About Marquetry

Wood Marquetry

Wood marquetry is one of the most attractive and beautiful arts related to wood in the world.

In this technique, using a hand fretsaw and fine blades, completely natural woods of various colors and textures from different trees are cut piece by piece and placed side by side to form a complete image from natural woods.

This art has followers in different parts of the world with varying approaches to design, technique, and materials. Today, more commercial and market-oriented methods with electric or laser machines are often used for simpler decorative products.

Yet among the heritage of fine crafts and traditional arts in various countries, there are still artisans and artists who, with a precise eye and rare composition, seek the natural patterns and colors of wood and present unique works made of hundreds and thousands of wood pieces, entirely by hand.

Marquetry has a history in countries such as China, India, Iran, Egypt, Russia, and parts of Europe such as France and Italy. With technological progress, only a very small number of artists still produce special works using traditional, fully handmade methods.

Iran is among the countries where, thanks to the diversity of native trees and interest in traditional arts, marquetry is practiced with astonishing precision in detail. One can confidently say that the common Iranian technique of “Zarif-Negareh” (fine inlay) is among the purest and most precise forms of this technique in the world.

The variety of patterns and tonalities of natural woods, the extremely fine and precise technical structure, and attention to every detail with natural wood coloring have significantly elevated this field.

Mohsen Kaveh is among the artists who over the past two decades have been pioneers and influencers in advancing this branch of wooden arts in Iran. He has promoted the field in universities and art centers, and many of his students are among the most skilled and distinguished practitioners of marquetry in Iran.

His works have been presented in exhibitions in several countries, and through educational workshops he continues to introduce this branch of wooden arts to wood enthusiasts.