the illusion of depth and perspective through reflections and contrasts. Tiny details, such as hair-thin lines representing shadows, add a lifelike quality.

Mike Disher, WatchTime‘s Online Editor

 

Jérôme Boutteçon - HH Journal - Multimedia - Videos

A stock of wood veneers

The art of sawing along the middle of a 0.13 mm line through a 10 sheet packet of veneers

Cutting the grey pieces that will form the background

The cut piece with blank silhouette

Array of marquetry pieces awaiting assembly

One of the completed limited edition watches with original patterns

Specially selected Linley veneers in Santos rosewood are being applied to the fascia, consol, waistrail and roof console and integrated within the cars for the first time. The veneers cover the entire wood surfaces of the model, where Bentley chestnut or walnut would normally be used.

LINLEY Helix motif in Marquetry with Santos Rosewood

The Linley Helix motif, from the Linley Helix Furniture Collection, is being set, using the highly specialised skill of marquetry inlay, into the waist-rails and picnic table of the Flying Spurs. The Helix pattern is made up of four different types of veneer which contrast with the Santos rosewood to show the wave effect delivered by the marquetry.

Interior of Linley Bentley with marquetry Helix motif - Click image to enlarge

 Quotes from David Linley’s recent interview with The Telegraph

My 50th birthday has made me reassess what we’re doing at Linley. We’ve redecorated the Pimlico showroom and changed our brand colour to bright blue to create a positive initial image. But our ethos hasn’t changed: I want everything we do to have a sense of humour. I expect it gets quite annoying but I’m constantly asking my designers to think about how they can make a product more fun; how they can add more secret drawers to a desk, or design the perfect tray to slide in to a safe. We’ve recently produced a car for Bentley and the challenge was to make it better than anything before it: the springiest seats; the most immaculate woodwork.

I always encourage my team to get out and see things that don’t have anything to do with furniture; the current exhibition of Shackleton’s photographs at the Queen’s Gallery in London, for example. It showcases a different level of human endeavour. How incredible that his team managed to bring 120 glass photographic plates across the Antarctic.

I’d like to think something brilliant is about to come out of British design. At Linley we’re trying to rewrite the book all over again; looking back to classic designs from the Sixties in order to take our furniture into a new realm. There hasn’t been a great movement in terms of music, literature and art for ages; in the interior design world, the same things are being redone again and again. We’ve all got stuck at a certain point and now need to leap through this glass ceiling.

Perhaps the Far East will inspire a new wave of design. There’s a huge demand for British-made products out there. I’m launching the Linley Bentley in China this week. It’s great to have the opportunity to travel; I think cultural changes are very important for the soul and I wouldn’t discount moving abroad completely if it was the best for the family, first, and for my career, second.

Interview by Anna Tyzack, The Telegraph, 4:00PM GMT 24 Nov 2011

The LINLEY for Bentley interior rear seating area

Front Console with LINLEY Marque

 Video of the launch of the Linley for Bentley Limited Edition Continental Flying Spur

The four types of veneer in the LINLEY Helix motif

Artful placement of the four types of veneer, using the figure, grain and hue of each species to best effect

Making the LINLEY Helix motif with marquetry

Images courtesy of LINLEY

Cutting the marquetry pieces with sealed beam laser

Fitting the marquetry Satinwood pieces into place

Hand assembling the LINLEY Helix design in marquetry

Completing the hand crafted assembly of the Helix motif

Completed assembly of the Santos Rosewood, India Rosewood, Ebony and Satinwood veneers

Alton Bowman with one of his commissions

Alton Bowman studied classical drawing, landscape painting and sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in the late 1960s. After graduating and returning to Texas he opened a fine art studio, intending to work as a painter. To support the studio, he started carving and guilding frames. Soon his clients started bringing him their fine furniture pieces for conservation.

His thirst for knowledge and skills took him to a symposium at Anderson Ranch, where he met Jonathan Fairbanks from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, who introduced him to the American Institute of Conservation (AIC). This opened the way to a series of conservation courses at the Smithsonian Institute, which resulted in his becoming a Professional Associate qualified to work with museums.

Alton Bowman's Triple Ebony Version of The Throne Chair of Queen Hetepheres

By 1980, I started to grow frustrated with mere conservation, feeling my artistic side was being neglected… I started furniture making for my own creative outlet. My first project was the Throne Chair of Queen Hetepheres, which I had seen in a book of ancient furniture and currently resides in the Cairo Museum. The first completed piece was a replication of the original, using three types of Ebony woods, and a later version was done in acrylic.

Alton Bowman

Alton Bowman's Acrylic & Ebony Version of The Throne Chair of Queen Hetepheres

The Acrylic Throne Chair of Queen Hetepheres With Its Fiber Optic Lighting ON

On a 2001 AIC Wooden Artifacts Group tour to bring together American and French conservators of French furniture, Alton Bowman met marquetry master craftsman Pierre Ramond of the Ecolle Boulle in Paris. Pierre Ramond, with characteristic French generosity towards Americans, gave him measured drawings of his marquetry Chevalet for cutting veneer. As soon as he returned to his studio, Alton Bowman built his own Chevalet  out of Mesquite (See image below).

Alton Bowman's Marquetry Chevalet - Made Out Of Mesquite

When Alton Bowman became chairman of the Mound Foundation For Preserving The Native Prairies, he commemorated the event by creating a “Bonne Heure Du Jour” French writing desk with marquetry Texas Wildflowers  made out of colorful dyed veneers.

"Bonne Heure Du Jour" French Writing Desk with Texas Wildflowers in Colorful Marquetry - Detail

According to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Alumni Sales Gallery report regarding their “Environmental Perspectives” Landscape Show : Alton Bowman, 1966-68, Wildflower Desk, 2010, 40 x 36 x 24 in., Holly,Ebony, Satine, Sycamore, Bone, Inlays $18,000 SOLD

Alton Bowman's Wildflower Desk, a French "Bonne Heure Du Jour" Writing Desk

This exhibition focuses on work of varying perspectives and subjects from around the country. On view will be Alton Bowman’s Wildflower Desk, reflecting his involvement in restoring and building marquetry furniture and his passion for preservation of the native prairies in his hometown of Flower Mound, Texas.

The PAFA Alumni Sales Gallery

Rosewood Writing Desk with a Mammoth Ivory inlay depicting the Rosewood plant's leaves and seed pod - With Top Open

Another recent piece by Alton Bowman is this Rosewood Writing Desk with a Mammoth Ivory  inlay depicting the Rosewood plant’s leaves and seed pod (See image above).

On December 10th 2011 Alton Bowman will be presenting a talk at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts on furniture conservation in France and another on marquetry, in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition of 18th century French furniture.

Paul Schurch

Paul Schurch Joins Inlay-Arts.com as a Charter Artist

I’m delighted to announce that Paul Schurch has agreed to be one of the Inlay-Arts top 40 Charter Artists.

[Paul Schurch will be sending me high res images of his portfolio when he returns later this month. For this first post I'll present a few details from his fine furniture pieces. You'll find more images of Paul Schurch's portfolio in the Inlay-Arts.com/Gallery section - KD]

Ribbon Bureau by Paul Schurch - Detail

My wife Christine and I recently drove down the California coast from San Francisco to Pasadena. We stopped in San Simeon to visit  Julia Morgan’s extraordinary project “La Cuesta Encantada” (aka Hearst Castle), commissioned by William Randolph Hearst . We then drove down to Santa Barbara where I had arranged to meet with Paul Schurch at his new studio.

"Rosie" - Paul Schurch - Detail

He had just returned from the Design in Wood show, where he gave a presentation for the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association. After we met he left for one of his biannual teaching engagements at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, this was followed by several other teaching engagements, including one in Hawai’i and one at the William Ng Woodworking School.

Grapevine Table with Inlaid Hardwoods and Stone

"Pietra Dura" Inlay - Detail

Marquetry of Berries - Detail from "Flowerberry" Table and Chairs

Flowerberry Table and Chairs A round three-leaf extension Dinning table with 16 matching chairs (each with different motif). Pacific blackberry motif including inlaid ladybugs, frogs, butterflies and opal flower buds. Wood: Mahogany frame, Laurel and Walnut burl background. Assorted exotic woods. Stone: Marble, Turquoise, Bloodstone and Opals.

Marquetry by Paul Schurch - Detail

Sorghum Setee - Walnut framed setee with marquetry inlay depicting a sorghum crop circle. Designed to emphasize environmentally sustainable use of wood, glues and finishes. Wood: Reclaimed Urban Claro walnut, Poplar, Maple and Sorghum Board Cushions: Silk

Inlay with Hardwoods and Stone, Including Opal

Fine Woodworking Magazine’s Blog Post About Inlay-Arts.com in the “Editor’s Mailbox” blog post written by Ed Pirnik received a comment from a woodworker wanting to know how he could learn to do marquetry and inlay. The  answer is:

“There’s an abundance of “edutainment” resources ranging from Inlay Arts makers who teach; woodworking schools that offer courses on marquetry and the inlay arts; well written books and instructive videos; articles in magazines, websites and blogs; to regional marquetry societies and clubs.”

A.K. Dodge

Craig Thibodeau is constantly enriching his fine furniture practice through learning from other master woodworkers [http://inlay-arts.com/2010/10/craig-thibodeaus-art-deco-chess-table.html ]; applying what he’s  learned to his own fine furniture practice; “giving back” by teaching his skills to others through publications such as Fine Woodworking.

Chess Table with M.O.P. Dots

Fine Woodworking Articles and Blog Posts

Here are some links to the Fine Woodworking articles and blog posts that Craig Thibodeau has done with editor Asa Christiana and a recent blog post with web producer Ed Pirnik:

• Making a veneered chessboard - [http://bit.ly/qCo5jv] From Fine Woodworking #219
• Inlays with exotic materials - [http://bit.ly/qzHWue] – From Fine Woodworking #217
• Veneering coves and radiused shapes - [http://bit.ly/pVqQe0] – From Fine Woodworking #212
• A Simple Way to Inlay Mother of Pearl - [http://bit.ly/e1vwD0] – December 8th, 2010 blog post

Learn how Craig Thibodeau uses musician's fret dots to embellish fine furniture. Photo courtesy of Craig Thibodeau and Fine Woodworking Magazine

Australian Wood Review

Craig Thibodeau has also been doing some teaching via Australian Wood Review [http://www.woodreview.com.au]. Here are a few of his pieces, as well as a first ever view of their beta Australian Wood Review online site

Australian Wood Review - 1st Page - (Click image to enlarge)

Australian Wood Review - 2nd Page - (Click image to enlarge)

Australian Wood Review - 3rd Page - (Click image to enlarge)

American Woodworker’s video with Craig Thibodeau

Here’s the final edited version of the video that Randy Johnson and Jeremy Grubb from American Woodworker shot with Craig Thibodeau at his studio while they were in San Diego CA for the Design in Wood show this year (2011):

[* Inlay-Arts.com is creating a "Knowledge System" about the Inlay Arts and related topics. This information will be accessible under category headings under the Categories heading of the right-hand sidebar. I'll make a "Learning and Teaching" category in the sidebar that will keep track of this topic as new information and resources become available. Go to Categories in the sidebar to the upper right of this post, then click on "Learning and Teaching" to access this growing resource page. Other related categories include "Inlay Arts" and "Publications and Media".] – AKD

Post about Inlay-Arts.com on Fine Woodworking's "The Editor's Mailbox" blog

Arthur Kim Dodge’s new website on Inlay Arts certainly goes a long way when it comes to appreciation of the craft. The new site offers a blog on all-things- inlay, and a gallery featuring respected artisans including Fine Woodworking contributor Craig Thibodeau. For those lucky enough to be included in the roster, Dodge provides a shop in which they can hawk their wares, and links where interested parties can request a quote.

Ed Pirnik, Web Producer,  FineWoodworking.com

Comments Section from the blog post

If you’re looking for a bit of woodworking inspiration, be sure to drop by and have a look. Personally, I enjoyed Dodge’s post on The Prince of Wales’ recent visit to the ARYMA Marquetry Studio. Apparently, Prince Charles actually got his fingers dirty, helping to assemble a bit of marquetry that will later reside at his Birkhall estate. Who knew the royals were actually willing to play with glue!

Ed Pirnik, Web Producer,  FineWoodworking.com

Post about Inlay-Arts.com on the Fine Woodworking Facebook Page

Here are a few excerpts from what Silas Kopf had to say about Fine Woodworking in his fine tabletop book “A Marquetry Odyssey”:

 

There were two important influences on woodworking in the mid-1970s when I was becoming involved in the field. One was the publication of James Krenov’s book A Cabinetmaker’s Notebook in 1976. The other was Fine Woodworking magazine, which began in 1975.

Another niche for aspiring woodworkers of the mid 1970s was filled by Fine Woodworking magazine. The publication went beyond the norm of most magazines catering to woodworkers.

I looked forward to every issue. The magazine forged a community among far-flung woodworkers, who are by nature often isolated. Across America people had access to the same inspiarational material. We all grew to be better craftsmen by paying attention to the pages of Fine Woodworking.

Silas Kopf, A Marquetry Odyssey

Craig Thibodeau recently posted a few new Parquetry projects to the portfolio section of the website (www.CTFineFurniture.com) that are worth a look. First is the final piece in a five piece bedroom set designed by the client in collaboration with one of the galleries that sells his work*.

Zig Zag Dresser - Size: 39" high by 20" deep by 72" long

I call it the Zig Zag Cabinet and once you see the photos you’ll understand why. I’m glad this piece looks so calm because it was quite a job to get it all to come together. So many little pieces of veneer that all needed to line up perfectly with so many other little pieces of veneer. Much like the Diamond Cabinet which was actually for the same client a few years ago.

Craig Thibodeau

 

Zig Zag Cabinet - Detail 1

Materials

Cherry, Maple, Quartersawn Maple, Fiddleback Maple

Zig Zag Dresser - Detail 2

Description

The last piece of the five piece bedroom set in Cherry and Maple done for this client. This piece features a zig-zag parquetry pattern of veneer in a wide band across the drawer fronts and side panels. The interior is veneered in Maple and there are shelves behind the four doors. The entire unit is finished with satin Conversion Varnish. The last detail image shows one of the other four cabinets utilizing the same horizontal Cherry and Maple stripes.

Craig Thibodeau

 Diamond Cabinet

Diamond Cabinet - Size: 34" high by 20" deep by 42" wide

Materials:

Jatoba, Madrone Burl, Quartersawn Maple, Quartersawn Sapele

Diamond Cabinet - Detail 1

Description:

An Entertainment Cabinet in Jatoba with parquetry veneerwork in a harlequin pattern of Madrone Burl and Maple diamonds. The interior has four adjustable shelves and ventilation slots in the back and base of the cabient. The interior is veneered in Quartersawn Sapele and the cabinet is finished with Satin Lacquer inside and out.

Craig Thibodeau

Diamond Cabinet - Detail 2

Gladiola Blanket Chest (Click Image to Enlarge)

 The design of the Gladiola Blanket Chest came from my desire to move away from Dogwood flower marquetry and curved panels and instead make something using only straight lines and new floral imagery.  The white Gladiola flowers seem especially dramatic against the darker background of the Tineo veneer and the angular design of the chest works well to frame the marquetry panels.

Craig Thibodeau

Gladiola Blanket Chest - Detail (Click Image to Enlarge)

With regards to blanket chests in general there is quite a range of design possibilities still available to someone with the energy to create.  This can be seen quite well in the new Blanket Chest book* that features my Dogwood Blanket Chest.  None of the thirty designs bares any resemblance to any other, they are all unique and interesting designs in their own right.

Craig Thibodeau

"Blanket Chests" by Peter Turner and Scott Gibson - The Taunton Press (Click Image to Enlarge)

This particular book is quite well done and has the added benefit of featuring a number of side articles detailing the methods used by specific makers to create their work.  My sideline article on marquetry is short but has all the necessary details for someone to get the basic concept down and begin creating their own marquetry images.

Craig Thibodeau

*“Blanket Chests” is published by Taunton Press –  http://bit.ly/qIhqlu

Dogwood Blanket Chest (Click Image to Enlarge)

Dogwood Blanket Chest - Open (Click Image to Enlarge)

 First page of section on Craig Thibodeau’s Dogwood Blanket Chest

Jeff Nelson's Rainforest Triptych. Click on image to enlarge.

Jeff Nelson’s new tropical rain forest edition  ”Birds of a feather” consists of three separate art panels intended for wall display: Green Wing Macaw and Military Macaw;  Blue and Gold Macaw with Lovebirds;  Toucan and Crested Cockatoos. He is making a single panel limited edition version of his artwork in addition to the triptych edition.

Colorful birds and their comical personalities are a delight to encounter. This “Birds of a feather” triptych features a variety of brilliantly plumed birds that reflect a small sampling of the many species to be found in the tropics.”

Jeff Nelson

Three Panel Triptych

Rainforest Triptych in a room setting. Image courtesy of Peter Reiner. Click on image to enlarge.

Illustration and Image Rendering

Jeff Nelson is a traditional pencil and Vellum artist with a fine arts background who has mastered a range of media from air brush to marquetry.

Jeff Nelson drawing with pencil on Vellum paper

Peter Reiner helps with Jeff Nelson’s process of rendering drawings for  ”computer-aided-design”. Peter Reiner provided this illustration of the transition from a scanned pencil drawing to a colorized image. This represents the first two steps of the digital rendering process. First he scans the drawings and second he colorizes them. He then follows the artist’s notations to drop in tiled texture-images of  the natural materials that will be used to make the  marquetry artwork.

Jeff Nelson's "Rainforest Triptych" in the Limited Edition Continuous Panel Format - Illustrative Rendering by Peter Reiner

Green Wing Macaw and Military Macaw

Green Wing Macaw and Military Macaw features: 18″ x 20″ frame size; 245 piece inlay; 18 wood species; Mother-of-Pearl and Paua Abalone shell.

Blue and Gold Macaw with Lovebirds

Toucan and Crested Cockatoos

Toucan and Crested Cockatoos features: 18″ x 40″ frame size; 278 piece inlay; 20 wood species; Mother-of-Pearl and Paua Abalone shell.

Tree Frog

“Hardwood Forestry Fund”