What is Intarsia?

Intarsia is defined as a mosaic of fitted pieces of wood or stone. Some experts believe it originated in the Islamic world, while others claim Egyptian origins. As a distinct art form, it dates back to the 13th century in Italy and was perfected during the 15th century Italian Renaissance in Siena and in northern Italy. It spread to German centers and introduced into London by Flemish craftsmen in the later 16th century. By the late 17th century, the intarsia art form had just about disappeared, replaced by marquetry, a similar process which inlays thin veneers of wood together. The intarsia art form of fitting thicker pieces of wood was revived in the late 20th century.

Modern intarsia has added a third dimension to its predecessor. In renaissance-era intarsia, pieces were flat. In modern intarsia, individual pieces are shaped to give a three-dimensional look to the overall piece. Unlike segmentation, in which all pieces are cut from the same wood and then painted or stained, intarsia relies solely on the natural colors of the wood to create a palette. No stains or dyes have been used on any of my pieces, only a clear polyurethane finish (more about that in a future post).