Japanese Marquetry

Japanese marquetry comes in 2 flavors – pictorial marquetry (Zougan) and parquetry (Yosegi). The craft had been practiced as far back as the Nara Period (700 AD), but it never became popular because lacquer ware was more fashionable. This situation changed at the end of the 19th-Century when Japan opened up to Western traders. Today, the Hakone region of Japan is known around the world for its marquetry and produces almost all of it on the island.

Of these Yosegi is unique in the way it is created. Thin strips of veneer which have been planed, glued and pressed are cut across the grain with a hand saw using various jigs. Several of these are fitted in a mold and glued together. Different designs can be utilized in this manner. The length of these pieces are actually the end grain of the wood. Many of these elongated pieces are then cut into ½-1” lengths and then glued together to form a block. A special plane is used to shave micro-thin leaves from it. Each sheet is paper-thin and measures about 1/100 cm thick. After flattening they are glued to utilitarian objects such as boxes.

Japanese puzzle boxes are one example created in this manner. These can only be opened one way. The number of steps required to do so can number over 100. Each box is different and has its own instructions. They are crafted with precision so care is needed in preserving them. The simple example below needs 3 steps to open and is ideal for hiding small objects. These boxes are pecular to Japan and are made in large amounts no where else.

Pricing Your Small Work

This can be as much work as creating the marquetry itself. There are lots of formulas that allow you to come up with an asking price, but these are aimed at the professional who is doing this for a living. One such formula takes what you expect to get paid per year divided by the number of hours you plan to work minus vacation time. This is your hourly rate. Next, figure your cost of materials for each piece including any waste. To this add your projected overhead rate (yearly expenses of doing business such as machine purchases, tools and supplies divided by yearly hours worked). With these factors you can come up with an actual cost outlay. Now you must figure in a profit. It is generally calculated at 30%-50%. So multiply your cost by 1.3-1.5 and then you have a selling price. The one problem here is if the piece is sold in a gallery their commission will cost you your profit so you end up working for an hourly wage only.

I have personally avoided the above by selling my marquetry outright and let the buyer add his profit after I’ve left the building. To expediate the pricing of my marquetry, I have simplified it by multiplying the number of square inches by a factor of 1-3 depending on the complexity of the marquetry. For instance, an 8” X 12” picture with moderate detail might be sold for $144.00 (8 X 12=96 X 1.5 = 144). Another example could be a box 5” X 6” X 4” tall with marquetry on 4 sides and the top. 2 sides 5” X 4”= 40, 2 sides 6” X 4”=48 and a top 5” X 6”=30 adding up to 118. Because of the construction of the box, I would use a factor of 3 resulting in a price of $354.00. This system is very flexible with no effort made in keeping track of time or expenses. It has served me well. I have looked for a better system, but to date have not found one.

Roubo's Marquetry Classic

Since the middle of last year an attempt has been made to translate from French into English one of the classics from the golden age of marquetry, Andre Jacob Roubo's "L'Art du Menuisier". Written between 1769 and 1774, it details (in 5 volumes) every aspect of woodwork known at the time. Volume 3 deals with marquetry and parquetry. Principle to this endeavor is well-known author Jack Metcalfe. Some progress has been made, but more needs to be done before it becomes palatable for English readers.Christopher Schwarz and Bjenk Ellersen have been working on the same project. To preview some of their translations of volume 1 (Carpentry in buildings) go over to Lost Art Press: Blog. The importance of this work is measured by what our understanding of woodworking, and marquetry in particular, will be when we pass our present knowledge on to others.

 

Another guide to old ways of working wood can be found in "The Cabinet-Maker's Assistant" by Blackie & Son. Published in 1853, it has a section on woods and veneering which will enlighten any woodworker. Dover Publications has a facsimile edition available called "The Victorian Cabinet-Maker's Assistant.